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.
