By TERRY MADDAFORD
Doubles - too often the bridesmaid of international tennis - could blossom as the bride at this summer's Auckland international tournament.
And right among the drawcards could be rising local star Marina Erakovic.
ASB Classic director Richard Palmer, back from the US Open, had mixed feelings after his annual "howdy-do" at Flushing Meadows.
He was feeling "somewhat confident" of attracting the top Russian pairing of Elena Likhovtseva and Svetlana Kuznetsova here.
"But then Kuznetsova went and won the singles which puts a whole different perspective on things," said Palmer who had already spoken to Likhovtseva, a regular at the ASB Bank Tennis Centre, about a possible return.
"I got the feeling it was on. Now, who knows."
If the Russian pairing do come, Palmer might contemplate a replay of yesterday's US Open women's doubles in which the world's top pairing of Paola Suarez and Virginia Ruano Pascual beat Likhovtseva and Kuznetsova in straight sets.
Suarez and Ruano Pascual, like Likhovtseva, are no strangers here, having played the doubles final this year where they were upset by the unheralded pairing of Mervana Jugic-Salkic and Jelena Kostanic.
Added to that mix could be Erakovic and Michaella Krajicek, who can now lay claim to being the best junior pairing in the world following their US Open triumph.
They are unbeaten as a combination, with three titles from as many tournament in recent weeks.
Palmer must consider handing Erakovic a wildcard into the main draw at the tournament from January 3-8. It could bring the added bonus of attracting Krajicek - the winner of the junior singles at the US Open (after beating Erakovic in the quarter-finals) - to Auckland, maybe with the promise of a wildcard into the singles qualifying tournament.
Defending singles champion Eleni Daniilidou appears an almost certain starter in her quest for three straight in Auckland.
Outside the really big names among the powerful Russian contingent, Palmer has hopes that players like Elena Bovina, Nadia Petrova and Vera Zvonareva may end up on his list.
"The emails will be flying in the next few days."
Tennis: Doubles combinations now in the spotlight
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