28 Feb 2012

Sacha Jones in action on day one in Wellington

6:17 am on 28 February 2012

The former New Zealand tennis number one Sacha Jones will start her campaign for a title on New Zealand soil today when she takes to the court in the Challenger event at the Renouf Tennis Centre in Wellington.

Jones now plays for Australia and is ranked 228th in the world and is the second seed for the 30 thousand dollar tournament.

The 21- year-old hasn't won an international professional title in New Zealand, although she has claimed around half a dozen overseas at this prize money level.

Jones faces 17-year-old Riko Sawayangi of Japan who is ranked at 606 in the world.

Other matches of interest on the first day include Waikato player Luci Barlow who came through qualifying and will face Japan's Makoto Ninomiya in the first round.

Fifteen-year-old wildcard Claudia Williams from Auckland faces Israel's Keren Shlomo who is ranked at 416.