Tennis: In top spot - and with good reason

Amy Frazier heads this year's women's tennis classic. Picture / Carolyn Elliott

Amy Frazier can't remember the last time she was top seed for a WTA tournament.

She admits she is not big on statistics, but here's a couple worth noting about the amiable American who has the No 1 tag alongside her name for next week's ASB Classic.

She has been winning events on the circuit for 15 years, she has been in 63 Grand Slam main draws - more than any active player - she has won 12 singles and doubles titles; and she has won more than US$3 million ($4.3 million).

So although the 32-year-old world No 26 from St Louis, Missouri, might not rank alongside Williams - either one - Davenport or Henin-Hardenne among the sport's household names, she's no slouch.

Frazier arrived in Auckland early yesterday and had her first practice hit with second-seeded Serb Jelena Jankovic.

So, no superstitions about hitting with her potential final opponent then ...

Frazier laughed at the notion.

"I'm always looking for people to hit with because I don't have a coach with me, so I like to practice with everyone.

"But to look that far ahead is kind of ridiculous," she laughed.

Frazier can't wait to get her first match of the year behind her.

"I was very happy with my last year," she said last night.

"I feel I improved and played some good tennis but once a match is done, or a tournament, it doesn't really matter.

"Each day is a new day, so I don't think it has much bearing on what's going to happen."

She's at a loss to explain her longevity at the top, other than by having retained the sheer enjoyment of playing and not having injury problems.

Frazier, who reached a career-high ranking of 13, is well aware of the increasing depth in the women's game.

The days when a few players dominated the big events, back when she was cutting her teeth in the big time, are gone.

"Everyone is so good and there's so many good young players. At any level tournament you go to, every match is tough, the quality is high."

So does that mean retirement is close at hand? Not necessarily.

"I don't look very far in the future.

"I just want to enjoy what I'm doing now, but it will be the travelling.

"I'll always enjoy playing but eventually I won't want to get on a plane," said Frazier, who has clocked up 18 successive US Opens.

She won't do any crystal ball gazing on her prospects of an eighth singles title next week.

"Hopefully that first match goes well. Anything past that, well, it's kind of silly to look that far forward."

Her first title was at Wichita, Kansas, in 1989, when second seed Jankovic was four. The most recent was at Hobart last January.

The main draw for the Classic will be made this morning.

The three New Zealanders in the qualifying tournament which starts at 10am today got mixed draws yesterday.

New Zealand's No 1, Shelley Stephens, ranked No 375, is up against German Angelique Kerber, world No 293.

Leanne Baker, who is focusing more on doubles and is in the main doubles draw next week, plays 2001 champion Meilen Tu, now ranked 162, who made the quarter-finals last year from qualifying.

Tracey O'Connor meets another German, Angelika Bachmann, who is No 202.