By TERRY MADDAFORD
Diane Knott looks forward to the women's international tournament each year. And not just for the tennis.
For the past three years Zimbabwe No 1 Cara Black has been a house guest at the Knotts' home in Milford as part of the ASB Bank Classic homestay programme.
For Knott it
also offers some female company, as she shares the house with her husband, two sons and a male cat. Often her airline pilot husband Barry is not around, so she welcomes Black's stay.
"We hardly ever get to stay with families," said Black - the tournament's seventh seed who has reached today's singles quarter-finals. "Too often it is hotel rooms. It's great to stay somewhere else. In the end, hotel rooms can blow your mind.
"Auckland is so friendly. I came here as a junior and played one of my first pro tournaments in Auckland. I came alone and it was nice to find such friendly people to stay with.
"New Zealand is like a second home for me. Sometimes Diane comes to watch me at the Australian and US Opens. The rest of the time we keep in touch by e-mail.
"I also welcome the chance to have meals away from restaurants."
But Auckland might slip off her list if the Classic remains a tier-five tournament.
"If Auckland is raised to a tier four I'm sure the players will come back," said Black, who was runner-up in the singles and won the doubles here last year.
"I will always try to come back to Auckland. I'm comfortable coming here."
The homestay programme proved so popular this year that tournament director Richard Palmer had more families wanting to host players than he had players looking for accommodation.
