Tennis: Nalbandian on comeback trail in Auckland

Reigning champion Juan Martin del Potro may not be returning but there will still be a strong Argentinian challenge at the Auckland's men's tennis open, with former world No 3 David Nalbandian confirmed as the tournament's first major signing.

One of the few players with a winning head-to-head record against Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, Nalbandian is ranked 20 after peaking at No 3 early in 2006.

An injury-affected season this year, when he suffered hip trouble, means that ranking is set to tumble in the coming weeks, and the 27-year-old will be firmly on the comeback trail when he arrives in Auckland for January's Heineken Open.

"Nalbandian is a quality player who has something special in his game," tournament director Richard Palmer said.

"He's the sort of player who has the ability to really challenge for the Heineken Open title and get back into the top 10."

Nalbandian's ranking peaked in March 2006 after a semifinal appearance at the Australian Open and also at the Miami Masters.

Despite hip surgery this season, he still managed to claim the title in Sydney with successive victories over Lleyton Hewitt, Richard Gasquet and Jarkko Nieminen.

He also made the semifinals at Buenos Aires and the quarter-finals at Barcelona.

One of his most notable results was in 2002, when in his first professional tournament on grass he shocked the tennis world with a run to the final of Wimbledon before succumbing to Hewitt.

A super-consistent player, Nalbandian has reached the quarter-finals or better of 10 Grand Slams.

He is the first signing for the professional tournaments, which had been hit by news that neither champion, del Potro or Elena Dementieva, would defend their titles. Former world No 1 Justine Henin also turned down a wildcard to begin her comeback in Auckland.