Johannesburg – The decision to stage the South African Closed Tennis Championships at the German Club in January has provided an inviting lifeline for local players out of the top echelon to earn a place in the R23,5-million South African Open at Montecasino a week later.

The news that one of the four wild card nominations for the ATP-category tournament at Montecasino will go to the winner of the preceding Closed tournament was made by the South African Tennis Association (Sata) on Wednesday.

Sata had earlier announced that all four wild cards for the tournament, which has attracted top players like world number 13 Frenchman Gael Monfils and 17th-ranked David Ferrer, will be handed to South Africans.

But while three of these wild cards will presumably go to seasoned Davis Cup players of the calibre of Rik de Voest, Izak an der Merwe, Raven Klaasen and Kevin Anderson, the decision to widen the frontier for South African aspirants will bring into contention players of the calibre of Fritz Wolmerans, Andrew Anderson and Jean Andersen.

“Theoretically, what this means,” said Sata chief executive officer and South African Open tournament director Ian Smith, “is that every South African tournament player can dream of qualifying for the country’s national championships and that should prove a major incentive.”

And should one of the initial three South African wild card nominees also go on to win the Closed tournament, the runner-up will still be able to play at Montecasino.

While it is conceivable that a South African player could earn a place among the 24 direct acceptances in the South African Open, this is unlikely with Kevin Anderson currently the top-ranked South African in 162nd place. – Sapa