Tennis: Depth of talent overwhelms NZ hopefuls

Nine New Zealanders set out in the first round of qualifying for the international men's event, but none will step on court this morning to decide the four players to enter the main draw.

As a guide to the strength of the Heineken Open qualifying draw, the highest ranked player in the first round was Frenchman Antony Dupuis, who finished last year at No 79 in the world.

The highest ranked of the eight still standing is Dutchman Raemon Sluiter, at No 82.

He meets Czech Republic player Bohdan Ulihrach, the No 93 in potentially the tightest match.

Two New Zealanders made the second round, although neither Jonathan Hooper nor Matt Prentice had to raise a racquet. Hooper's opponent, Auckland's William Ward, withdrew because of injury, Potito Starace, seeded second for the qualifying, got a pass into the main draw.

In the second round, Hooper was whipped 6-0, 6-0 by American Graydon Oliver and Prentice won just four games off Italian Federico Luzzi.

The most successful of the New Zealanders - if that's the right word - were Canterbury's Dan King-Turner and Auckland's Adam Thompson, who collected seven and six games respectively off Czech Republic's Jan Vacek and Dutchman Peter Wessels.

In the other three playoffs today, Oliver meets Czech Republic's Jan Hernych, Luzzi plays Vacek and in an all-German clash Michael Kohlmann faces Philipp Kohlschreiber.

At least two of the winners are unlikely to have much joy in the main draw: they will be up against Spain's world No 13 Tommy Robredo and compatriot and Grand Slam winner Juan Carlos Ferrero.

The other qualifiers will play a third Spaniard, Alberto Martin, and Argentine Juan Monaco, the world's 67th and 72nd-ranked players.

* Today's qualifying action begins at 11am at the ASB Tennis Centre.