The racquets of one of our greatest tennis players have been deemed a weapon by security officers at Auckland Airport.

Marina Erakovic says she was ordered to check in her racquets as she tried to board a flight to Los Angeles for a tournament in the United States.

The Aviation Security Service has confirmed it bans sports equipment that could be used as a bludgeoning weapon being brought on a plane as carry-on luggage.

But the New Zealand number one says that policy won't impress any tennis players visiting Auckland for next year's ASB Classic.

"I couldn't do anything. I had to put them in the hold and make it to my flight. Hopefully my racquets are in one piece.

"I'm just wondering when this has taken effect, because come January there is going to be some pretty upset tennis players."

The Aviation Security Service has confirmed it has toughened up security on US-bound flights to meet new US government requirements.

It now bans all sports equipment that could be used as bludgeoning equipment from carry-on baggage.

Everyday items banned as weapons

- Tennis racquets
- Baseball/softball bats
- Cricket bats/stumps
- Croquet mallets
- Golf clubs
- Hockey sticks
- Ice skates
- Pool/billiard cues
- Skateboards
- Other sports equipment
- Animal bolt guns
- Axes
- Hatchets
- Tomahawks
- Battle axes.
- Boomerangs
- Box cutters / Stanley knives
- Security briefcases
- Christmas crackers
- Didgeridoo
- Firecrackers / fireworks
- Flare gun
- Ice picks / ice axes
- Knitting needles without yarn
- Knives
- Maori weapon souvenirs
- Martial arts blades
- Martial arts bludgeons / nunchucks
- Medal fixing pins
- Party poppers
- Razor blades
- Bows and arrows
- Cross bows
- Harpoon gun
- Slingshots/catapults
- Spear guns/slings.
- Scissors
- Swords
- Tent pegs
- Hand tools
- Sledge, claw and ball hammer
- Spades and other like tools
- Crescent/spanners
- Crow/pry bar
- Flash-lights
- Screwdrivers
- Chisels
- Drill bits
- Nails
- Power tools
- Chain saws