The Williams sisters will give Auckland tennis fans a double dose this January with the announcement they're teaming up for the doubles competition.
Venus and Serena are the two high-profile additions to the singles draw, and their inclusion in the doubles adds more star power to the Festival of Tennis.
"I'm actually taking credit for this," Venus said. "My doubles partner will be there and we will play some doubles."
The sisters have tremendous history together, having won 14 Grand Slam titles, three Olympic golds and 22 tour titles.
"It will be huge for us," tournament director Karl Budge told the New Zealand Herald. "They simply don't play events of our tier together, so this is a huge honour for Auckland."
The relationship that Budge has developed with Venus the last three years has been a big part in getting the world's best female tennis player, Serena, to New Zealand - and Venus can't wait for January.
"I am so excited," she said. "I feel at home there. I can't wait to go all the way to the end and bring home the title."
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