Tennis: Champion wary of qualifiers

Defending champion Katarina Srebotnik says she will take it one match at a time. Picture / Nigel Marple

Defending champion Katarina Srebotnik accepts that the element of surprise will have gone from her artillery when she steps on court in Auckland next week.

But she is not looking too far ahead anyway.

"There are a lot of good players coming here. I try not to look too much at the other players," said Srebotnik, 24, who will be fifth seed when the ASB Classic hits off.

"I'll be happy to get through the first round and take it from there."

Unlike some players who prefer a Monday or Tuesday start, Srebotnik only worries about being drawn against a qualifier.

Echoing the feelings of top seed Nadia Petrova, who arrived last week, Srebotnik is wary of meeting a player who has had the advantage of having played three matches in reaching the main draw.

That is not surprising. After leaving Auckland this year with the singles and doubles titles in tow, she was beaten by a qualifier in the first round of the Australian Open.

But things came right later in the year as she picked up a second title in Stockholm.

She also followed her Auckland doubles triumph with similar success in Sweden, backing her singles victory by teaming with Emilie Loit to win the doubles.

"It was a good weekend. I played with Emilie for the first time and we won. We finished up winning the only three tournaments we played together," said Srebotnik, who finished her year ranked 25th in doubles (down from a career-high 19) and 27th in singles (three places higher than her previous best).

But even though Loit will play at the ASB Bank Tennis Centre next week, she will not team with Srebotnik as she and Japan's Shinobu Asagoe have committed to defending their title in the Sovereign doubles.

Classic director Richard Palmer welcomed the news. "It is great that they are going to defend."

The doubles competition is looking good as we are likely to have highly ranked Elena Likhovtseva (Russia) and former No 1 Paola Suarez (Argentina) in the field.

Srebotnik, who allowed herself a 10-day break at season-end, has wasted little time in getting down to business.

She was on court for 3 hours yesterday and will be back to practise again today.

Jelena Dokic, who drew a wildcard, and Likhovtseva are due to arrive today as many of the world's best continue to gather for what is shaping as one of the very best tournaments to be played here.


Katarina Srebotnik

* Born: March 12, 1981.
* Birthplace: Slovenj Gradec, Slovenia.
* Height: 1.80m.
* Weight: 65kg.
* WTA Tour singles titles: 4.
* WTA Tour doubles titles: 11.
* Career prizemoney: US$1,878,186.