Tennis: Isner the drawcard for Open

John Key at the Heineken Open launch. Photo / Steven McNicholl

Spanish world No 7 David Ferrer will headline a Heineken Open field consisting largely of names familiar to the Auckland tennis public.

Defending champion John Isner, the world No 19, is the second seed ahead of last year's beaten semifinalist Albert Montanes and Argentinian Juan Monaco.

David Nalbandian, the Argentinian who last year received a wildcard but withdrew without playing after suffering an injury in training, has made good on his promise to return.

A one-time world No 3, Nalbandian's ranking plummeted after he struggled with injuries. However, after a solid 2010 it has rebounded to 27 this year, good enough to make him the fifth seed on the entry list confirmed yesterday. Former world No 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero, Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci and German Philipp Kohlschreiber - who makes his eighth appearance in Auckland - round out the seeds.

"There is a lot of variety, a lot of experience, but there is also the up and coming aspect as well, so I think it is a good balance," tournament director Richard Palmer said at the launch of the event yesterday.

Dutchman Thiemo de Bakker, a former top-ranked junior and world No 43, is the major up-and-comer Palmer referred to.

While Ferrer is an entertaining enough character, Isner will be the main drawcard. The unseeded 2.06m American defeated Arnaud Clement in this year's final to claim his first ATP title, kickstarting a season that saw him break into the world's top 20.

The huge-serving Isner captured international attention by beating Nicolas Mahut in the longest match in professional tennis history (11hr 5min) in the first round at Wimbledon.

Kiwi reigning doubles champion Marcus Daniell may not defend his title.

Daniell's come-from-nowhere title run alongside Romanian Horia Tecau was one of the feelgood stories of this year's tournament, however he has been out of action since suffering an injury in the build-up to the Commonwealth Games. He will need a wildcard to enter and his lack of match play may count against him, Palmer said.

"If he hasn't played for three of four months it is probably not realistic. Having said that, he did win the title last year, so there could be a bit of a conundrum there."

The chances of Daniell teaming up with Tecau also appear minimal, with the Romanian having forged a successful partnership with Swede Robert Lindstadt. The pair reached the final of Wimbledon, while Tecau added three more titles to his Auckland triumph to lift his world ranking to 19.

Kiwi No 1 Dan King-Turner has also been out of action with an Achilles injury. King-Turner plans to return to training next week but his inactivity means he won't be an automatic wildcard selection.

Palmer moved to dispel any doubts about the readiness of the ASB tennis centre, which will be part way through a major reconstruction when the Heineken Open and ASB Classic are held.

"It will be at a point where we can use it," Palmer said. "It won't be finished until June, but that was always the case. We are on schedule."

The capacity of 3200 would not be affected for the tournaments, he said.