The 15-year-old American tennis sensation Cori "Coco" Gauff is coming to the ASB tennis Classic, in a major coup for the Auckland tournament.
American Cori "Coco" Gauff has confirmed she will make her first appearance of the 2020 season at the ASB Classic. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
She joins US Open finalists Bianca Andreescu - ranked fifth in the world - and Serena Williams, and Auckland tournament director Karl Budge says Gauff's signing is the icing on the cake.
"It's been a year of amazing signings, and I think Coco might be the best of the lot of them.
"That's a pretty huge statement when you think of the name's we've already unveiled this year."
Budge says building relationships with players like Gauff early on in their careers is paying off for the tournament.
"That's been a bit of a trademark of this generation at the ASB Classic - how do we identify talent, build that relationship early?
"If we do that we'll make our life a lot easier. We've seen that with some of the true superstars that have come through the Classic of the last few years.
"Coco might just be the most talented of the lot."
Karl Budge Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Gauff captured the headlines in June by first becoming the youngest to ever qualify for the main draw at Wimbledon, then by beating tennis legend Venus Williams in the first round. The youngster continued her winning ways and made it to the second week of the grand slam.
At the US Open, Gauff was awarded wildcard entries into both the singles and doubles main draws, and made it through to the third round before being beaten by world No.1 and 2018 xUS Open champion Naomi Osaka.
Last month, the teen became the youngest player to win a WTA title since 2004 when she beat world No.8 Kiki Bertens en-route to lifting the trophy at the Generali Linz Ladies Open in Austria.
Gauff is the youngest player ranked in the top 100, already at just 68 in the world.
She has also excelled on the doubles court, teaming with fellow American teen Caty NcNally. The pairing have won two WTA Tour titles as a team this year, taking out the Citi Open in Washington in August, followed by the Luxembourg Open in October.
Prior to that Gauff secured an ITF doubles title in February of this year, pairing up with New Zealander Paige Hourigan to take home the trophy from Surprise, Arizona.
Bianca Andreescu Photo: Icon Sportswire
2019 has been the year of the young guns on the world Tour, with world No.5 Andreescu the example of what a teen can do this season. Now Gauff, four years her junior, is hot on her heels.
Gauff says she's looking forward to her first visit to New Zealand.
"I can't wait to start my season in Auckland. 2019 was such an incredible year and I achieved so many of the goals that I had set for myself. Wimbledon was obviously a highlight as was capturing my first WTA title.
"However, I have a number of goals and things that I am working on in my game, and I can't wait to start my 2020 year at the ASB Classic," she said.
"So many players talk about Auckland. I haven't been before so this will be cool to experience."
The ASB Classic covers two weeks: the women's tournament running from January 6-12, with the men's tournament following from January 13-18.
