Tennis: Ferrero left off list but still possible

Speculation over former world No 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero's appearance at the Auckland international tournament may not be resolved for another day or two.

Ferrero's name was missing yesterday when the official ATP tournament entry list for January's Heineken Open was sent to Auckland Tennis and inquiries from tournament director Graham Pearce brought a negative response from headquarters.

Pearce then contacted Ferrero's coach and agent to learn Ferrero did intend playing here and they were at a loss to understand why he had not been included on the official entry list.

It is understood the Spaniard has his tickets and accommodation booked.

Late yesterday Pearce confirmed ATP officials did not have Ferrero on their list. In his absence world No 68 Paul Goldstein (US) was included as the last of the 23 official entries for the January 9-14 open. That, according to Pearce, will not change unless there is a specific directive from headquarters in Florida.

"Right now, Goldstein is in the main draw, Ferrero is not," said Pearce.

Asked what could be done if it was found the ATP was at fault, Pearce said in the past players caught in this situation - and such instances are rare - "were accommodated".

Ferrero stood to be the fourth seed behind defending champion Fernando Gonzalez (Chile), David Ferrer (Spain) and American Robby Ginepri.

If Ferrero is not reinstated he could still play qualifying (unlikely) or be handed one of two "special exempt" spots that are held for players who would be close to making the qualifying draw but are held up by making it through to the latter rounds of a tournament in the week before the Open.

Even without Ferrero on yesterday's list, the eight seeds are all drawn from the top 34 in the world.

Andy Murray, the 18-year-old Scot who is Britain's only representative, has made the main draw.

At one time there was a concern that Murray, who is rated as one of the sport's rising stars, would have to play qualifying, but his current ranking of 64 ensures him of a start and the "dangerous floater" tag.

World No 22 Mariano Ancic was the highest-ranked player to come into the field at yesterday's announcement. He will be seeded fifth behind former champion and ASB Bank Tennis Centre regular Dominik Hrbaty (Slovakia).

Ancic will oppose Hrbaty in this week's Davis Cup final as Croatia meet Slovakia, who also have Karol Beck (the 15th ranked player) in their team.

Popular Belgian Olivier Rochus will be back as the sixth seed and looking to go one better than the runner-up spot he filled in going down to Gonzalez this year.

He will be accompanied by his brother Christophe who, as the world No 42, comfortably finds a place in the main draw.

The wildcard issue was again raised yesterday with news that popular Brazilian Gustavo Kuerten, a semifinalist in Auckland in 2004, had "made an enquiry" but had been told by Pearce that none was available.

Australian Mark Philippoussis was handed one, New Zealand No 1 (and world 311) Mark Nielsen a second with the third to go to the winner of an all-New Zealand play-off.

Kuerten's only hope of playing, and using the tournament as warm-up for the Australian Open, would, it appears, be by entering the January 7-8 qualifying tournament. 


The field

Entry order and world ranking

1. Fernando Gonzalez (Chile, 11)
2. David Ferrer (Spain, 15)
3. Robby Ginepri (US, 16)
4. Dominik Hrbaty (Slovakia, 19)
5. Mariano Ancic (Croatia, 22)
6. Olivier Rochus (Belgium, 28)
7. Jarkko Nieminen (Finland, 29)
8. Feliciano Lopez (Spain, 34)
9. Filippo Volandri (ITA, 39)
10. Jose Acasuso (ARG, 41)
11. Christophe Rochus (BEL, 42)
12. Alberto Martin (ESP, 51)
13. Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI, 55)
14. Marcos Baghdatis (CYP, 56)
15. Karol Beck (SVK, 57)
16. Tomas Zib (CZE, 59)
17. Kenneth Carlsen (DEN, 61)
19. Robin Vik (CZE, 62)
20. Andy Murray (GBR, 64)
21. Nicolas Massu (CHI, 66)
22. Andrei Pavel (ROM, 67)
23. Paul Goldstein (US, 68)

Three wildcards
1. Mark Philippoussis (Aust, 175)
2. Mark Nielsen (NZ, 311)
3. One to be allocated through playoff 

Two special exempts 
Four qualifiers