Tennis: Kiwi men gear-up for ASB Classic

Michael Venus plays a backhand in his singles match against Alejandro Gonzalez. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand's male tennis players have been involved in action around the world this week as they prepare for next week's ASB Classic in Auckland.

National singles and doubles champion Artem Sitak has scored a good first up win in the Chennai ATP tournament in India. Teaming up with American Nicholas Monroe as the fourth seeds they defeated he Russian pair of Konstantin Kravchuk and Mikhail Youzhny in the first round 7-6(5) 6-3.

In the quarterfinals they face Steve Darcis (Belgium) and Frenchman Benoit Paire.

Mike Venus wasn't so fortunate at the ATP tournament in Brisbane where he combined with Swede Robert Lindstedt but they were defeated by Gilles Muller (Luxembourg) and American Sam Querrey 6-4 1-6 5-10 in the first round.

At the US$75,000 Noumea Challenger in New Caledonia Finn Tearney won his way through qualifying and then took out his first round clash beating a local wildcard without dropping a game but then lost to the eighth seed and top 200 ranked Mathias Bourgue (France) 7-6(4) 6-4.

Rubin Statham won his first round match at the same tournament but was then defeated by world No.60 Adrian Mannarino 6-2 6-1.

In doubles Tearney and Ben McLachlan lost in the first round while Statham and former Kiwi, now Brit, Cameron Norrie were beaten in the quarterfinals.