Story perspectives
Auckland Open Kicks Off 2026 WTA Season with Star Return
1/1/2026
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Story summary
- The 2026 WTA Tour season begins with the Auckland Open next week.
- Venus Williams returns to competition after her marriage.
- Elina Svitolina is the top seed, followed by Emma Navarro, Iva Jovic, and Alex Eala.
- The Auckland Open awards 250 ranking points to the champion and offers $283,347 in prize money, running January 5–11, 2026.
- Victoria Mboko and Maya Joint will compete in the Australian Open after successful 2025 seasons.
