Tennis: Injury forces out Open's drawcard

David Nalbandian's exit is a huge loss for the tournament. Photo / Brett Phibbs

A tournament already light on star quality is a good deal lighter heading into day two after the injury-enforced withdrawal of drawcard David Nalbandian from Auckland's men's open late yesterday.

The former world No 3 suffered a light abdominal strain in practice. A scan confirmed the injury and the Argentine withdrew soon after.

Heineken Open tournament director Richard Palmer did his best to put a brave face on the news but there is no doubt Nalbandian is a huge loss for a tournament needing to rebound from a lacklustre opening day.

"It would have been great to see him play here but what can you do about it?" Palmer said.

Nalbandian was ranked inside the world's top 20 when his capture by the Auckland tournament was trumpeted in October. But that ranking has since tumbled after a long layoff with a shoulder injury, with Nalbandian initially needing a wildcard to make the cut in Auckland.

Even so, he was certainly one of the draws in a field with no current top 10 player.

"It is a big name but you are philosophical about it," Palmer said. "That is the reality of sport.

"While he is a significant drawcard there are plenty of other good players."

Nalbandian said he was disappointed not to be able to make his comeback in Auckland.

"I didn't play much tennis for eight months so it is natural to suffer some small injuries," he said.

"I remain confident and positive about making a full-time comeback to the tour soon.

"I hope to come back next year and play in front of the Kiwi crowd."

It is not clear if he intends to compete in next week's Australian Open.

Spaniard Inigo Cervantes-Huegin replaces him in the draw.

The "lucky loser" from qualifying faces former champion Philipp Kohlschreiber on centre court in the final match of today's day session.

After an opening day when the highlight - if it can be called that - was a low-quality affair between Kiwis Rubin Statham and Dan King-Turner, Nalbandian's withdrawal was a blow for the tournament.

The first round byes for the top four seeds and the late arrival of many players meant just three first-round matches were played yesterday, leaving Palmer to fend off suggestions fans had been short-changed.

"You could argue that the quality of the matches perhaps isn't the same as having a Ferrer or somebody like that out there but I think they [saw] some pretty good tennis."

Today's schedule would feature all nine remaining singles matches and all six remaining first-round doubles matches.

CENTRE COURT
Start 11am

* Horacio Zeballos (ARG)
vs 7-Juan Monaco (ARG)

* John Isner (US)
vs Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP)

* 1-Bob Bryan (US)/Mike Bryan (US)
vs Rogier Wassen (NED) / Horacio Zeballos (ARG)

* 5-Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)
vs Inigo Cervantes-Huegun (ESP)

Not before 7.30pm
* Jeremy Chardy (FRA)
vs Arnaud Clement (FRA)

* Jaroslav Levinsky (CZE) / Travis Parrott (US)
vs 2-Lukas Dlouhy (CZE) / Leander Paes (IND)

COURT 4
Start 11am

* James Lemke (AUS)
vs 8-Albert Montanes (ESP)

* Simon Greul (GER)
vs Paolo Lorenzi (ITA)

* Marcelo Melo (BRA)/Bruno Soares (BRA)
vs Jurgen Melzer (AUT) / Philipp Petzschner (GER)

* Lucas Arnold Ker (ARG) / Juan Monaco (ARG)
vs Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) / Albert Montanes (ESP)

* Martin Damm (CZE) / Filip Polasek (SVK)
vs 3-Marcel Granollers (ESP) / Tommy Robredo (ESP)

COURT 6
Start 11am

* Daniel Evans (GBR)
vs Michael Lammer (SUI)

* 4-Julian Knowle (AUT) / Robert Lindstedt (SWE)
vs Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) / Andre Sa (BRA)

Not before 2pm
* Marc Gicquel (FRA)
vs Olivier Rochus (BEL)

* Florian Mayer (GER)
vs Sebastian Grosjean (FRA)