Serena Williams confirmed for ASB Classic

ASB Classic organisers have confirmed Serena Williams will compete at next year's tournament....
ASB Classic organisers have confirmed Serena Williams will compete at next year's tournament. Photo: Reuters
Tennis great Serena Williams has been confirmed as Auckland ASB Classic's "biggest signing ever".

Tournament organisers confirmed the coup at a news conference in Auckland this morning.

Organisers of the ASB Classic believe Serena's participation will make this the biggest event in the tournament's history.

"We are obviously over the moon with this news," said Tournament Director Karl Budge.

"Serena is one of the biggest sporting stars on the planet. She has had the most Grand Slam victories, most consecutive weeks at Number One and has twice held all four Grand Slam trophies at once.

"I think she is the greatest player, man or woman, to play the game.

"To have an athlete of Serena's calibre come to Auckland is going to be huge for New Zealand and really cements the ASB Classic as our biggest annual sporting event," Budge said.

Williams said she was excited to be making her Auckland debut. "I have heard so many great things about the city and the tournament itself and I have always wanted to play there.

"The ASB Classic is the first event of the year. It can really set you up for a great run in Melbourne and I will be looking to start my year strongly in Auckland," she said.

With over 64,000 people attending the ASB Classic earlier this year, the highest in the event's history, the tournament continues to grow.

Williams has captured 71 WTA (Women's Tennis Association) titles and has dominated Grand Slams for the past two decades winning 22 Grand Slam singles titles - an all-time record she shares with Steffi Graf.

Along with her singles successes, the American, who plays doubles with big sister Venus, has won 14 doubles and two mixed doubles titles for a total of 38 Grand Slam successes - the most of any active player male or female.

She has also claimed four Olympic gold medals, five Season Ending Championship trophies and had team success winning Fed Cup for America.

Williams has been named Sports Illustrated 'Sportsperson of the Year' in 2015, Glamour Magazine Woman of the Year (2009), and included in Time 's '100 Most Influential People', Forbes '100 Most Powerful Women' and for 15 straight years Forbes '100 Biggest Celebrities'. 

She has also been awarded 'Sports Woman of the Year' three times at the Laureus Sports Awards (02, 10 & 16), and Associated Press's 'Athlete of the Year' on four occasions (02, 09, 13 & 15).

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