Teen sensation gets wildcard for ASB Classic

17-year-old rising star Amanda Anisimova has been given a wildcard to the ASB Classic. The young American is one of the most promising teenagers finishing the season as the youngest player inside the top 100.
In her first year on the professional tour, the teen sensation, then 16, shocked two-time Wimbledon Champion Petra Kvitova to reach the round of sixteen at Indian Wells – the biggest event on the WTA Tour.

She backed that up with a strong run through to the round of 16 in Cincinnati before a stunning week in Hiroshima, Japan, where she won seven matches, including beating the top seed and seventh seed on her way to the her first WTA final, the youngest player to do so since 2012.

Anisimova has always shown greatness, just after her 16th birthday last year she won the US Open Junior Championships and rose to world number two in the ITF Junior rankings. From there the tenacious teenager has focused on her pro career.

It didn’t take long before Anisimova showed her readiness for the WTA tour, at Indian Wells the then 16-year-old beat world number nine Petra Kvitova to reach the fourth round of the marquee tournament.

“We have had a pretty good track record in recent years identifying the next wave of stars of the WTA. Jelena Ostapenko, Sloane Stephens and recently Naomi Osaka have all come to Auckland early in their careers before going on to Grand Slam success.” says ASB Classic Tournament Director, Karl Budge.

“Given Amanda is still only 17 years old, she is well ahead of where those three girls were at the same time of their careers. To already be shocking multiple Grand Slam Champions and reaching final’s bodes incredibly well for the future”.

The young American’s achievements are even more awe inspiring given she spent four months side lined with a foot injury mid-season.

Anisimova is writing history for her generation and will see the ASB Classic as the perfect opportunity to continue her record-breaking ways.

The confirmation of this next generation player adds to what is already a strong line-up for the Women’s tournament which already includes three former world numbers one’s and Grand Slam champions in Venus Williams, Caroline Wozniacki and Victoria Azarenka, defending champion Julia Goerges, the current Olympic gold medallist Monica Puig and one of the biggest names in the sport in Eugenie Bouchard.

With such a wealth of talent on display fans are encouraged to come early in the week with some enticing early match-ups a possibility. With all four top seeds guaranteed to take to centre court in the first two sessions of the week (Monday 31 December and Tuesday 1 January) it’s sure to be an action packed week of tennis.

The ASB Classic will span for two weeks; the women's tournament kicking off on December 31 to January 6 followed by the men’s tournament from January 7 to 12. Tickets are on sale now through Ticketek. You can purchase tickets either online, over the phone on (0800 842 538) or in person at one of the agencies listed on the event website.

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