HEINEKEN OPEN STRONGEST FIELD YET IN ATP ERA
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
The 2007 Heineken Open looks set to be a tournament to remember with the January 8-13 event featuring the Sovereign singles and doubles the strongest ever held in Auckland in the ATP era.
The tournament will have many firsts. It will be the first time two players have entered the event ranked inside the top-10. The first time all eight seeds are ranked within the top-30 in the world and the first time 16 players are ranked in the top-50.
Top seed is Spaniard Tommy Robredo who recently played in the Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai. Robredo is No7 in the world followed closely by 2006 Heineken Open finalist Mario Ancic at No9.
Another Spaniard, David Ferrer is at 14 with defending champ, Jarkko Nieminen of Finland one spot further back.
Former two-time champion Dominik Hrbaty and world No21 returns for his ninth time at the Heineken Open and will be aiming for his fourth final after winning in 2001 and 2004 and being a finalist in 2003.
The sixth seed will be Juan Carlos Ferrero the former world No1 of Spain with Argentine Agustin Calleri the seventh seed at 29 in the rankings.
Stanislas Wawrinka from Switzerland returns to see if he can better this year’s semifinal appearance. The 21-year-old emerged as a force in 2006 winning his first career title and making three semis. Wawrinka is the eighth seed at No30 in the world.
Outside of the seeds there are a number of dangerous players in the draw including Juan Ignacio Chela, who along with Calleri are part of the Argentine team which takes on Russia this weekend in the Davis Cup final in Moscow.
American Mardy Fish a former Davis Cup player for the United States is on an injury comeback.
The veteran at nearly 34 years old hits with two hands on both sides and has been involved in epic matches all over the world slicing and chopping his way to four career singles and 22 doubles titles and taking part in the Tennis Masters Cup doubles this year.
Olivier Rochus one of the most popular players at the Heineken Open over the past few years also returns.
Rochus ranked at 36 was a semifinalist in 2006 losing a dramatic three set battle to Nieminen. The previous year he reached the final before going down to Fernando Gonzalez. At only 165cm what he doesn’t have in size is made up in speed with crowds enjoying supporting the “little guy” against his sometimes giant opponents.
Four entered players have made the semifinals or better at Grand Slams with Juan Carlos Ferrero and Gaston Gaudio winners at Roland Garros 2003 and Roland Garros 2004 respectively.
The other players to reach semis at Grand Slams are Mario Ancic and Dominik Hrbaty, In addition four others have made the quarters at Grand Slams on at least one occasion – Juan Ignacio Chela, David Ferrer, Jarkko Nieminen and Tommy Robredo.
“We were hoping at the time of our Heineken Open media launch to be able to secure our strongest field in the ATP era. It is great news for New Zealand tennis fans that we can now confirm that,” said Heineken Open tournament director, Graham Pearce.
A total of 13 nations make up the 23 direct entrants with two special exempt and four qualifying spots to be filled along with three wildcards to be announced.
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 are now on sale through Ticketek and at the ASB Tennis Centre.
For more information please contact:
Graham Pearce, Heineken Open Tournament Director – 021 675 005
Or Dave Worsley, Heineken Open Media Manager – 021 365 224
