WTA: Auckland hopes for Serena’s gaming spirit

In 2017, Serena Williams won her season in Auckland. The tournament director there hopes for a Da Capo in a few weeks’ time.

Serena Williams might want to avoid the complete cold start – at least that’s what the tournament director of the WTA tournament in Auckland, Karl Budge, hopes. Almost a year ago, this very same team had already succeeded in attracting the 23-time Major Winner to New Zealand. With the sporty result that Serena suffered her only defeat of the season in Auckland, surprisingly against her countrywoman Madison Brengle.

After that, the year 2017 had only good news for Serena, starting with the Australian Open and the birth of her first child. However, it is by no means certain whether Williams will actually go to Melbourne to defend his title. Most recently, Serena coach Patrick Mouratoglou had called for restraint.

Karl Budge won’t fight it any further. With the promises of world champion Caroline Wozniacki, the German number one Julia Görges and Agnieszka Radwanska, the field of participants in Auckland is already pleased, but a start of the best player of our time would raise the event to an even higher level.

“There’s no substitute for the time on the court and the feeling of control over his game,”said Budge,”I hope Serena wants Matches to play a preparatory tournament,” the question is whether she wants to do it in the first or second week of the season.