Venus Williams will play the doubles event at the ASB Classic as well as returning as a singles star in Auckland.
Williams was given a wild card for the ASB Classic and it was followed up by the Australian Open giving the tennis icon entry to the first Grand Slam of the year.
The star returned to tennis sporadically during 2025, including Williams’ return to the US Open in September.
Williams’ doubles partner for the ASB Classic has now been confirmed and they will play Alexandra Eala and Iva Jovic in the first round.
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Williams will partner with Elina Svitolina at the ASB Classic, a star she has never played doubles with before.
Svitolina is a former world number three, having reached three Grand Slam semi-finals between 2019 and 2023.
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The star has played just one tournament since the 2025 US Open, but she too will return at the ASB Classic in both singles and doubles.
The pair will play the rising duo of Eala and Jovic, two young stars who made giant strides in their careers last season.
Jovic won her first WTA title in Guadalajara, while Eala reached the final of the Eastbourne Open and cracked the top 50 for the first time.
Eala and Jovic’s joint age is just 38 years old, which is seven years younger than Williams’ current age.
Venus Williams and Alexandra Eala’s singles opponents revealed
The draw for the ASB Classic has been revealed, and Williams, Eala, Jovic, and Svitolina have now found out who they will face.
Svitolina will be the number one seed at the tournament and she will face World No. 75 Varvara Gracheva in the opening round.
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Williams, meanwhile, has been given an exceptionally tricky test against former Australian Open semi-finalist Magda Linette in round one.
Eala has a similarly tough task in her opening round, as she has been drawn against former top 20 player Donna Vekic.
Jovic, who arrives at the ASB Classic as the third seed, will play an as-yet-unannounced qualifier in the first round.
