ASB Classic organiser Karl Budge will be rubbing his hands with glee, after two of big-name signings for next year's tournament progressed to the US Open women's final on Friday (NZ time).
American Serena Williams has earned herself a fourth shot at equalling Margaret Court's all-time record 24 Grand Slam singles crowns with a steely US Open semi-final win over Elina Svitolina.
But she'll face Canadian teenager Bianca Andreescu, who failed to qualify for this event last year, but will now play for her first Grand Slam title.
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This week, Andreescu was confirmed as a starter for the 2020 Auckland tournament, where she was beaten by German Julia Goerges in the final this year.
Williams crashed out of the 2017 ASB Classic second round, but soon after, revealed she was pregnant.
Bidding to become the oldest major champion in tennis history, she advanced to her 10th Flushing Meadows final with a 6-3 6-1 victory over Ukrainian world No.5 Svitolina.
Turning 38 this month, Williams will play 19-year-old Andreescu in Saturday's title match, after the Canadian sensation beat Swiss ace Belinda Bencic 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 in a much more competitive second semi-final.
Andreescu started the year ranked 178th in the world, but is guaranteed to leave New York in the top 10.
Williams is vowing not to underestimate her final foe, after already suffering the despair of losing all three major finals she's made since the birth of daughter Alexis Olympia.
The American succumbed to Naomi Osaka in last year's drama-charged US Open decider, where she received a game penalty that sparked an extraordinary second-set meltdown, and lost the 2018 and 2019 Wimbledon finals to Angelique Kerber and Simon Halep respectively.
There was never a hint of the six-time champion ever losing focus against Svitolina.
Williams jumped out to a 3-0 lead, before taking the opening set in 41 minutes.
The match was all-but over, after the eighth seed secured a double break in the second set, then closed it out after 1h 10m to qualify for a record 33rd Grand Slam singles final.
Williams' 101st victory at Flushing Meadows also matched fellow American Chris Evert's record for most US Open match wins.
"It's impressive to be in any club with Chrissie. It's just really awesome," Williams said, after belting 34 winners to Svitolina's 11 on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
In reaching the Open final three days shy of 20 years since landing her maiden major in New York in 1999, Williams also removed her younger sister Venus from a page in the history books.
The seemingly ageless champion now holds the mark for largest gap between their first and most recent Grand Slam final appearances, exceeding the 19 years and 12 days that Venus waited between the 1997 US final and 2017 Wimbledon climax.
"I don't think about it," Williams said. "I just come out here and do what I can."
The winner of two titles in a spectacular 2019 campaign, Andreescu had to fight back from 5-2 down in the second set against 12th-seeded Bencic to record her 13th straight victory and 44th of the season.
The pair met in the Canadian Open final in Toronto three weeks ago, when Williams withdrew with a back injury. That was Andreescu's only win over her rival in four meetings.
If she beats Williams, Andreescu will claim her maiden major in just her fourth Grand Slam, equalling Monica Seles' record.
AAP
