Day 5 Preview - ASB Classic 2023

It’s the first week of the year and Auckland’s ASB Classic has a habit of producing stunning runs by qualifiers.
From the likes of Sandra Cacic winning in 1996 to Bianca Andreescu finishing runner up in 2019, three are through to today’s quarterfinals.
Slovakian Viktoria Kuzmova is no stranger to the crowd at the ASB tennis Arena, having made the semifinals in 2019. She’s one win away from the same stage and takes on 7th seed Danka Kovinic in the second match of the day.
Belgium’s Ysaline Bonaventure has come back from dropping the first two sets in the main draw and the 28-year-old faces in form Canadian Leylah Fernandez who has dropped just three games in two matches.
Spaniard Rebeka Masarova who toppled second seed Sloane Stephens in the opening round faces dangerous Czech Karolina Muchova who is on the comeback from serious abdominal and back problems.
The opening match features top seed Coco Gauff against China’s Zhu Lin who staged a late fightback to beat Venus Williams.