Tennis: Injury concern over Erakovic

Injury means Marina Erakovic lacks court time. Picture / Martin Sykes

New Zealand's top tennis player, Marina Erakovic, is in doubt for next month's international tournament in Auckland.

Following the rib injury which forced her to withdraw from the US junior tournament in September, Erakovic now has an arm and shoulder problem which has ruled her out of tournaments in Israel and Dubai this month.

ASB Classic tournament director Richard Palmer says he has been in contact with Erakovic and her coaching staff and admits it does not look good for the 18-year-old.

"It is being monitored at this point. It is of concern because we would love to have her in that main draw. But I think the next week will tell the story of whether she is going to play or not.

"We are not rushing her into making a decision but she hasn't had a lot of time on court recently."

If Erakovic can't play Palmer has no shortage of candidates willing to take her spot. However it is unlikely her replacement will be another New Zealander.

"I think, realistically, do we have another New Zealander who could benefit and be up to that level? I think at the moment we are probably struggling a bit in that sense."

Palmer said securing another top-ranked player at such short notice (the tournament starts on January 2) wasn't necessarily out of the question.

"You never know. It can happen someone at the last minute decides they want to play and the only way they can is on a wildcard."

He said he had been in contact over the weekend with former world No 1 Martina Hingis, who has announced her intention to return to professional tennis, but was told it looked likely she was going to play in the Gold Coast tournament.

"But you never know," he said.