Another Rising Star For Heineken Open
The 2007 Heineken Open featuring the Sovereign singles and doubles has scooped another player from the pool of fresh talent on the ATP tour.
The third and final main draw wildcard has been awarded to a player, who although not a household name yet, will no doubt be a big contender in 2007.
Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro the youngest player to finish in the ATP top-100 rankings in 2006 at 18 years and two months will take to the courts at the ASB Tennis Centre.
Del Potro at 1.96m (6’5”) is rated very highly by his more senior peers and proved his worth by reaching the quarterfinals at two ATP events last year.
Currently ranked at 92, in 2006 he scored wins over highly ranked players such as Andrei Pavel, Juan Ignacio Chela, Robby Ginepri and Carlos Moya. At Umag on clay he reached his first ATP quarterfinal and also made the quarters in Basel before going down to Fernando Gonzalez in three tight sets.
There was also Challenger wins in Spain and Mexico and third round appearances at both Tokyo and Basel.
Del Potro’s named is constantly raised when other players are asked who the group of next big things will be on the tennis tour. He has huge shots all around the court to go with a flamboyant attitude.
Del Potro joins other rising stars at the Heineken Open such as Gael Monfils and Nicolas Almagro who will be dark horses for the tournament title.
Coming from a sporting family where his father, Daniel was a highly regarded rugby player in Argentina Del Potro is a big Boca Juniors and Juventus football fan and says that hard court is his favourite surface.
The Heineken Open featuring the Sovereign singles and doubles will be held at the ASB Tennis Centre, No1 Tennis Lane, Parnell January Monday 8 – Saturday 13, 2007 with qualifying January Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 at the More FM Tennis Park, Albany.
Tickets go on sale to the public Monday 20th November through Ticketek and at the ASB Tennis Centre.
For more details please contact:
Graham Pearce – Heineken Open tournament director – 021 675 005
Or
Dave Worsley – Heineken Open media manager – 021 365 224
