Elena Likhovtseva, the ASB Tennis Classic top seed who has been here since Christmas Day, has her sights on another sport - fishing - before the tournament starts next Monday.
The 24-year-old Russian, ranked 19th in the world, is on her second visit to the Auckland championships having played and lost
in the first round to eventual finalist Barbara Paulus in 1996.
Her request to go fishing in the Hauraki Gulf has sent tournament director Richard Palmer scurrying in search of keen fishermen to help out with her request.
"I suppose we're really looking to give her a belated Kiwi Christmas present," Palmer said yesterday.
"We're trying to work on something at the moment, but I'm still looking for someone to help out."
Likhovtseva, who trains for around five hours a day including swimming and running, said she would love the opportunity to try her hand in the Hauraki Gulf.
"We tried fishing in the Sydney harbour last year ... not a boot or a plastic bag...there was just nothing there to catch," she said.
She hopes the waters off Auckland will be more bountiful.
"I've heard that the fishing here can be very good. It would be nice to try it.
"It would be a relaxing way to start the first tournament of the year. But it is in my nature to be outdoors. I just like it and from what I've seen of the Auckland harbour so far it is a very pretty place," she said.
Likhovtseva, who has easily been one of the more consistent players on the WTA circuit this year, admits being daunted by her top billing at next week's tournament.
"I can't remember if I've ever been top seed before, but I'm really not trying to think about it.
"It is embarrassing but I don't really know a lot of the other players here and that is what is going to make this tournament so tough.
"It is like you've got to watch over your shoulder all the time; you never know who is coming out against you ready to give it all."
A finalist at Strasbourg this year, where she was beaten by Jennifer Capriati, she also made the semifinals at Hanover and the quarter-finals at the Paris Indoors and the Eastbourne championships.
Likhovtseva made the fourth round of the US Open and the Lipton championships and the third round at the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, the German Open and the Canadian Open.
She beat two top 10 players in Patty Schnyder and Monica Seles as well as beaten Australian Open finalist Amelie Mauresmo who finished the year as world No 10.
- NZPA
Elena Likhovtseva, the ASB Tennis Classic top seed who has been here since Christmas Day, has her sights on another sport - fishing - before the tournament starts next Monday.
The 24-year-old Russian, ranked 19th in the world, is on her second visit to the Auckland championships having played and lost
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