Auckland Open

New year, fresh starts, and fierce competition — the WTA Auckland Open kicks off the season in style. Follow all the latest news, early upsets, and standout performances from New Zealand’s top tennis showcase.

WTA Era and Modern Growth (1981–present)

The Auckland women’s event became a standalone tournament in 1981, joining the early WTA Tour. It cycled through several tier classifications — Tier V (1988–92), Tier IV (1993–2000, 2002–08), with a brief return to Tier V in 2001 — before becoming an International-level event in 2009. Since 2021, it has held WTA 250 status.

Played on outdoor hard courts to align with Australian Open prep, the tournament gained stability and profile through the decades. Champions like Patty Fendick (1988–89) and Julia Görges (2018–19) underlined its appeal to rising and established talent.

In 2016, the women’s and men’s events reunited under the ASB Classic brand. The pandemic forced cancellations in 2021 and 2022, but the event returned in 2023, with Coco Gauff winning back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024 without dropping a set.

The 2025 edition featured a loaded draw including Naomi Osaka, Emma Raducanu, Madison Keys, and Amanda Anisimova. Clara Tauson won the title after Osaka retired in the final. Now a key stop in the opening week of January, Auckland continues to attract top-tier players looking to build form ahead of Melbourne.

Auckland Open Women’s Champions and Finals

Complete list of women’s singles champions in Auckland, shown in reverse chronological order. The winner’s country code is followed by “d.” to indicate who they defeated in the final.

2026 edition currently in progress
2025 Clara Tauson (DEN) d. Naomi Osaka (JPN) 4–6 ret.
2024 Coco Gauff (USA) d. Elina Svitolina (UKR) 6–7(4–7), 6–3, 6–3
2023 Coco Gauff (USA) d. Rebeka Masarova (ESP) 6–1, 6–1
2022 Not held – –
2021 Not held – –
2020 Serena Williams (USA) d. Jessica Pegula (USA) 6–3, 6–3
2019 Julia Görges (GER) d. Rebecca Peterson (SWE) 2–6, 7–5, 6–1
2018 Julia Görges (GER) d. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 6–1, 7–6(7–4)
2017 Lauren Davis (USA) d. Ana Konjuh (CRO) 6–3, 6–1
2016 Sloane Stephens (USA) d. Mona Barthel (GER) 7–5, 6–2
2015 Venus Williams (USA) d. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 2–6, 6–3, 6–3
2014 Ana Ivanovic (SRB) d. Venus Williams (USA) 6–2, 5–7, 6–4
2013 Agnieszka Radwańska (POL) d. Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) 6–3, 6–4
2012 Zheng Jie (CHN) d. Flavia Pennetta (ITA) 2–6, 6–3, 2–0 ret.
2011 Gréta Arn (HUN) d. Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) 6–3, 6–3
2010 Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) d. Sania Mirza (IND) 6–3, 6–1
2009 Flavia Pennetta (ITA) d. Ayumi Morita (JPN) 2–6, 6–1, 6–4
2008 Aravane Rezaï (FRA) d. Monica Niculescu (ROU) 6–2, 6–2
2007 Lindsay Davenport (USA) d. Aravane Rezaï (FRA) 6–1, 6–2
2006 Not held – –
2005 Katarina Srebotnik (SLO) d. Shinobu Asagoe (JPN) 5–7, 7–5, 6–4
2004 Eleni Daniilidou (GRE) d. Ashley Harkleroad (USA) 6–3, 6–2
2003 Eleni Daniilidou (GRE) d. Cho Yoon-jeong (KOR) 6–4, 4–6, 7–6(7–2)
2002 Anna Smashnova (ISR) d. Tatiana Panova (RUS) 6–2, 6–2
2001 Meilen Tu (USA) d. Mariana Mesa (ARG) 7–6(10–8), 6–2
2000 Anne Kremer (LUX) d. Cara Black (ZIM) 6–4, 6–4
1999 Julie Halard-Decugis (FRA) d. Dominique Van Roost (BEL) 6–4, 6–1
1998 Dominique Van Roost (BEL) d. Silvia Farina (ITA) 4–6, 7–6(7–2), 7–5
1997 Marion Maruska (AUT) d. Judith Wiesner (AUT) 6–3, 6–1
1996 Sandra Cacic (USA) d. Barbara Paulus (AUT) 6–3, 1–6, 6–4
1995 Nicole Provis (AUS) d. Ginger Helgeson (USA) 3–6, 6–2, 6–1
1994 Ginger Helgeson (USA) d. Inés Gorrochategui (ARG) 7–6(7–4), 6–3
1993 Elna Reinach (RSA) d. Catherine Kuhlman (USA) 6–0, 6–0
1992 Robin White (USA) d. Andrea Strnadová (CZE) 2–6, 6–4, 6–3
1991 Eva Švíglerová (TCH) d. Andrea Strnadová (TCH) 6–2, 0–6, 6–1
1990 Leila Meskhi (URS) d. Sabine Appelmans (BEL) 6–1, 6–0
1989 Patty Fendick (USA) d. Belinda Cordwell (NZL) 6–2, 6–0
1988 Patty Fendick (USA) d. Sara Gomer (GBR) 6–3, 7–6(5–3)
1987 Gretchen Rush (USA) d. Terry Phelps (USA) 6–2, 6–3
1986 Not held – –
1985 Anne Hobbs (GBR) d. Louise Field (NZL) 6–3, 6–1
1984 Not held – –
1983 Not held – –
1982 Susan Hagey (USA) d. Belinda Cordwell (NZL) 6–4, 6–2
1981 Pam Whytcross (AUS) d. Chris Newton (NZL) 3–6, 6–4, 6–1
1980 Janet Newberry (USA) d. Judy Connor Chaloner (NZL) 6–2, 6–1
1979 Pam Whytcross (AUS) d. Brenda Perry (NZL) 6–3, 7–5
1978 Helena Anliot (SWE) d. Marilyn Tesch (AUS) 6–4, 6–3
1977 Dianne Balestrat (AUS) d. Not available Not available
1976 Sue Barker (GBR) / Helga Niessen Masthoff (NED) d. Shared title (rain) 6–5 ret.
1975 Evonne Goolagong (AUS) d. Linda Mottram (GBR) 6–2, 7–5
1974 Evonne Goolagong (AUS) d. Ann Kiyomura (USA) 6–3, 6–1
1973 Evonne Goolagong (AUS) d. Marilyn Pryde (NZL) 6–0, 6–1
1972 Kerry Melville (AUS) d. Rosie Casals (USA) 6–2, 6–0
1971 Margaret Smith Court (AUS) d. Evonne Goolagong (AUS) 3–6, 7–6, 6–2
1970 Ann Haydon Jones (GBR) d. Kerry Melville (AUS) 0–6, 6–4, 6–1
1969 Ann Haydon Jones (GBR) d. Karen Krantzcke (AUS) 6–1, 6–1
1968 Kerry Melville (AUS) d. Gail Sherriff (AUS) 8–6, 6–1
1967 Rosie Casals (USA) d. Françoise Dürr (FRA) 6–2, 7–5
1966 Margaret Smith (AUS) d. Kerry Melville (AUS) 6–1, 6–1
1965 Rita Bentley (GBR) d. Jill Blackman (AUS) 6–4, 6–3
1964 Margaret Smith (AUS) d. Jan Lehane (AUS) 6–4, 3–6, 6–0
1963 Lesley Turner (AUS) d. Ruia Morrison-Davy (NZL) 6–2, 6–1
1962 Darlene Hard (USA) d. Ruia Morrison (NZL) 7–5, 7–5
1961 Jan Lehane (AUS) d. Ruia Morrison (NZL) 6–0, 6–3
1960 Ruia Morrison (NZL) d. Margaret Smith (AUS) 6–2, 6–4
1959 Ruia Morrison (NZL) d. Betty Holstein (AUS) 6–4, 6–4
1958 Angela Mortimer (GBR) d. Ruia Morrison (NZL) 6–2, 6–1
1957 Margaret Hellyer (AUS) d. Ruia Morrison (NZL) 6–4, 6–4
1956 Mary Bevis Hawton (AUS) d. Thelma Coyne Long (AUS) 8–6, 10–8
Data sourced from WTA results (1985–2025) and Tennis Auckland archives (1956–1984).