This year's ASB Classic tennis tournament in Auckland "was a roaring success, but it will be increasingly harder to get top-drawer players to the tournament," according to David Long of FAIRFAX NZ NEWS. Ana Ivanovic beat Venus Williams -- the first time the tournament has had "two stars with such high profiles battle it out for a title." However, having a final like that "could be the exception" in the future unless the WTA "ease up on its strict rules." The Classic is an Int'l level WTA tournament, which is the second tier, behind Premier tournaments such as Brisbane. As such, "there are restrictions put in place by the WTA over who can or can't come to Auckland." An Int'l tournament is "allowed just one top-10 player and each top-10 player can only play in an International tournament once every six months." That means "it is impossible for Venus to come with her sister, Serena, next year and for Ivanovic to return if she gets back into the top 10." What is "more ridiculous" is that the Classic was willing to pay world No. 8 Jelena Jankovic an appearance fee to come to Auckland this year, but "wasn't able to because of the WTA rules." As a result, she "went to Brisbane where she made it to the semifinals, but didn't get paid any appearance fee" (FAIRFAX NZ NEWS, 1/6).
