ASB Classic Preview

The 2010 WTA Tour season will get underway this week with tournaments in Auckland, New Zealand & Brisbane, Australia. To read my preview of the Brisbane International head over to natural gut is love.

While the Brisbane International may have the anticipated return of Justine Henin, the field over in Auckland is nothing to sneeze at. Yanina Wickamayer is another Belgian who made news this fall, and will be making her return to the WTA after being temporarily banned for not reporting her whereabouts to a Belgian doping authority. Her ban has been lifted, and she has been given a WC into Auckland. Wickamayer, a surprise semifinalist at the US Open in September, will play dangerous German Julie Georges in round 1.

Wickmayer main challenger in the bottom half of the draw is dangerous ballbasher Li Na of China. Na jumped to a career high rank of 15 in October will be seeking her third WTA title and first since winning the now defunct Gold Coast tournament in 2008. Li Na did not play in Australia last season, and can build up her ranking with these first three tournaments as she has no points to defend.

Speaking of the bottom half an intriguing opening round match will be between Russia's Anna Chakvetadze and 39 year old Kimiko Date-Krumm. At ranks 67 & 69 respectively these two players are both looking to return to the top 50 a spot Kimiko hasn't been in since the mid 1990s. Chakvetadze had a rough 2009, only making one quarterfinal at New Haven.

Top seeded Flavia Pennetta will try to win her 9th title of her career and get back into the top 10. Flavia famously became the first Italian woman to enter the top 10 of the WTA rankings in August of 2009. Fransesca Schiavone is the third seeded veteran in the top half and fellow Italian who'll hope to add to her two previous tournament wins on her record.

Look out for 6th seeded Elena Vesnina to try to play spoiler in this top half. The hard hitting Russian had a strong hardcourt American season, and could power her way through to the semifinals.

Predictions

1R Upset: Magdalena Rybarikova def. (8)Anabel Medina Garrigues

Semifinals
(1)Flavia Penneta def. (5)Elena Vesnina
(2)Li Na def. (3)Yanina Wickmayer

Finals
(2)Li Na def. (1)Flavia Penneta