Teenage tennis sensation Cori 'Coco' Gauff is heading to Auckland for the 2020 ASB Classic.
The 15-year-old captured sporting headlines at Wimbledon in June, when she became the youngest player to ever qualify for the main draw, and beat idol and five-time champion Venus Williams in the first round.
Gauff continued her run through to the second week, before she was eliminated in the fourth round. The world No.68 finished the season in fine form, with a third-round run at the US Open, followed by a first WTA title at the Generali Linz Ladies Open in Austria - becoming the youngest tour winner since 2004.
Tournament director Karl Budge has lauded the recruitment of such an exciting prospect.
"Coco is probably the most-in-demand player on tour at the moment," Budge said.
"She was the front page of almost every global publication after her Wimbledon triumphs and set the sport alight.
"We have had some superstars come through Auckland early in their careers, however Coco may well be the best of them all."
Gauff joins a stellar cast that includes former world No.1 Serena Williams, 2019 finalist and world No.5 Bianca Andreescu and defending champion Julia Georges.
The American is looking forward to her first visit to one of the most popular tournaments of the year.
"I can’t wait to start my season in Auckland," Gauff said. "2019 was such an incredible year and I achieved so many of the goals that I had set for myself.
"Wimbledon was obviously a highlight, as was capturing my first WTA title. However I have a number of goals and things that I am working on in my game, and I can’t wait to start my 2020 year at the ASB Classic.
“So many players talk about Auckland. I have not been before, so this will be cool to experience."
The prodigious teen has also been named in the Time 100 Next 2019, a list that identifies rising stars who are set to shape the future - not just in sport, but in the world in general.
