Kiwi men preparing for ASB Classic

New Zealands male tennis players have been involved in action around the world this week as they prepare for the ASB Classic mens tournament starting January 9 - 14.

National singles and doubles champion Artem Sitak has scored a good first up win in the Chennai ATP tournament in India. Teaming up with American Nicholas Monroe as the fourth seeds they defeated he Russian pair of Konstantin Kravchuk and Mikhail Youzhny in the first round 7-6(5) 6-3.

In the quarter-finals they face Steve Darcis (Belgium) and Frenchman Benoit Paire.

Mike Venus wasnt so fortunate at the ATP tournament in Brisbane where he combined with Swede Robert Lindstedt but they were defeated by Gilles Muller (Luxembourg) and American Sam Querrey 6-4 1-6 5-10 in the first round.

At the US$75,000 Noumea Challenger in New Caledonia Finn Tearney won his way through qualifying and then took out his first round clash beating a local wildcard without dropping a game but then lost to the eighth seed and top 200 ranked Mathias Bourgue (France) 7-6(4) 6-4.

Rubin Statham won his first round match at the same tournament but was then defeated by world No.60 Adrian Mannarino 6-2 6-1.

In doubles Tearney and Ben McLachlan lost in the first round while Statham and former Kiwi, now Brit, Cameron Norrie were beaten in the quarter-finals.

- This story has been automatically published using a media release from New Zealand Tennis