December 29, 2010
The pulling power of tennis superstar Maria Sharapova has seen ticket sales for next week's ASB Classic reach record levels.
The three-time Grand Slam winning tennis player and part-time model is the tournament's biggest name ever and has sent Aucklanders racing to the ticket booths.
Tournament director Richard Palmer says ticket sales are at an all time high even compared to the years when Anna Kournikova and Lindsay Davenport competed.
"We had, I think, three days in each of those tournaments sold out and a couple quite close... and tickets sales are ahead of both those years," he said.
After arriving in New Zealand yesterday Sharapova has kept a reasonably low profile was straight on to the tournament's highest profile signing had her first hit out at Auckland's tennis centre today.
It's a long way from the Big Apple for the former US Open winner and her entourage, but Shaparova's quest for more glory in 2011 begins here.
Sharapova has come fully prepared with her coach, hitting partner, physical trainer and her own security guard in tow.
Sharapova wasn't talking to media today, but she will be accessible to the public at a signing session on Auckland's viaduct tomorrow afternoon And a handful of lucky fans had a sneak peak of the one-time Wimbledon winner in an intense two hour training session.
But while Sharapova was centre court compatriot Dinara Safina was hidden far away down on court five.
The former world no.1, who is unseeded for the tournament after a year where injury and poor form has seen her ranking slip to 63rd, was looking for a new start.
"Well you know I've been a while on the tour already. And I've never been here, I was like 'ok' but for a change I wanna try a new year and a season to start in New Zealand," said Safina.
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