By TERRY MADDAFORD
For the fifth time, Auckland is the first destination on the WTA circuit for American Jill Craybas.
But this time the experience has been different for the 28-year-old from Rhode Island.
For the first time since her Auckland debut in 1999, she did not have to worry
about battling through qualifying to win a main-draw spot - something she managed in 2000 and 2001 before losing in the second round.
Her first WTA tour title came in October when she beat Croatian Silvija Talaja to become the first unseeded winner of the Japan Open in 13 years, and her ranking has risen to a career-high 57.
That was good enough to get her into the main draw for the ASB Classic.
Relaxed and ready to play, Craybas gave her season a winning start by upsetting eighth seed Katarina Srebotnik (a player ranked 21 places higher) in the first round.
Yesterday, on a back court - as Emmanuelle Gagliardi and Ashley Harkleroad captivated the centre court crowd with their 2h 26m epic - Craybas needed just 1h 17m to end the hopes of former winner and fellow American Meilen Tu 6-4, 6-4 with an early service break in each set.
But neither win ranks as her biggest at the ASB Bank Tennis Centre.
Two years ago, as a qualifier, she tipped out top seed Sandrine Testud 6-1, 7-5 in the first round before bowing out in the next, also in straight sets, to Italy's Francesca Schiavone.
"I was still a little rusty out there today," said Craybas, who put her tennis career on hold while completing a telecommunications degree at the University of Florida.
She and Tu had two wins each from their previous encounters.
Like many, Craybas had the opportunity to play this week on the Gold Coast in a higher-rated tournament. No chance.
"This tournament is pretty special for me," Craybas said.
"I always stay with the same family here in Auckland."
Banking US$263,730 ($506,000) last year has given Craybas the security she needs to launch a full-on assault on the circuit this year.
"It is nice to have some money," she said.
"It means I can fly to tournaments and take my coach too."
She will be second on centre court today to play defending champion and top seed Anna Pistolesi, who last evening won a sometimes-tense battle with Russian Elena Likhovtseva 6-3, 7-6 (7-3).
In her normal terrier-like way, Pistolesi chased and retrieved everything in a match which had almost a dozen double faults but only one ace - served by Likhovtseva on her way to winning her first game in the second set after dropping her first service game in both sets to love.
In the end Pistolesi's persistence won through and kept her hopes of a second straight title here alive.
By TERRY MADDAFORD
For the fifth time, Auckland is the first destination on the WTA circuit for American Jill Craybas.
But this time the experience has been different for the 28-year-old from Rhode Island.
For the first time since her Auckland debut in 1999, she did not have to worry
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