The calendar might still be showing 2016 for one more day but the 2017 WTA season is already starting down under as qualifying action at the 2017 ASB Classic in Auckland has started on Saturday.
One of the most remotely located tennis events in the world, New Zealand’s ASB Classic is held in Auckland’s ASB Tennis Arena, traditionally being one of the first tournaments to greet the new season.
Held in the same week as the Premier events in Brisbane & Shenzen, Auckland has always been known to attract a great selection of players but never before has the field been as high quality as it is in 2017.