Vesnina set to make ASB Classic return 

Source: PhotosportElena Vesnina

Russian Elena Vesnina, the popular finalist from the 2009 ASB Classic has confirmed her return for January's tournament.

After starting the 2009 tournament at No.79 in the world and working her way to the final of the ASB Classic she was eventually stopped by top-10 countrywoman Elena Dementieva.

The 23-year-old now has a ranking of No.22, a career-high after some great results during the past 12 months.

Auckland was her career-first final featuring wins over Aiko Nakamura, Nicole Vaidisova, Caroline Wozniacki and Anne Keothavong.

"I think it's true that if you play successfully in the first tournament of the year you will play well for the year," Vesnina said on Tuesday.

"I love the atmposhere there, the courts and the people."

Shortly after the ASB Classic she made the quarters of Dubai as a qualifier beating world No.7 Svetlana Kuznetsova. Then there was a semi-final appearance at the Ponte Vedra Beach defeating Dominika Cibulkova. The following tournament she made the quarters at Charleston.

Vesnina had her best performance at Wimbledon reaching the fourth round this year and also secured her second career final at the event in New Haven defeating Amelie Mauresmo in semifinals before falling to Wozniacki.

Additional highlights in 2009 included reaching her first Grand Slam final at the French Open doubles with partner Victoria Azarenka and the quarters in doubles at the US Open with Maria Kirilenko. There were also nine wins over top-20 players in singles.

Vesnina has been a member of the strong Russian Fed Cup team and represented her country in doubles at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

"It will be great to welcome Elena back to the ASB Classic as one of the seeds after her best ever year that has seen her achieve a career high ranking of 22. She was a popular and engaging personality who the New Zealand public really enjoyed and she had a lot of fans by the time she left Auckland after reaching the final," says ASB Classic Tournament Director, Brenda Perry.

Already announced are the world No.1 doubles and multi-Grand Slam winning pair of Cara Black (Zimbabwe) and Liezel Huber (United States). More player announcements are expected in the next few weeks.