ASB Classic targets Jelena Ostapenko

ASB Classic tournament director Karl Budge is looking to bring French Open Champion Jelena Ostapenko back to New Zealand next year, although her price will go up. She has played at the last two editions of the ASB Classic due to a long-term deal she signed with the tournament, but that contract has expired this year.

Her appearance fee would surely have gone up now that she is a Grand Slam winner.“The conversation changes now," Budge said. “It depends on who else [we get] and I've got to weigh up what the field looks like and who we think are the best options.” “But I'm optimistic that if we decide to make a real play for her, that she'll be here.

I think her starting position would be that she'd like to be in Auckland at the beginning of the year." Budge hopes that the loyalty factor becomes vital when it comes to negotiations, feeling that because he took a gamble last year and gave her a wildcard.

“Ana Konjuh's deal had ended but she still turned up this year," Budge said. “Jelena's deal officially ended this year, but I caught up with her and her mum in France and that relationship is obviously pretty solid.” He then had some positive words to say about the feisty Latvian.

"That's what you get with a player like that, she's all fire and brimstone," Budge said. “You're either going to get rocks or diamonds, but that's probably why she won Roland Garros.

You look at the confidence she takes onto a court, she expects to win. But she'd never won a WTA title, let alone a grand slam.” “But that expecting to win from her and being angry when she's made a bad shot is a good sign.” ALSO READOstapenko's mother: 'I realized she was powerful the day she was born' .