Tennis: Mayer eyes NZ wildcard as first step on climb up

First up today Florian Mayer plays New Zealander Dan King-Turner. Picture / Dean Purcell

Florian Mayer will not have to wait long to kickstart his quest for a return to the top 35 on the all-important ATP world rankings.

The 22-year-old German, ranked 33rd in the world in September 2004, now sits at 75 but with his sights set initially on the top 50. Beyond that, he hopes, is a return to his career-high.
That will begin at 11 o'clock this morning when he steps on stadium court for the opening match of the Heineken Open against New Zealand wildcard Dan King-Turner.

For Mayer, knocked out in the second round of last week's Adelaide tournament by Finn Jarkko Nieminen (the Open's seventh seed), the tournament opener at the ASB Tennis Centre is crucial.

The last player with direct entry into the Sovereign Singles draw, Mayer has it all in front of him.

Should he get past King-Turner, who claimed his wildcard after winning the mini play-off tournament for New Zealand players last month, Mayer faces the prospect of meeting eighth seed Feliciano Lopez (Spain) who meets Robin Vik (Czech Rep) in today's third match on the same court.

Mayer is not taking anything for granted. He has 26 players ranked ahead of him. The odds, surely, are stacked against him.

Playing an unknown simply adds to the intrigue.

"You never know. I don't know his [King-Turner] game," said Mayer. "It is never easy going into a game as favourite."

That is not something he has done too many times in his five years on the circuit.

Good enough to reach the 2004 Wimbledon quarter-finals, where he lost to French former world No 4 Sebastian Grosjean, Mayer knows all about the hard yards.

On his long battle through ITF tournaments he played Rafael Nadal in an Irish Futures, losing 6-7 4-6. Nadal quickly went on to greatness, Mayer back to the grind and a 25-30 tournaments-a-year schedule.

He reached the third round on his return to Wimbledon last year but stumbled in the first round of the remaining Grand Slams.

Despite [comparative] success on grass, Mayer insists clay is his favourite.

He points to Sopot, Poland, last August, where he reached his only ATP final. He beat, among others, Nieminen and Guillermo Coria before bowing to Frenchman, and 2004 world junior champion, Gael Monfils, in a tough three-setter.

The third-ranked German behind Tommy Haas and Nicolas Kiefer, Mayer shares the burden of carrying the hopes of the nation. Described by some as unorthodox, he uses a sliced forehand as a strong defensive weapon.

In his breakthrough year (2004) he surprised opponents. That element has now gone, replaced by hard work and a determination to make his way in one the most demanding of sports.

Grateful for the chance to play main draw - "while it is good to have qualifying matches sometimes, the qualifying draw here is so tough it is better to go straight in" - Mayer intends to make the most of it.

"Away from clay, the Rebound Ace courts here are probably my next most favoured," he said. "I think I can improve ... There are many things I must work on but for sure I will be trying hard."

So will King-Turner, who at 674 is ranked 599 below his opponent.

Today's schedule

(all courts from 11am)

Stadium court: WC Dan King-Turner (NZ) v Florian Mayer (Germany) followed by Kenneth Carlsen (Denmark) v Andy Murray (Britain), Robin Vik (Czech Rep) v 8 Feliciano Lopez (Spain), Daniele Bracciali (Italy)/Robby Ginepri (US) v 3 Jose Acasuso/Sebastian Prieto (Argentina), followed by (not before 7pm), WC Mark Nielson (NZ) v 5 Mario Ancic (Croatia), 4 Gaston Etlis/Martin Garcia (Argentina) v Fernando Gonzalez/Nicholas Massu (Chile).

Court four: Q Federico Luzzi (Italy) v Q Tomas Cakl (Czech Rep), Q Luis Horna (Peru) v Q Raemon Sluiter (Neth), David Ferrer/Albert Montanes (Spain) v Andre Pavel (Romania)/Rogier Wassen (Neth).

Court six: Q Ivo Minar (Czech) v Q Benedikt Dorsch (Germany), Q Jan Hernych (Czech) v Q Ivan Navarro Pastor (Spain), Tomas Zib (Czech) v Stanislas Wawrinka (Switzerland).