Confidence Williams will front

ASB Classic tournament director Karl Budge is confident drawcard Serena Williams will front for next year’s tournament, despite battling an on-going shoulder injury.

Williams pulled out of the season-ending WTA Finals in Singapore later this month due to the lingering injury.

The 22-time grand slam singles champion has battled knee and shoulder injuries all year, and has only played in eight tournaments in 2016.

However, Budge told the NZ Herald he isn’t worried about Williams’ health, and is confident she will be ‘‘firing’’ come the tournament, which will be held in Auckland between January 2-14.

‘‘Everything is on track for Serena to be here next year and this [injury] doesn’t change it at all,’’ Budge said.

‘‘We have heard nothing to believe that she won’t be on the court here in Auckland as planned. Serena has a great track record of playing the first week of the year and we are lucky that we form build of that Australian Open build-up.

‘‘By January, she wouldn’t have played since the US Open and she will be very keen to get back out on court. We are fully confident Serena will be in Auckland, injuryfree and firing.’’

Williams, the biggest name organisers have attracted to the tournament to date, will have bigger fish to fry next year, starting with the Australian Open nine days after the final in Auckland.

But the 35-year-old will still want a solid workout in Auckland in the tournament older sister Venus suffered a first-round exit in earlier this year.

An early exit for Serena would no doubt disappoint fans wanting to see the one of the best athletes in the world win, but it would still be better than her not fronting at all.

However, doctors have sent her home to rest up, giving her plenty of time to get healthy for Auckland.