Day 3 Preview - ASB Classic 2023

DAY 3 PREVIEW: Emma, Leylah and Venus return and there’s a first look at Sofia.

Ten Grand Slam singles titles highlight centre court action with Sofia Kenin the 2020 Australian Open champion kicking off proceedings at 10am against China’s Xinyu Wang. So impressive in her first-round victory on Monday, young Canadian star Leylah Fernandez gets the second-round action underway against Austrian Julia Grabher.

There’s another chance to watch one of the greats in action with wildcard Venus Williams playing China’s Lin Zhu. The 42-year-old American winner of seven Grand Slam titles, wound back the clock on Monday with a win in her first match since the US Open against fellow American Katie Volynets.

The night session features 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu who toughed out a three-set win over four hours which included two rain delays on day two. Raducanu has immediately fallen in love with the Auckland crowd. “I was loving the support, I felt like I was playing in the UK and I absolutely love it. I felt everyone was behind me and it really helped,” Raducanu said after her triumph over Czech teenager Linda Fruhvirtova.

Raducanu meets Slovakian qualifier Viktoria Kuzmova who reached the semi-finals in Auckland in 2019 and is a powerful baseliner. It promises to be a thrilling evening session. By Matt Brown, Newstalk ZB