One of the rising stars of world tennis and the youngest player in the top-20 has been confirmed for the 2009 ASB Classic featuring the Kia Motors singles and doubles.

Danish teenager Caroline Wozniacki ranked at 15 in the world will make her first appearance in

Auckland for the January 5-10 ASB Classic and bring with her the reputation as a player to watch on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. 
 

After starting the year with a ranking of 64 Wozniacki quickly moved up the rankings scoring a fourth round effort at the Australian Open followed by a marvelous run of results in consecutive tournaments where she reached the quarters at Doha, quarters in Memphis, fourth round at Indian Wells and again at Miami.

As a 15-year-old she was the winner of the 2006 junior Wimbledon title and was the runner-up at the Australian Open juniors but has quickly moved on to making an impact on the WTA Tour and wants to continue her meteoric rise up the rankings.

"I’m very excited to play for the first time in

Auckland in January. I feel this will be the ideal preparation for the Australian Open later in the month.

I have heard only great things about

Auckland from my friends on tour and I also know that they have a good size Danish population who I’m excited to meet. I’m really looking forward to this opportunity and hope to play some great tennis at the tournament," she says.

She has already won three WTA Tour titles in 2008 and defeated a number of top-10 players. Her successes came at Stockholm for her first career title with another tournament victory being at

New Haven where she defeated four top-20 players for the win. Her third title came at the recent Japan Open in

Tokyo , where Kiwi Marina Erakovic won the doubles with American partner Jill Craybas.

Other results of note in 2008 include a fourth round appearance at the US Open, eventually losing to Jelena Jankovic in three sets. Also a semifinal appearance at Portoroz as well as a quarterfinal finish at

Eastbourne .

ASB Classic Tournament Director, Brenda Perry believes Wozniacki is clearly a player of the future and with a ranking already at 15 in the world she is a serious title contender.  

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“It’s fantastic that the ASB Classic can showcase the youngest player to emerge in 2008 into the top-20 in women’s tennis. Caroline is most definitely one of the brightest young stars on the horizon of the WTA Tour.

It is terrific to have Caroline join Elena Dementieva as the second new face to be coming to

Auckland and the ASB Classic. They both play an exciting brand of tennis that I believe the

public will really enjoy and appreciate,” says Perry.

Wozniacki, 18 comes from a sporting family with her father a professional soccer player in and , while her mother played volleyball for the Polish national side and her brother is a pro soccer player in

.

Wozniacki is confirmed to play an exhibition in Oslo, early in November for charity and then will play in the

in a series of exhibitions with Serena Williams and Andy Roddick in mid December.

Already confirmed for the ASB Classic is world No5 and current Olympic champion Elena Dementieva.

Wozniacki has a website www.carolinewozniacki.dk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The ASB Classic featuring the Kia Motors singles and doubles will be played at the ASB Tennis Centre January 5-10, with Qualifying January 3-4.  Tickets are available at any Ticketek outlet from November 3^rd.