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New Zealand's premier women's tennis tournament, the ASB Classic, will be able to woo a top-10 player after its confirmation as part of a new-look WTA Tour from next year.
Organisers of the Auckland tournament today made a number of announcements, including a 55 percent increase in prizemoney from $US145,000 ($NZ187,920) to $US225,000 ($NZ291,600).
The event will also have a new tournament director in former WTA tour supervisor Brenda Perry.
A former professional player, Perry takes over from Richard Palmer, who has been appointed tournament director for the men's Heineken Open.
Perry said the Classic, which will be staged on January 5-10 next year, would be part of a revamped WTA Tour calendar featuring 55 tournaments.
It will be one of 34 international level tournaments, all with the same prizemoney and ranking points, thus putting it on an equal footing with another event in the first week of January, in Brisbane.
Perry said the changes bode well for Auckland's ability to continue to attract strong fields as a buildup to the year's first Grand Slam, the Australian Open.
"I think we're going to see the depth continue to increase and the fact that we're competing more evenly with Brisbane is a real plus," she said.
"The key is that we're allowed to look at the participation of a top-10 player as opposed to not being allowed to. That's the No 1 thing."
Auckland's previous ineligibility to chase a top-10 player had created the anomaly of 2007 winner Jelena Jankovic being unable to defend her crown this year.
Also announced today was that horticulture company Zealandia, the country's leading wholesale nursery, would become a supporting partner of the tournament.
Tennis New Zealand chief executive Steve Walker said Zealandia's sponsorship had helped to secure the Classic's future.
"It was no secret that, when the 2009 WTA upgrade was outlined, there was going to be additional support needed to retain the event," he said.
"The Zealandia commitment and the success of tournaments in the past have set a great platform for future success from all perspectives."
Other changes to the WTA Tour from next year included a 40 percent overall increase in prizemoney in the 55 events worldwide to $US84.4 million.
In the interests of player welfare and longevity, there will be a longer off-season of eight to 10 weeks and a three-week mid-season break after Wimbledon in July.