KEY POINTS:
The numbers are starting to work in favour of Marina Erakovic as she chases a once-improbable spot at the Beijing Olympics.
Erakovic has climbed two spots to 84 in the world rankings, a position unlikely to win her an automatic spot.
However, as Erakovic is still defending relatively
few WTA ranking points, a couple of wins during the claycourt season should lift her ranking into the 70s and put an Olympic spot within reach.
It is a scenario that has New Zealand tennis bosses increasingly excited. Richard Palmer, the ASB Classic tournament director who will shift his attention to the Heineken Open next year, has a stark warning for the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) should they try to veto her selection on the grounds Erakovic is unlikely to reach the last 16.
"The precedent has already been set with the soccer teams," Palmer said. The NZOC controversially okayed both the men's and women's teams despite their qualifying in farcically easy circumstances and having virtually zero chance of a medal.
"When you think that tennis is a genuinely global sport and probably the No 1 women's sport in terms of its global reach and significance, then having New Zealand represented can only be positive even if it is unlikely she will reach the last 16.
"If the NZOC decided not to select her on those grounds they would deservedly be opening themselves up to a lot of flak."
There are still a lot of balls to cross the net before the situation turns from pipe dream to reality.
The 64-strong field is made up of direct entry to the 56-highest ranked players, six International Tennis Federation (ITF) wildcards and two tripartite picks, this year going to Zimbabwe and Liechtenstein.
There is a twist, however, as only four players are allowed to represent any one country in the singles.
There are 10 Russians in the top 56 so six will be ineligible, seven French, leaving three ineligible. That alone moves the cut-off point to No 65.
But there is further good news for Erakovic. In between No 56 in the world and her position at 84, lie two Americans, two more Russians, two more French, an Italian and a Ukrainian who will also be ineligible on the four from one country rule.
The number now shifts from 65 to 73. The chances are a few of the ITF wildcards will come from those positions just outside the automatic cut-off as well.
While Olympic tennis has grown significantly in stature and players no longer actively try to avoid it, there will still be athletes unable to participate through illness or injury.
Now, as Erakovic's advisers will be acutely aware, a coveted Olympic spot is tantalisingly within reach.
Until June 9, the rankings cut-off point for Olympic entry, Erakovic has other things on her mind, most notably her first grand slam appearance, at Roland Garros.
Erakovic will become the first New Zealander to contest a grand slam tennis event for more than six years, from May 25, after shooting up the world rankings this year.
Transplanted Bulgarian Pavlina Nola was the last New Zealander in a grand slam, at the 2002 Australian Open.
Erakovic is targeting two WTA claycourt tournaments in the lead-up. The first is a tier-four tournament at Fes, Morocco, from April 28, and the second a tier-three event at Istanbul from May 19.
She is currently in Amsterdam training on clay with coach Michiel Schaepers.
