8.00am
ASB Classic tennis tournament director Richard Palmer is poised to hand out his first wildcard, two months out from the start of the Auckland tournament.
Palmer will, in the next 24 hours or so, confirm 16-year-old Aucklander Marina Erakovic into the main draw.
Erakovic is the brightest of the New Zealand tennis prospects and is ranked amongst the world's top 10 juniors.
Palmer concedes he is handing out a wildcard earlier than usual.
He said traditionally wildcards are not released until much closer to the tournament and he certainly would not be issuing both this early.
However, Palmer said he would be a fool not to consider Erakovic following her outstanding success on the world junior circuit.
Palmer said he will hand out his other wildcard into the main draw nearer the tournament start in early January.
One likely candidate is the former world junior champion Iroda Tulyganova, who was once ranked 16 in the world.
Palmer said Tulyganova has spent the past 16 months sidelined through injury and is on the comeback trail.
- NEWSTALK ZB
Tennis: Erakovic to get wildcard for ASB Classic
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