KEY POINTS:
Top New Zealand tennis player Marina Erakovic has been handed a wildcard into the main draw of the year's richest tournament.
Erakovic had received a wildcard into the qualifying for the Sony Ericsson Open, starting in Miami next week, but yesterday got word of a major upgrade, a rare pass straight to the main draw of 96 players for the event worth US$3.77 million ($4.75 million).
The field consists of 75 direct entries, 12 qualifiers and nine wildcards. The other wildcards have all gone to players with ties to the International Management Group, who have a big hand in the running of the tournament.
Erakovic, 20, is ranked No 100 and it is the first time she has received a wildcard into a tier 1 tournament. It is rated the fifth most important event behind the four grand slams on the year's WTA calendar, and one which is mandatory for the game's top players.
She has spent the last week training with former New Zealand star Chris Lewis at Irvine, California.
With her sights on the French Open, starting in Paris on May 26, Erakovic is hoping to maintain a ranking which will get her direct entry into her first grand slam.
She is planning to play leadup events on clay in Fez, Morocco, worth US$145,000 starting April 28, and the Istanbul Cup, worth US$200,000 starting from May 19.
