By TERRY MADDAFORD
All the seeded players at January's international men's classic in Auckland are likely to come from the ranks of the world's top 50.
Heineken Open tournament director Graham Pearce yesterday confirmed current Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic for the event.
He also said Dutch star Sjeng Schalken would be back to chase the Vodafone singles title he won in 1999.
In two outings at Stanley St, Schalken has fashioned a seven win-one loss record.
He dedicated his title win to his 15-year-old brother Tuur, who died of cancer three years to the day on which Schalken beat Tommy Haas here.
Schalken, aged 25, returned last season to defend his title.
He beat Ivanisevic in the first round but went out in the quarter-finals to Gaston Gaudio.
This year, Schalken has reached five quarter-finals, the semifinals in Amsterdam and a final in Washington after beating Andre Agassi. He won his sixth career title in Stockholm.
Marat Safin, who finished the year at No 11 in the champions race, will almost certainly be the top seed for the January 7 to 12 tournament.
Ivanisevic, just one place back on the end-of-year rankings, is likely to be second seed.
Schalken, ranked 26, is the likely third seed.
Of the other confirmed entries, Greg Rusedski (at 31) and defending champion Dominik Hrbaty (32) seem certain to be seeded.
By the time the final entries are known next week, they could be joined by Jiri Novak (29), Andreas Vinciquerra (33) and Gaudio (49) as seeds.
Popular American Michael Chang will be back. But his ranking of 95 means he will not be seeded and may need a wildcard to get into the main draw.
The interest does not stop with the men's event.
There has been unprecedented demand for tickets to the ASB Bank women's classic, being held from December 31 to January 5.
Organisers are confident of first-ever sellouts for the classic.
Main interest centres on the Tuesday-Wednesday "double package" with Anna Kournikova scheduled to play on at least one of those days.
Until the draw is made and entries have been taken for the doubles, organisers are unsure which day Spaniard Conchita Martinez will make her first appearance.
Tickets not snapped up by clubs will go on sale on Monday.
Pearce said interest in the tournament had lifted after confirmation of Kournikova's entry.
"We have only half a dozen corporate boxes left and ticket sales have been great," he said.
"For the first time, we might have people queuing outside the office when we open on Monday."
ASB Bank Classic full coverage
