Heineken Open Finalists Return
November 3rd, 2004
January’s Heineken Open will feature the return of both of the 2004 finalists with the announcement that Dominik Hrbaty and Rafael Nadal are set to hit the court in Auckland once again.
Hrbaty beat Nadal in an enthralling final 4-6 6-2 7-5 with both players confirmed to return to New Zealand and the 2005 Heineken Open featuring the Vodafone singles to be held January 10 – 15 at the ASB BANK Tennis Centre.
The tournament will be the 50th anniversary of the professional tennis event in Auckland which is now known as the Heineken Open.
Each player has had a remarkable year with Slovak, Hrbaty likely to be one of the top seeds as his current ATP champions race ranking is 13, which is also his entry ranking. He reached a high of 11 during the year.
Spaniard, Nadal is still only 18 years old and is the youngest player in the top 50 with a race ranking of 47.
“The crowd was thrilled by the final they saw in January and the all action style of play from Nadal with Hrbaty wining his second title. It’s unbelievable to have both back …and potentially even a rematch,” says Heineken Open tournament director Graham Pearce.
“This being the 50th anniversary with the honouring of past champions it is particularly pleasing to have Dominik back to defend his title.”
Hrbaty has the unenviable task of playing the first week of 2005 at the Hopman Cup in Perth before flying to New Zealand for the Heineken Open and then on to Melbourne and the Australian Open.
Hrbaty has a remarkable record at the Heineken Open dating back to his first appearance at the tournament in 1998.
He has played seven out of the eight years since reaching the quarters in 98 and 99. Winning the title with a victory over Spaniard, Francisco Clavet in 2001, losing in the first round in 2002, finishing runner-up to Gustavo Kuerten last year and winning this year giving him an 18-4 win/loss record in Auckland, the best of any player in recent times, ahead of even Czech Jiri Novak who has an 17-5 record.
This year Hrbaty has maintained a record of solidity and consistency spending most of year in top 20 rankings.
He has won three titles in 2004 – Adelaide, Marseille and the Heineken Open as well as making the final of Casablanca, the semis in Moscow two weeks ago and the quarters of the Masters Series tournament at Cincinnati where he defeated Roger Federer.
Other results include a quarter final appearance at Indianapolis, the US Open and Beijing. Overall he has six career titles to his credit with other highlights including a semifinal appearance at the 1999 Roland Garros and quarters in the Australian Open in 2001.
Hrbaty is known to have a special place in his heart for the Heineken Open with the 26 year-old having his birthday on January 4 and usually being presented with a chocolate birthday cake by the sponsor to celebrate when he gets to Auckland.
In January Nadal wowed the crowds at the Heineken Open with his winner-take-all attitude as he powered his way to the final as a 17-year-old.
He beat former champ, Sjeng Schalken in the first round followed by Mario Ancic, Gregory Carraz and then another former champ Jiri Novak in the semis before losing to Hrbaty.
He played three ties for Spain in Davis Cup this year including teaming up with Tommy Robredo to cause a stunning upset by beating the highly ranked French pair of Arnaud Clement and Micheal Llodra and seal a finals place for his country.
He has been named in the Spanish team for the final against the United States in Seville next month.
“Obviously Rafael is one of the outstanding young players on the ATP, highlighted by his heroics for Spain in the Davis Cup semifinal. He is a player for the occasion. His recent form after a serious foot injury is amazing.”
The Mallorca native broke his left foot during the quarterfinals of the Estoril Open in Portugal and missed Roland Garros and other evetns where he was expected to feature prominently.
With his win over Roger Federer at the Miami Masters Series event he became the first teenager to beat a top-ranked player since an 18-year-old Andy Roddick upset Gustavo Kuerten in August 2001 at Montreal. Other top results in 2004 include winning the title at Sopot, Poland, his first career singles title as well as a semifinal appearance at Stuttgart, the quarters at Dubai, Bastad and Estoril.
He was voted newcomer of the year by the ATP in 2003.
The Heineken Open featuring the Vodafone singles and doubles will be held January 10-15 at the ASB BANK Tennis Centre, Tennis Lane, Parnell with qualifying January 8-9.
Tickets go on sale for the Heineken Open, Monday, November 22.
For more details please contact:
Graham Pearce – Heineken Open tournament director – 021 675 005
Or
Dave Worsley – Heineken Open media manager – 021 679 096
www.heinekenopen.co.nz
