Former Champion Ferrer To Play in Auckland
Former winner and current world No12 David Ferrer of Spain is set to return to Auckland for 2009 Heineken Open featuring the Sovereign singles and doubles.
After a topsy-turvy year the 2007 Heineken Open winner narrowly missed out on a Tennis Masters Cup position but still had an amazing year after he won on clay at his home event, Valencia (beating Nicolas Almagro in the final).
He then proved just as capable on grass by taking away the s-Hertogenbosch title prior to Wimbledon defeating Marc Gicquel in the final.
There was also a finals finish at Barcelona where he battled hard to take Rafael Nadal to three sets in the title match and there was a semifinal finish at Bastad.
The 26-year-old reached two Grand Slam quarterfinals this year, the Australian Open where he beat Juan Martin Del Potro and Juan Carlos Ferrero before losing to Novak Djokovic and at Roland Garros – beating Lleyton Hewitt but went out to Gael Monfils in four sets.
Not long after the Australian Open he reached a career-high ranking of No4 in the world which was a just reward for one of the most consistent and fittest players on the ATP circuit.
He also made the quarters at Dubai, Tokyo and the ATP Masters Series in Monte Carlo beating Marat Safin, but losing to Nadal.
Previously in Grand Slams he reached the semifinals at the US Open in 2007 as well as the quarters at Roland Garros in 2005.
Ferrer has had plenty of success at the Heineken Open making the quarterfinals in January 2008 as he tried to defend his title from the previous year where he had beaten countryman Tommy Robredo 6-4 6-2, becoming the first Spaniard to win the title.
He has a career win-loss record in Auckland of 11-3.
“David is a world-class player who possess remarkable speed around the court and fully deserves his place in the top echelon of players in the world.
It will be great to have David back at the Heineken Open. He will definitely be a title contender once again,” says Heineken Open tournament director Richard Palmer.
He is a member of the Spanish Davis Cup team which will take on Argentina in Argentina in the final later this month.
The Heineken Open featuring the Sovereign singles and doubles will be held at the ASB Tennis Centre, January 12 – 17, 2009 with the first two days of qualifying January 10-11, 2009 at the Albany Tennis Park, Oteha Valley Road, Albany starting at 10am each day.
The 2009 tournament will feature live scoring as well as live streaming of play and audio podcasting.
