KEY POINTS:
David Ferrer returns to the Heineken Open in January to ensure one of the strongest fields for the tournament.
The Spaniard, ranked 14th in the world, will appear alongside Tommy Robredo (7), Mario Ancic (9), Jarkko Nieminen (15), and world No 23 Juan Carlos Ferrero.
Ferrer has played twice here before, in 2003 and 2006, and on both occasions made it through to the quarter-finals.
"He's a very consistent and quality player who adds to the depth at the top of the tournament," said Heineken Open tournament director Graham Pearce. "He's capable of going all the way in the Open."
Ferrer has been ranked as high as 10 in the world, in January 2006, and has won two singles titles.
The full field for the January 8-13 tournament will be announced on Wednesday.
Another entrant carries a name not yet well known but which soon could be. Spain's Nicolas Almagro is rated 32 in the world and is one of the brightest hopes in world tennis. One of 12 Spaniards in the top 100, he was won one ATP tournament in Valencia and has claimed the scalps of Ferrero, Marat Safin, Nikolai Davydenko and Guillermo Coria.
Pearce said: "We try to find those on the way up; we've had Rafael Nadal, Marcos Bhagdatis and Roger Federer. We think Almagro is in that mould."
Pearce is still hopeful of adding Novak Djokovic (16) and Richard Gasquet (18) to a strong field.
