Tennis: ASB serves up tough draw for Dushevina

Vera Dushevina

Vera Dushevina is hoping her luck might turn this week after she arrived in Auckland without her luggage and then found she is facing a second round clash with No 1 seed Nadia Petrova at the ASB Classic.

The 18-year-old Russian had to front the media yesterday in borrowed clothes as her kit went missing en route from Moscow. Thankfully some of her fellow Russian pros were kind enough to lend her some shorts and a clean T-Shirt.

"I have my racquets because they travel with me on the plane. This is the first time this has ever happened. It is a nice present for New Year. I might have to go and buy some tennis shoes and some clothes if my luggage doesn't arrive soon."

Dushevina's mood was barely brightened by the draw for this year's tournament which starts tomorrow. Assuming she beats the qualifier she has been drawn against in the first round, she will then face either fellow Russian and world No 7 Petrova or Mariana Diaz-Oliva of Argentina.

The potential second round clash between the two Russians looms as one of the bigger early games, although Dushevina, currently ranked 44 in the world, says she holds no fear about what lies in store.

"It is the first tournament of the year. I'm quite relaxed. The big thing for me is to play well at the Australian Open. It was minus 15 degrees Celsius when I left Moscow so it is nice to be somewhere sunny."

Elsewhere in the draw former world No 3 Jelena Dokic has landed a tough opener against Germany's Julia Schruff.

Dokic, who is in Auckland courtesy of receiving a wild card invitation, is attempting to put her career back on track. Ranked as high as No 4 in the world in 2002, her tempestuous relationship with her father and injuries saw her form slump.

The 22-year-old wants to get back into the top 100 but will face a dogged opponent in Schruff.

Possibly the most interesting tie of the first round will be the clash between last year's winner, Katarina Srebotnik of Slovakia and Eleni Daniilidou, the ASB Classic winner in both 2003 and 2004.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY