KEY POINTS:
It's a sad reflection of the women's game in this country that only one New Zealand-born player has ever made it into the world's top 100.
Belinda Cordwell rose to a career-high ranking of 17 in 1990, winning one WTA tournament, and remains the most successful New Zealand
woman tennis player. Former Federation Cup captain Pavlina Nola (nee Stoyanova) rose to 68, but while still playing as a Bulgarian.
As the men's game drifts along in a world of under-achievement, Dan King-Turner being the highest ranked at 457, the women's game shows a lot more potential with two teenagers earmarked for big things.
At the very least, it's expected Marina Erakovic, 18, and Sacha Jones, 16, will join Cordwell in the top 100.
"I'm cautiously optimistic," says Brenda Perry, who made 208 in the world in 1985 and is now a Seed Foundation selector alongside Brett Steven and Chris Lewis.
"They have both got something of that extra special ability it takes to make it," Perry explains. "I don't like to project rankings but top 100 seems safe to say because it means they would be on the world tour as professionals, earning a living from the game. I believe absolutely they have the potential to do that."
There have been too many false dawns for Perry to get too carried away. The development of Erakovic and Jones, however, has been enough to feed that optimism.
Since recovering from injuries that sidelined her for most of a year, Erakovic has won three of four ITF tournaments she entered and risen to 161 in the rankings, making her fifth on the all-time list of Kiwi women.
Jones is 747 in the rankings and the world's 13th-ranked junior. She will make the top 10 when players who no longer qualify as juniors drop out. Among her results this year, she reached the quarter-finals of the US Open juniors.
Add in Leanne Baker, who has excelled in doubles and had some recent success in singles, and the likes of Ellen Barry, Shona Lee, Kairangi Vano and Diane Hollands, and the state of women's tennis is healthier than it has been for some time.
It's estimated to cost as much as $140,000 to compete on the tour each year and between $150,000-$300,000 a year to produce a top junior.
Our women also do it from the isolation of New Zealand, and it can seem as daunting as trying to return a Maria Sharapova swinging serve.
Erakovic and Jones spend at least eight months of the year overseas.
Their emergence has had little to do with New Zealand Tennis which gets only $150,000 in funding each year from Sparc.
The Seed Foundation, which invests in only the top talent, has offset that to a degree. Erakovic and Jones are the first recipients of cash, estimated to be about $40,000 each.
Beyond ability, money is the most important ingredient to success. But top players also have to want it.
"I want to win grand slams," Jones says casually. "I love to win tournaments and I think I have lost only one final in my life. I prefer the winning feeling than looking at the rankings.
"You have to work hard if you want to be at the top. Whatever I don't have yet, and I think I have nearly everything now, is coming."
In the tall-poppy world of New Zealand sport, the confidence Jones and Erakovic display is refreshing. They know they aren't the finished articles. Nor are they afraid to do what it takes to get there.
"They are making progress," Nola says, "but they need to do a lot more to get where they want to go. They don't know how hard it is to make it, but how would they know? They want it so badly and that's one of the most important things."
Erakovic and Jones are certain to have wildcards for January's ASB Classic. It will be Erakovic's second visit, having reached the second round in 2005, but it will be Jones' debut.