Tennis: Men's turn to hold court

The men's Open will still feature four world top 20 players. Photo / Dean Purcell

Plenty of punters will be watching the guys serve up world-class tennis at Stanley St today.

The first ball of the Heineken Open will be served today with the main draw singles and doubles beginning this evening and $84,500 up for grabs in Saturday's final.

The tournament's organisers say today's match to watch is between Austrian 21-year-old Dominic Thiem and German Jan-Lennard Struff, 24.

The USA's Steve Johnson, 25, and Portugal's Joao Sousa, 25, will also go head to head.

New Zealand Festival of Tennis spokeswoman Rebecca Lawson said there were limited tickets remaining for the event, which was first established as the Auckland Open in 1956 and has been the Heineken Open since 1999.

David Ferrer. Getty Images

Ms Lawson said yesterday's news that world number 10 David Ferrer had pulled out of the tournament with a back injury had not led to requests for ticket refunds.

"Ticket buyers are coming along for the range of international players coming to New Zealand, rather than for one player in particular.

"We are still boasting our best-equal line-up to date which features four world top 20 players."

This year's field includes world number 13 Ernests Gulbis, Roberto Bautista Agut (number 15), Kevin Anderson (16) and Tommy Robredo (17).

The Heineken Open also welcomes the world's best doubles pairing, American identical twins Robert and Michael Bryan.

A wildcard entry has been given to 17-year-old Croatian player, Borna Coric, who organisers say will be "a massive name" in coming years.

Two Kiwis have been given wildcards - New Zealand number one Michael Venus and Rubin Statham.