Top seed Agnieszka Radwanska has played down her relatively late arrival for the Auckland Classic tennis tournament, saying she’ll be ready to go when she walks out on court.

Radwanska, whose first-round match is on Tuesday, landed in Auckland on Saturday afternoon, a day after tournament organisers had expected.

The Polish world No.4 is confident the short lead-in time won’t pose any issues.

“I don’t think so,” she said on Sunday.

“I always spend Christmas at home and three or four days here should be okay.”

Radwanska’s opponent is yet to be determined.

She will face a qualifier after the player she originally drew, Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic, pulled out because of wrist injury.

Whoever her adversary turns out to be, she said the first outing of the season was “always a bit tricky”.

“After the off-season, it’s always hard to play the first matches,” Radwanska said.

“Practice is a different thing from matches, but I’m ready to go.”

Noted for court craft rather than power, Radwanska will head into 2013 after her best year on the WTA Tour.

The 23-year-old reached a career-high ranking of No.2, won three titles to take her tally to 10 and make her first grand slam final, losing to Serena Williams at Wimbledon in three sets.

The opening day of the main draw on Monday features three players who have claimed the Auckland title – defending champion Zheng Jie of China, Belgian Yanina Wickmayer and Greece’s two-time winner Eleni Daniilidou.

Fourth seed Zheng faces American Jamie Hampton, while No.3 seed Wickmayer meets Slovakia’s Magdalena Rybarikova.

Daniilidou takes on American Coco Vandeweghe in a battle between two wildcards.

Another former champion will also be in action, Hungary’s Greta Arn, who is up against Thai Nudnida Luangnam in the final round of qualifying.

Like Radwanska, two of the Classic’s other drawcards, German No.2 seed Julia Goerges and hometown favourite Marina Erakovic, have drawn qualifiers and will also start their singles campaigns on Tuesday.