Tennis: Clash of titans in Heineken first round

6 Jan, 2002 12:19 AM2 mins to read

As the women's tennis show leaves town, Auckland now prepares for the men's showpiece this week.

The draw for the 2002 Heineken Open has been made, with a marquee matchup in the first round - a treat for enthusiastic early-round audiences, but a blow to tournament promoters.

Top seed Marat Safin has drawn 1989 French Open champion Michael Chang in the first round of the Open.

Chang's world ranking has slipped from a career best of two five years ago to 94, and he was given a wildcard entry for Auckland, where he was a finalist two years ago.

Second seed Ivanisevic, who arrived in Auckland yesteday, plays unseeded Jarkko Nieminen of Finland, while sixth seed Briton Greg Rusedski meets Argentinian Mariano Zabaleta.

Third seed Jan-Michael Gambill of the United States could have a tough opening match, against Francisco Clavet, of Spain, last year's losing finalist here.

The two New Zealand wildcard entries, Dan Willman and Mark Neilsen, have drawn Jerome Golmard, of France, and seventh seed Swede Andreas Vinciguerra respectively.

Defending champion and eighth seed Dominik Hrbaty, of Slovakia, will play a qualifier.

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