The first WTA 250 event of the 2025 season has begun at the ASB Classic in Auckland. Naomi Osaka is among those competing in New Zealand, and she hopes to win the largest share of the prize money pot.
This year's ASB Classic is guaranteed to have a champion different from the last two years. WTA Finals champion Coco Gauff won the 2023 and 2024 iterations of the tournament, including overcoming Elina Svitolina in a high-quality final last year.
Gauff decided to play at the United Cup this year instead of the ASB Classic. She won her singles and doubles match against Canada to seal a 2-1 victory in Team USA's opening match of the combined ATP and WTA event.
This week, the Brisbane International is also hosting a WTA 500 tournament. The tournament's higher status means its prize money is higher than the ASB Classic's. Aryna Sabalenka is among the players who signed up for the event in Brisbane.
However, the ASB Classic's lower prize money has not stopped it from attracting high-profile players. Four-time Grand Slam Osaka won her opening match in straight sets against Lina Glushko.
Osaka is one of three former US Open winners who signed up for the ASB Classic. Emma Raducanu will face Robin Montgomery in her opening match, while Sloane Stephens, the 2017 champion at Flushing Meadows, lost narrowly to Ann Li.
Although the prize money cannot match the Brisbane International, decent rewards are still on offer for players, especially those who reach the latter stages of the tournament in Auckland.
This year's ASB Classic champion will receive $36,300 out of $275,094 offered at the event and 250 ranking points for that achievement. The draw in Auckland looks open on paper, and picking the potential winner from the impressive entry list is challenging.
Losing a final at the WTA 250 level or above is a challenging moment for players, but the 2025 ASB Classic will get a worthwhile consolation prize of $21,484 and 163 ranking points. Venus Williams, Bianca Andreescu, and the currently injured Jessica Pegula have finished as the runner-up in Auckland in the past.
Falling at the semifinal stage will still be enough for players to collect a solid prize money amount. Those women are set to receive 98 ranking points and $11,970 for getting past the opening three rounds.
The rewards become less lucrative for quarterfinalists. However, the ranking points, in particular, could be crucial for lower-ranked players who get that far in the draw. $6,815 and 54 points are the rewards for the quarterfinalists.
Players who win one main draw match will pocket $4,160 and have 30 ranking points added to their total. Just one ranking point is given to players who lose in the opening round of WTA 250 tournaments, as well as $2,975 in prize money.
Although we are in the season's opening week, the caliber of players at the ASB Classic means it will likely be one of the strongest WTA 250 draws of the 2025 season. Therefore, fans should be treated to excellent tennis throughout the week.
2025 ASB Classic Auckland WTA Prize Money & Ranking Points Overview:
| Points | Prize Money | |
| Winner | 250 points | $36,300 |
| Finalist | 163 points | $21,484 |
| Semi-finalists | 98 points | $11,970 |
| Quarter-finalists | 54 points | $6,815 |
| 2nd round | 30 points | $4,160 |
| 1st round | 1 point | $2,975 |
