Dan King-Turner. Photo / Dean Purcell
New Zealand No 1 Dan King-Turner is likely to be the only local flag flying in January's Heineken Open.
King-Turner, whose world ranking has risen from the mid 400s to 345 this season, has received a wildcard into the main draw.
But the country's two next highest-ranked players,
Simon Rea (502) and Rubin Statham (561), look to have missed out.
It is understood Rea will not take part in the tournament as he contemplates his playing future.
Of the three wildcards available to tournament director Graham Pearce, one is set to go to former world No 7 Mario Ancic and another is likely to go to a player with a the top 50 ranking..
Pearce said a decision on the final wildcard would be made the week before the tournament which begins on January 7.
The decision to grant King-Turner a wildcard had been fairly straight forward, Pearce said.
"We always look to hold a wildcard for our No 1-ranked New Zealand player, provided they are fit, have performed well and are committed. Certainly he meets those criteria. He's had a good year."
The local presence should be stronger in the ASB Classic, where New Zealand No 1 Marina Erakovic will be joined by fast-rising teenager Sacha Jones in the main draw.
Doubles specialist Leanne Baker is in line for a wildcard into the doubles.
Erakovic's doubles ranking, a career-high 198, and that of her partner for Auckland's Michaela Krajicek (46), should earn the pair direct entry, freeing up the possibility of a wildcard for Baker should she need it.
Erakovic ended her season on a high beating top 100-ranked Akgul Amanmuradova 6-2, 6-1 in the quarter-finals before losing to Russian world No 30 Maria Kirilenko in the semifinal of the US$75,000 ($98,400) Dubai ITF tournament.
The result took Erakovic's singles ranking to 152.
