Tennis: Another top-20 star signs up

The big names keep coming with confirmation star Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova is preparing to play in New Zealand for the first time in January's international tournament.

Ranked No 19 in the world, Hantuchova is the second top-20 player set to play at the ASB Classic from January 2-7 and is likely to be the second seed behind the already-confirmed star Russian Nadia Petrova who will almost certainly take the top seeding.

Hantuchova, who has won one WTA singles title - at Indian Wells in 2002 - is regarded highly in both singles and doubles.

She reached the final at the tier-two tournament in Los Angeles in August where she beat, among others, Maria Sharapova and Elena Dementieva before running into Kim Clijsters in the final. She also reached the semifinals in Cincinnati and Filderstadt and quarters in Tokyo, Stanford, New Haven, Luxembourg and Linz.

The 1.81m Slovak, an impressive figure on court with a powerful serve, is also better than your average doubles player having won four Grand Slam mixed doubles titles including two this year - at the French Open and US Open.

"Daniela is a player who has a star quality about her. She is athletic and is identified as a player who can beat anyone on her day," said Classic organiser Richard Palmer. "She has been as high as No 5 in the world."

Palmer hopes the 22-year-old will play not only the singles but add her talents to what is already a strong doubles field.

"To have someone of Daniela's ability in the tournament adds significant value to the Classic and will be a challenge to all players in the field including Petrova, who remains in the top 10."

Others already confirmed include defending champion Katarina Srebotnik (Slovenia) and two-time semifinalist Marion Bartoli (France).

Organisers of the men's Heineken Open to be played the following week at the ASB Bank Tennis Centre yesterday confirmed rising Scottish star Andy Murray will play Auckland as his Australian Open build-up.

Hailed as the next British hope - as Tim Henman's career winds down - Murray, 18, has already made some significant strides including reaching September's ATP tournament final in Bangkok where he beat Robby Ginepri (already confirmed for the Open) and Paradorn Srichaphan before losing to world No1 Roger Federer in the final.

"Each year we look to have a potential future star - Rafael Nadal quickly springs to mind - in the Heineken Open," said tournament director Graham Pearce. Given his current ranking in the 60s, Murray will be unseeded but joins wildcard Mark Philippoussis as a dangerous floater and a player the seeds will be happy to avoid in the first round.

Daniela Hantuchova

* Born: April 23, 1983 in Poprad, Slovakia

* Height: 1.81m

* Weight: 56kg

* WTA Tour titles (S/D): 1/6

* Highest WTA singles ranking: 5

* Current WTA ranking: 19

* Prizemoney

Year to date: US$689,287 ($1,018,779)

Career: $3,302,189