The ASB tennis classic has suffered a major blow with one of the tournament's top billings, world number 18 Yanina Wickmayer banned for a year after missing a drugs test.
The Belgian player was a semi finalist as this year's U.S. Open and has been suspended by Flemish Doping Tribunal after falling foul of the "whereabouts rule".
The rule states players must notify their national doping agency of where they can be reached on a daily basis.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF), which is responsible for doping controls in tennis, says it's not yet been informed of the suspension while the women's WTA Tour says it was also unable to comment.
Wickmayer was competing in the Tournament of Champions in Bali this week.
