Kiwis get wildcards into ASB men's Classic

Tournament director Nicolas Lamperin has finalised his wildcards for the ASB men’s Classic. Tennis New Zealand’s male player of the year Ajeet Rai has been handed a wildcard into singles qualifying and a doubles main draw wildcard playing with Finn Reynolds who also has a singles qualifying wildcard. Reynolds will face Portugal's Joao Sousa who is ranked 82 in the world.

Rai has pulled out of his Challenger doubles semi-final today with his partner citing a wrist injury in Noumea and has made it back to Auckland for qualifying which starts tomorrow. Rai has been drawn against Japan's Taro Daniel ranked 92 in the world. The winner of the New Zealand wildcard playoff Kiranpal Pannu receives a main draw wildcard. Veteran Kiwi doubles player Artem Sitak has been given a main draw doubles wildcard with his partner Alex Lawson.

The other main draw wildcard recipients are defending champion Frenchman Ugo Humbert and 20-year-old American Ben Shelton who is already in the top 100. The qualifying draw is this evening.

Rubin Statham meanwhile is through to the double’s final in Noumea with his American partner Colin Sinclair following Rai’s withdrawal from the doubles semi-final.