Tennis: Doubles revives Arendt's career

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Nicole Arendt does not agree with those who view doubles as the lost cause of world tennis.

Arendt, through to this afternoon's final with South African partner Liezel Huber - the first time the ASB Bank Classic's top seeds have teamed up - is thankful the doubles game exists.

"I no longer have a singles ranking," said 32-year-old Arendt, who four years ago was inside the top 50 on the Sanex WTA rankings. "I'm now a true doubles specialist."

Doubles revived Arendt's career when injury threatened to end 15 years on the tour, which had earned her around $US1.5 million ($3.5 million).

"I was one of the lucky few who could choose between singles and doubles. I was doing better in doubles. It is not as demanding," Arendt said after she and Huber had beaten Tatiana Panova and Tatiana Poutchek 6-2, 6-3 yesterday.

"I was getting burned out after Brazil [in September]. I played nothing after that. I hadn't decided what I was going to do until Liezel and I started talking by e-mail in November and decided to come here.

"I feel healthy now after recovering from a shoulder injury."

Arendt is on her fourth visit to Auckland, but is reaching giddy heights here for the first time.

She shrugs off the meagre (when compared with singles) prizemoney - just $US3250 ($7610) a player for the winners.

She is chasing a 16th title from 32 finals in this afternoon's clash against Spanish second seeds Maria Jose Martinez and Anabel Garrigues.

"That [money] is not an issue. I like coming here and after this, who knows, we might even get a seeding at the Australian Open."

That would be impressive for a rookie pairing.

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