By TERRY MADDFORD
Two Argentine left-handers look set to take the top seedings for January's international tennis open at Stanley St in Auckland.
World No 21 Mariano Puerta yesterday joined his countryman Franco Squillari as a confirmed entry for the Heineken Open.
Nineteenth-ranked Squillari seems certain to take the top seeding in the Vodafone singles, with 22-year-old Puerta the second seed ahead of either Jan-Michel Gambill (US) and Marcelo Rios (Chile).
With Gambill and Rios in the top 35 on this week's ATP Tour list, the January 8-13 tournament has attracted some of the highest-ranked players ever.
Puerta was ranked as high as 13th this year and won once on tour, beating Younes El Aynaoui in the final in Bogota, Colombia.
He won $US519,893 this year and has won more than $US1 million since turning professional in 1995.
Tournament director Graham Pearce has given one of three wildcards to world No 98 Goran Ivanisevic.
Soccer: Argentines likely to be top seeds
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