Caroline Wozniacki

World number four Elena Dementieva had to battle back from a big first set deficit to avoid a shock opening round exit at the hands of Taiwan's Yung-Jan Chan in the ASB Classic women's tournament in Auckland, New Zealand, on Tuesday.

The tournament's top seed fought back from 5-1 down in the first set to take the match 7-5, 6-3 after Chan threw everything at her more favoured opponent.

Second seed Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark had a much easier passage through to the second round, dispatching Italian qualifier Alberta Brianti 6-1, 6-0.

Danish tennis star Caroline Wozniacki hopes to use Auckland's ASB Classic to launch her charge into the world's top 10 for the first time.

The 18-year-old is ranked 12 in the world after a scintillating 2008, and is rated by many as a future superstar of the women's game.

Wozniacki's goal for 2009 is cracking the top 10 which is not unrealistic considering she started 2008 in 68th position.

She says it's a good place to start and while she's never been here, she has heard so many good things about Auckland and is excited to be playing here.

World number four Elena Dementieva and 12th ranked Caroline Wozniacki arrived in Auckland on the same flight last night to compete in next week's ASB Classic tennis tournament.

While weary, Dementieva is excited about the prospect of playing in New Zealand for the first time.

Qualifying starts today with New Zealanders Kairangi Vano and Dianne Hollands playing each other in the first round.

Caroline Wozniacki and Victoria Azarenka are headed to Memphis in February.

World No. 12 Wozniacki and the 15th-ranked Azarenka have signed on for the Cellular South Cup set for February 13-21, 2009 at The Racquet Club of Memphis.

'Tis the season for early Oscar predictions. But we think those movie critics have a soft job, since they get advance screenings of potential candidates. Who could have scripted the 2008 Wimbledon men's final or foreseen the scramble in the women's rankings? Nonetheless, we'll plunge ahead, figuratively blindfolded, and offer our nominees for tennis' top 10 storylines of 2009:

Another blow to the organisers of next month's ASB Classic in Auckland with news Katarina Srebotnik has pulled out.

The world No.20 and fourth seed Srebotnik has pulled out with an achilles injury.

She follows second seed Nadia Petrova in withdrawing, leaving just two top 20 players in the field.

Tournament director Brenda Perry says she's had confirmation both Elena Dementieva and Caroline Wozniacki will be arriving on Friday night.

Graeme Mair takes a look back at the last 12 months on the WTA Tour

There was something for almost everyone in women's tennis during 2008 as the Grand Slams were shared between four different players.

Maria Sharapova started the year with an 18-match winning streak, including victory at the Australian Open, and looked capable of dominating.

But the remainder of Sharapova's season was blighted by a rotator cuff injury that eventually forced her to sit out the final five months.

This Danish dasher is another player who is at a career-high ranking and one with the potential to go a lot higher.

The Eighteen-year-old made the greatest leap across the course of the year, rising from No.60 to No.12 thanks partly to three quick-fire tournament wins at Stockholm, New Haven and the Japan Open.

On her way to the final at Luxembourg in October, the Dane in fact tallied the 100th win of her career.

The full field for January's ASB Tennis Classic has been revealed in Auckland this afternoon.

The eight seeded players are all ranked inside the world's top 41.

Names unknown before today, 5th seed Anabel Medina Garrigues, 6th seed Aleksandra Wozniak, 7th seed Shahar Peer, and Nicole Vaidasova at eight.

New Zealand's Marina Erakovic enters the tournament at 13, ranked 60th in the world.

Elena Dementieva and Caroline Wozniacki are seeded one and three.

Caroline Wozniacki’s tennis and modeling career on the rise 

Caroline Wozniacki’s svelte figure, long blond hair and winsome smile make her look more like a model than a professional tennis player. But watch her in action and it’s clear why the 18-year-old is currently ranked 13th in the world.

Wozniacki was in Louisville last week for Rock-n-Racquets, a tennis exhibition at Freedom Hall.

Wozniacki’s love of sports, especially tennis began at an early age. Wozniacki, a native of Denmark, began playing tennis at age 7.