TENNIS PLAYER ERIN ROUTLIFFE BECOMES IN TIME FOR FED CUP

New Zealand has a new tennis player to get excited about and she'll fulfill a big role for her country at next month's federation cup,the International Tennis Federation have granted permission for Erin Routliffe to change nationalities from Canada to New Zealand..

She immediately becomes the country's No 2,behind Marina Erakovic,with a world ranking of 633,but don't let that number put you off about how much potential she is Routliffe has just finished her degree at the University of Alabama and will soon hit the professional circuit to find out how good she could be..But before that the 22-year-old will lead New Zealanand's chargeat the fed cup in Tajikistan on July 17, spearheading a team that also contains Paige Hourigan and Joanna caeswell but not Marina Erakovic.

Routliffe was born in Auckland while her parents were in New Zealand and she spent the first four years of her life in the country,she was the eighth highest ranked canadian player,but decided to throw her lot in with New Zealand after making a trip to Auckland at the end of last year.