WELLINGTON, Dec 29: Former world number one Lindsay Davenport, who gave birth to her first child in June, will face fellow American Laura Granville in the Auckland Open first round following the draw on Saturday.

The 31-year-old three-time Grand Slam winner, who returned to the WTA tour in September after an 11-month absence and captured her 53rd career title in Quebec City in November, is using the tournament to prepare for next month’s Australian Open.

Top-seeded Russian Vera Zvonareva, who is ranked 22nd, will play teenage wild card Sacha Jones.

The Auckland Open begins on Dec 31. The Australian Open, the year’s first Grand Slam, runs from Jan 14 to 27.

—Reuters