British tennis star Emma Raducanu is set to return to play in Auckland this summer, making her third straight appearance at the ASB Classic.
Raducanu will enter the tournament as a wildcard, having to sit on the sidelines for the last two months due to an ankle injury. Her injury has caused her to drop to No. 58 in the world rankings.
Raducanu has one grand slam title to her name, winning the 2021 US Open as a qualifier.
Her best performance at a grand slam this year was at Wimbledon, where she reached the round of 16 before being knocked out by New Zealand's Lulu Sun. Sun won the match 6-2 5-7 6-2 and will also be returning to play in Auckland next year.
Both times Raducanu has taken to the ourt in Auckland, she has been knocked out in the round-of-16. She lost to Ukraine's Elena Svitolina 7-6 6-7 1-6 earlier this year and in 2023 she was forced to retire against Slovakia's Viktoria Hruncakova.
Raducanu said she's looking forward to going back to Auckland.
"The people are very friendly and very hospitable. I always have a great time there. The weather, when it is nice, is really beautiful," said Raducanu.
"One of my best friends lives in Auckland and her family do too, so I think I will be there for Christmas Day. Over the last two years, we have gone an hour north to their beach house and had a barbecue there. It is really wholesome. The quality of the meat and fish is so fresh and I am looking forward to it."
The British player has faced scrutiny and challenges both on and off the court after winning her upset US Open title.
"Mentally I feel like I am in a better place to compete now than I ever have been before since the US Open. It’s going to probably take me some tournaments to get up to speed but once I do, I think I am in a better headspace to compete now."
Two other US Open champions will join Raducanu at the ASB Classic in the form of newly-crowned WTA Finals doubles winners, New Zealand’s Erin Routliffe and Canadian partner Gabrielle Dabrowski.
The pair, like Raducanu, were unlikely winners at the US Open at Flushing Meadows, with the doubles duo pairing up for the first time in 2023 and going on to win the final.
This year they were quarterfinalists at the US Open, semifinalists at the French Open, runners-up at Wimbledon before their victory last week at the WTA Finals in Riyadh.
Routliffe climbed up the rankings to become New Zealand's first WTA Tour World No.1 this year. She was also selected to represent New Zealand at the Paris Olympic Games alongside Lulu Sun.
"Two years ago, if you told me this was happening, I would not have believed you," Routliffe said. "It's a testament to years and years of working and learning myself and what works for me. Having people around me that believe in me no matter what. Gaby taking a chance on me when my ranking was probably not as high as she would have liked in our partnership.
"I will never forget that and I don't take any of it for granted. It's been a quick rise to the top of the game. I'm excited for more."
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