Wickmayer confirmed for Classic

NZPA ©

ASB Classic organisers have snared their second world top-20 player for the women's tennis tournament in Auckland.

Belgium world No 18 Yanina Wickmayer was today confirmed for the US$220,000 (NZ$311,970) tournament on January 4-9.

She joins Chinese world No 15 Li Na, whose presence was confirmed last week.

Wickmayer, 20, has been a big improver this year, after beginning the season ranked 71st in the world.

She has claimed two WTA Tour titles and also reached her first Grand Slam semifinal at the US Open in September where she bowed out to Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki.

The 1.82m Wickmayer this season has won at Linz and Estoril, and reached the final at s'Hertogenbosch as well as the semifinals at Nottingham and quarterfinalss at Birmingham.

"Yanina is the new young face in the top 20 that people around the world are talking about," Classic director Brenda Perry said today.