Erin Routliffe earns direct spot in ASB Classic

Auckland’s Erin Routliffe has taken full advantage of the opportunity for direct entry into the WTA250 ASB Classic after winning the New Zealand wildcard final today.

Routliffe, a noted doubles player who has enjoyed three professional victories this year, earned a main draw singles wildcard for the ASB Classic with a 7-5 6-2 win over rising young star, Vivian Yang at Scarbro Tennis Centre in Auckland.

All is far from lost for Yang, who earns a wildcard for the qualifying draw in the new initiatives established by the tournament for kiwi players to give out wildcards to New Zealand’s top players for the country’s most prestigious tennis event.

Both finalists had earlier beaten Monique Barry to advance to today’s final.

Yang will be at the ASB Tennis Arena this weekend to complete in the qualifying draw, while Routliffe will await the main draw before she takes her place on her home court early next week.