The ASB Classic, also known as the ATP Auckland Open and the WTA Auckland Open, is a WTA and ATP event held in Auckland, New Zealand. It is held in January at the ASB Tennis Centre and is usually held a week after the Australian Open.

It is named after their current sponsor – the ASB Bank.

ATP Auckland Open

The ATP Auckland Open is an ATP 250 tournament played each January at the ASB Tennis Centre in Parnell, Auckland.

The tournament serves as a lead-up event to the Australian Open and returned in 2023 after a two-year break due to COVID-19 travel restrictions in New Zealand.

It was established in 1886, it is one of tennis’s oldest tournaments. Originally played on grass courts until 1977, the tournament switched to hard courts in 1978 at the ASB Tennis Centre in Auckland, New Zealand.

The event has evolved through different ATP categories, operating as an International Series from 1998 to 2008 before becoming an ATP 250 series tournament in 2009, a status it maintains today.

WTA Auckland Open

The WTA Auckland Open is a women’s tennis tournament held annually at the ASB Tennis Centre in Parnell, Auckland.

The tournament kicks off the tennis season in the first week of January, followed by the men’s ATP event the next week, both serving as preparation tournaments for the Australian Open.

After a two-year hiatus in 2021 and 2022 due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, the tournament made its comeback in 2023.

Notable Champions in the ASB Classic

ASB Classic had declared Serena Williams to be the queen of Auckland Tennis, as she had won victoriously a couple of times in the ASB Classic.

Another notable champion is Spanish David Ferrer, who became champion from 2011-2013. Ferrer wanted to continue his longstanding winning at the ASB Classic, however, he suffered a calf injury while playing against Pablo Carreno Busta, which led him to retire from the game and fail to get his fourth championship.

Rafael Nadal was only 17 years old when he stepped foot at the ASB Classic for the first time.

At that time, he played against tennis veteran Jiri Novak, and Nadal successfully won the match.