A former world number one is guaranteed to be packing their bags after the first round of the ASB classic this year.
Victoria Azarenka and Venus Williams will meet in round one, meaning an early exit for one of the big draw cards for this year's tournament.
The two feature in a jam-packed side of the draw that includes top seed Caroline Wozniacki - meaning only one of the three former world number ones will be able to progress past the quarter-final.
On the other side, defending champion Julia Goerges will meet 30-year-old Swede Johanna Larsson in the first round, and Canadian Eugenie Bouchard will face American Madison Brengle who upset Serena Williams here two years ago.
Third seed Su-Wei Hsieh meets Polona Hercog in the first round and the fourth-seeded Petra Martic will open up against rising American Sofia Kenin.
The 2016 Olympic champion Monica Puig will take on wildcard Bethanie Mattek-Sands, and 2017 champion Lauren Davis comes up against Spain's Lara Arruabarrena.
Newshub.
