By TERRY MADDAFORD
Brenda Perry will break new ground when she acts as referee for the international men's tennis tournament in Auckland in January.
Perry, a longtime member of the women's WTA tour until she left this year, will be the first woman to referee a men's ATP tournament when she officiates at the January 12-17 Heineken Open.
After taking that role at more than 200 women's tournaments, 46-year-old Perry does not see her appointment as a "big deal".
"Sure, I'm pleased they would ask. It is great to have the opportunity in one of the last bastions of male sport," said Perry. "There are probably only a dozen female gold badge- holders in the world."
She is the only such badge-holder, male or female, in New Zealand. Perry has also had the distinction of acting as a chair umpire at a men's tournament.
Perry, who has played in men's interclub in New Zealand, said she was delighted the ATP had approved the move by Open director Graham Pearce in making the appointment.
"Maybe one day there will be a female referee at a grand slam," said Perry, who held that role in last January's ASB [women's] Classic in Auckland.
Perry ended her long association with the WTA in April, bucking at a planned move to Florida.
"It was all over a matter of principle," she said. "I have taken time out since and apart from the Heineken Open I don't have anything else planned. I will have a break after that, but come the end of February I don't know what I'm going to do."
Tennis: Woman ref steps into men's world
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