Traffic jams proved costly for Parnell in the men’s Scarbro Caro Bowl tennis final while experience worked in favour for the Parnell women’s team in their final.

More…

2010 ASB Classic      4 – 9 January

Rankings as of November 23             Prize  Money $ 220,000 USD

 Player Name, Nation,  Rank
1 PENNETTA, FLAVIA ITA 12
2 LI, NA CHN 15
3 SCHIAVONE, FRANCESCA ITA 17
4 RAZZANO, VIRGINIE FRA 19
5 VESNINA, ELENA RUS 24
6 REZAI, ARAVANE FRA 26
7 MEDINA GARRIGUES, ANABEL ESP 28
8 CIBULKOVA, DOMINIKA SVK 29
9 PEER, SHAHAR ISR 31
10 SUAREZ NAVARRO, CARLA ESP 34
11 RYBARIKOVA, MAGDALENA SVK 45
12 CORNET, ALIZE FRA 50
13 DULGHERU, ALEXANDRA ROU 51
14 MIRZA, SANIA IND 58
15 KANEPI, KAIA EST 61
16 KVITOVA, PETRA CZE 62
17 KIRILENKO, MARIA RUS 63
18 MALEK, TATJANA GER 68
19 CHAKVETADZE, ANNA RUS 69
20 HERCOG, POLONA SLO 70
21 OLARU, IOANA RALUCA ROU 72
22 BRIANTI, ALBERTA ITA 73
23 COIN, JULIE FRA 74
24 VOEGELE, STEFANIE SUI 76

Tickets to the ASB Classic are on sale now. Please visit www.ticketek.co.nz

Parnell have the opportunity to defend their Caro Bowl tennis titles in the final of the competition this week after two reasonably clear cut semifinal victories. However opponents in the finals, Royal Oak and West End will be thinking that 2009 will be their best opportunities to wrestle the titles away from the regular winners. Royal Oak were the top seeds in the women’s competition going into the semis and duly won their match 4-2 against Remuera but they started badly dropping both doubles matches as Shona Lee and Brittany Teei won the top doubles and Shelley Bryce and Kate Parker the bottom match. Royal Oak then cleaned up all four singles in straight sets.

More…

French Open semifinalist Dominik Cibulkova is to compete in the ASB Classic, adding to the growing field of top players. Cibulkova is currently ranked 29th after reaching a  career high in July at Roland Garros, making the semifinals. She has also made the 4th round of the US Open and the 3rd round at Wimbledon.

Brenda Perry, Tournament Director will be announcing the full field on Wednesday.

"Obviously her success at Roland Garros was the key to her year. Making the Semifinals of a grand slam is something pretty amazing" said Perry.

Italian player, Flavia Pennetta the current world No12 will make her main draw debut in Auckland after her most successful year ever.The 27-year-old had a great year of results in 2009 including winning two titles and beating a number of top ranked players.These results culminated in a career high ranking at the end of August of No10, the first Italian to ever reach that mark.

Entries are now open for the 2010 Auckland 18 & Under Summer Championships, an ITF Grade 3 junior circuit event.  The tournament will run from Sunday 31st January, 2010 (Qualifying) and Monday 1st to Saturday 6th February, 2010 (Main Draw).  The tournament has been upgraded from Grade 4 in 2009 to a Grade 3 in 2010.  All players must have an active IPIN to enter the event.  All entries must be made online with the ITF.  For the tournament fact sheet or to enter online – click here.

It was a race to finish in first place, which saw Parnell and West End complete the round robin play of the Scarbro Caro Bowl tennis competition in a tie for top spot after differing fortunes in their final matches. Parnell took on Campbell Park in the seventh round and came away with a 9 set to 6 victory after some entertaining tennis. More…