KUCHING: Wild cards to tournaments like the ITF Group 1 are given to local players who have reached a certain standard.

The practice which is the prerogative of the organising association should not be misunderstood as it is aimed at maintaining standards.

Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association (SLTA) president Patrick Liew said the main aim was to help players earn ranking points and wild cards were awarded with the utmost care.

“Players selected by the association must have reached a certain standard as they will be playing in a top-level international tournament. There is a benchmark for their selection … we judge on the results they have achieved.”

Liew said he had even heard of some parents who were ready to pay for wild cards but this was not allowed by the rules.

SLTA gave wild cards to two deserving Sarawakians — Ariez Elyaas Deen Heshaam and Oscar Chang Tun Jie — this round, saving them the trouble of playing in the qualifying.

“We, of course, want to avoid awarding wild cards to undeserving players who may be no match for their opponents of a higher standard.

“The local players have to be realistic. Getting wild cards for Group 2 or 3 tournaments is one thing but quite another for Group 1.

“We judge on the tournament results and the potential of the players to develop and improve further,” Liew said.

SLTA did not give a wild card to Mohd Asri Merzuki as it felt he would have a better chance playing in the Sports Excel tournament held almost at the same time in Kuala Lumpur.

On the standards of the Malaysian players who were bundled out in the early rounds, Liew said they must approach the game in a professional way like the players from the other countries.

He stressed that they must go for international exposure and prove themselves in order to win sponsorships.