Tennis: NZer exits at Heineken

New Zealand's Rubin Statham during his match against Spain's Albert Montanes in Auckland today. Photo / NZPA

New Zealand's involvement in the mens singles at the Heineken Open in Auckland has come to an end.

Rubin Statham slugged it out blow for blow with 8th-seeded Spaniard Albert Montanes all the way through a long first set of their second round matchup, which went to a tiebreaker at 6 games all.

In the tiebreak, Statham almost got the better of his much higher-ranked opponent, but it was Montanes who won the key points and emerged triumphant in a close battle, 8 points to 6.

The Spaniard romped through the second set, however, as the New Zealander tired. The final match score was 7-6, 6-2.

Earlier, there were more woes for the beleaguered organisers of the international tennis tournament.

An ankle injury forced third seed Juan Carlos Ferrero out of the Heineken Open today.

Ferrero retired in the first set of his second round match, in which he was trailing qualifier Michael Lammer 1-3.

Ferrero is a former world number 1, who has won one Major in his career, the 2003 French Open. He was also a finallist at the US Open that year.

- NZPA