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The Heineken Open's standing as a truly international tournament was further enhanced on finals day.
In beating favoured fourth seed Juan Carlos Ferrero 7-6 (7-4), 7-5 in an absorbing singles final, seventh seed Philipp Kohlschreiber, 24, became the first from his country to win the New Zealand Open.
He added Germany as the 25th country to appear on the tournament's roll of honour. In earlier years top German players, including now world No 12 Tommy Haas, former World No 1 Michael Stich and regular visitor Nicolas Kiefer, came up short.
Earlier in the afternoon on a sun-baked centre court, popular Juan Monaco, teamed with Peruvian Luis Horna, added Argentina as the 24th nation on the honour's list when they overcame the favoured pairing of Belgian Xavier Malisse and Austrian Jurgen Melzer 6-4, 3-6, 10-7 to win the doubles.
Horna is the second from his country to win in Auckland following Jamie Yzaga who won the singles here in 1992 - the fifth of his eight career singles titles.
Kohlschreiber's victory, richly deserved in a match which produced some of the best tennis of the week, sparked much debate, with predictions from some that he could go from his current ranking of just outside the top 30 - that will come down on the back of his singles triumph - as high as the top 10 by year end. Others felt top 20 might be more realistic.
He is a young man in a hurry - on and off the court even if the first set on Saturday stretched beyond an hour before he took it in a tiebreak.
Within minutes of picking up his trophy and cheque, a handsome US$73,700 ($94,000), thanking all and sundry (and promising to return to defend) and fulfilling his media commitments, the personable Kohlschreiber headed to the airport to prepare for the Australian Open and a first-round clash with a yet-to-be-found qualifier.
Safely through the first two rounds, he faces a possible third-round showdown with sixth seed Andy Roddick - the highest-seeded player in his quarter of the draw apart from open second seed Rafael Nadal - another who has played without success in Auckland.
Against Ferrero, the former World No 1 playing his 27th ATP final of which he had won 11 but not any of six since his last success in 2003 when he won four times, Kohlschreiber showed flashes of brilliance with his all-court game.
It was a match which lasted 1h 54m, including a couple of light-hearted delays as the stadium's resident sparrows decided they would test the patience of the players and the spectators by flitting on and off the court and happily sitting on the net.
The match stats were similar.
Kohlschreiber served seven aces to Ferrero's five. The German was also guilty of serving seven double faults, including two in the crucial last game of the match.
Ahead 30-0 and seemingly cruising, he let the Spaniard back to 30-30 then hit long and out of court for 30-40. A wild return from Ferrero locked it at deuce.
Kohlschreiber quickly closed it out. His record of never being beaten in five ATP finals - two singles, three doubles - remained intact.
Just as Kohlschreiber confirmed his intention to return to defend, Ferrero too is keen to come back.
"I felt amazing here all week," said Ferrero, 27, the 22nd seed for the Australian Open as he thanked the crowd for their support. "I think this tournament is so good [as a starting point for the new tennis year]. I hope to come back next year."
Despite losing, Ferrero said he had taken plenty from the Open, saying he had played five good matches which he saw as ideal preparation for Australia. Of Kohlschreiber, Ferrero said: "He played better than me. I played good tennis all week and feel I am getting close to my best form."
He will need to continue in the same vein as he faces former world No 4 Kiefer in one of the more appealing first-round clashes in Melbourne.
Kohlschreiber, who spends a fair amount of his down time watching action movies, admitted his sights are set on a spot in the top 20. "Yes, it is one of my goals. As soon as possible."
On what he showed in his two hours on centre court on Saturday it might not be a long wait.
