Tennis: Baker granted qualifying wildcard for ASB classic

New Zealand's Leanne Baker has been awarded a wildcard entry into the singles qualifying of the US$140,000 ($199,200) ASB tennis classic in Auckland from January 3-8.

Tournament director Richard Palmer confirmed she had also been granted a main draw doubles wildcard if she requires it.

With a current ranking of 131 in doubles Baker may make the doubles main draw on her own merits depending on her as yet confirmed partners ranking.

In singles Baker, 24, recently won the New Zealand Residentials title for the sixth time in eight years and the doubles title for the ninth consecutive time.

In 2004 Baker played for the first time in the doubles main draws of grand slams at Wimbledon and the US Open.

Meanwhile there have been some of alterations to the initial entry list to the ASB Classic.

Last year's finalist Yoon Jeong Cho of Korea who was a runner-up to Eleni Daniilidou has withdrawn out of the 2005 Classic with a back injury.

Her replacement is 2000 ASB Classic winner and world No. 94 Anne Kremer of Luxembourg.

Qualifying runs from January 1-2.


ASB Classic 2005 Player Entry List:


1- 26 – Amy Frazier (USA)
2. 28 – Jelena Jankovic (CRO)
3. 29 – Mary Pierce (FRA) – gold/silver exempt
4. 34 – Eleni Daniilidou (GRE)
5. 37 – Shinobu Asagoe (JPN)
6. 41 – Marion Bartoli (FRA)
7. 48 – Kristina Brandi (PUR)
8. 49 – Maria Vento-Kabchi (VEN)
9. 55 – Alina Jidkova (RUS)
10. 57 – Martina Sucha (SVK)
11. 59 – Jill Craybas (USA)
12. 61 – Claudine Schaul (LUX)
13. 68 – Akiko Morigami (JPN)
14. 69 – Shenay Perry(USA)
15. 74 – Marta Domachowska (POL)
16. 76 – Laura Granville (USA)
17. 77 – Tatiana Panova (RUS)
18. 79 – Nuria Llagostera Vives (ESP)
19. 81 – Petra Mandula (HUN)
20. 82 – Lindsay Lee-Waters (USA)
21. 86 – Aniko Kapros (HUN)
22. 87 – Katarina Srebotnik (SLO)
23. 88 – Mara Santangelo (ITA)
24. 91 – Tatiana Perebiynis (UKR)
25. 94 – Anne Kremer (LUX)


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25 WC – Marina Erakovic
26 WC – to be decided
27 Qualifier
28 Qualifier
29 Qualifier
30 Qualifier
31 Winner of US$50,000 event, Ashburn, USA – 189 - Lucie Sfarova (CZE)