The women's section of Auckland's Benson and Hedges Open had lapsed for a couple of seasons and a promotions company, Global, started a separate women's event.
Global, which, says Perry, "still deserves the kudos" for what has developed into a strong fourth-tier WTA tournament, is no more.
But Perry, whom Global hired as tournament director, has never looked back.
The WTA offered her a role as a tour director in 1989 and one of her first assignments was working at a tournament in Moscow, the first professional tournament held in Russia.
"The people were very warm, yet we struggled to get even basic things like net posts and any food of any description for the players," she says.
Perry now spends at least 12 hours a day, often every day of the week, seven months a year, on the tennis trail before resting at her Mission Bay home. Her assignments include Grand Slam events, and she rates Wimbledon as her tennis Mecca.
A key part of her role is scheduling matches, and in Auckland all eyes are on when Kournikova will play.
Most players, says Perry, do not like playing at night because of the lighting, and they can feel out of rhythm late in the day.
Kournikova is an exception but New Zealand television wants her playing during the day, and Perry does not expect any problems from a player she describes as among the most professional to deal with.
"She understands maybe more than anyone that we are in the entertainment game," says Perry.
But player dealings are not always amicable, especially when determining schedules or whether a player can withdraw because of injury. It is a fine line, balancing player wishes and the needs of the sport and its tournaments.
"I've had my share of abuse. I've been called all sorts of names by players and coaches - but that only happens a couple of times a year.
"You can't go 'too bad, too sad'. You've got to communicate."
It would be fair to say that Perry's view of New Zealand tennis has not always been favourable. That a private company was left to revive the Auckland women's tournament in the 1980s hardly impressed her.
There were also disputes in her playing days over her national ranking and thus her inclusion in teams.
She describes the greatest achievement of her career as competing overseas when women's tennis was "not supported or encouraged in New Zealand".
Her only New Zealand role now is as mentor to top 15-year-old boy prospect G D Jones, the son of her closest mate.
For now, Perry is happy watching and helping young women around the world "striving every day to be the best they can be".
Just as she is doing this week at yet another tournament - although, for Perry, not just another tournament.
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From the sidelines: other news related to the tournaments
