Tennis: Nola the Kiwi in top 100

By TERRY MADDAFORD

New Zealand's Fed Cup tennis hopes have received a huge boost with the news that former Bulgarian Pavlina Nola is now officially a Kiwi.

The 26-year-old Nola, who married Aucklander Grant Nola in December 1999, is listed by the WTA as a New Zealander, which clears the way for her to play for her adopted country.

Now at a career-high 69 on the latest world rankings, Nola is the first New Zealander since Belinda Cordwell - who reached the top 20 in the early 1990s - to be ranked in the top 100.

Nola has had encouraging results this year.

Last week she reached the quarter-finals of the WTA tournament in Bol, Croatia. In earlier tournaments - including several tier-one events - she reached the second round five times. In Miami, she lost to Serena Williams.

With such a high ranking, Nola can expect direct entry into January's ASB Bank Classic in Auckland, which will open the way for another New Zealand wildcard.

The next-best New Zealander on the WTA rankings is Shelley Stephens at 260.

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