Auckland’s summer of tennis already has its first big name locked in, with reigning ASB Classic champion Elina Svitolina confirming she will return to defend her women’s title in 2027.
Currently ranked world No. 9, the Ukrainian star is the first player announced for next year’s tournament, which will once again bring some of international tennis’ biggest names to downtown Auckland.
The WTA Women’s ASB Classic will run from 4–10 January 2027, followed by the ATP Men’s tournament from 11–16 January at Manuka Doctor Arena.
Svitolina’s return follows a standout 2026 season that began with victory in Auckland, where she defeated China’s Wang Xinyu in straight sets to claim the title. She later added another trophy at the BNL Italian Open in Rome, defeating world No. 3 and two-time ASB Classic champion Coco Gauff in the final.
The 31-year-old now has 20 career tournament titles and has spent much of 2026 deep in the draw at some of the sport’s biggest events, including a runner-up finish in Dubai and semi-final appearances at the Australian Open, Indian Wells, Stuttgart and Toronto. She also reached four quarterfinals, including at Roland Garros.
“We are thrilled that Elina will return to defend her title in Auckland,” said Tournament Director, Nicolas Lamperin. “Elina has moved back into the elite group at the top of the women’s world rankings, and her decision to defend her title in Auckland is massive for our tournament.”
Svitolina previously reached a career-high world ranking of No. 3 before taking an extended break across 2022 and 2023 following the birth of her daughter. Her return to the upper reaches of the rankings has made her one of the major comeback stories in women’s tennis.
“It’s been a great season for me so far.” said Svitolina “When I arrived in Auckland at the start of the year, I had really low expectations for the season and for the tournament. But match by match I gained confidence and I feel that it gave me the first step towards a great year so far in 2026.
“For me it is always important to play well in the first tournaments. I always aim for the good result – as a check on my game and my physical results.
“I am very happy to be back in Auckland again and I will do my very best to play well there again.
“I really enjoy the city. I love the sights. The tournament itself is very well organised and of course the people – the crowds make it very special. It is always a packed stadium and great atmosphere which gives the motivation to play well.”
For Kiwi tennis fans, Svitolina’s confirmation is an early indication of what could be another strong international field in Auckland. Lamperin said securing top-10 players was particularly significant given the pressure for leading players to compete at higher-ranked and more lucrative tournaments.
“We are privileged to host not only one of the world’s premier players, but also one of the most respected people in the game.”
More names are expected to follow, with Lamperin heading to the US Open as negotiations continue with potential additions to the 2027 field.
“I am in negotiation with several high-quality players and will be heading to the US Open where we hope to be in a position to name more major players in the coming weeks.”
The ASB Classic combines WTA 250 and ATP 250 tournaments across almost two weeks, making it one of the highlights of Auckland’s summer calendar. Beyond the action on court, the event has become just as much about the atmosphere, food, hospitality and long summer days spent courtside.
The 2027 ASB Classic runs from 4–16 January, with tickets now on sale.
