Another top 20 player has boosted the field for this summer's Heineken Open, with Spain's Tommy Robredo today confirmed for the tournament.
Robredo, currently ranked at No17, brings to six the number of players attending the Auckland event who sit inside the world's top 20.
"We are thrilled," said tournament director Karl Budge. "Not only to have six top-20 players but to have such contrasting styles will ensure some quality matches.
"It's not often we have top-20 players headlining Monday and Tuesday, and this year it appears we will have some real excitement with the likes of Tommy and Gael Monfils kicking off our action."
Robredo joins the what's shaping as the best Heineken Open lineup to date, headlined by top seed David Ferrer. Joining the Spanish pair are Ernests Gulbis, defending champion John Isner, Kevin Anderson, Monfils and rising star Dominic Thiem.
Robredo has enjoyed another consistent year on the ATP Tour, reaching the third round or better at all four Grand Slams. He made semifinals in Buenos Aires, quarter-finals in both Barcelona and the ATP Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati, as well as the finals in Umag, Shenzhen and Valencia.
The 32-year-old pulled off big wins against top-10 players Marin Cilic, Richard Gasguet and, most notably, a victory over world No1 Novak Djokovic in Cincinnati.
However, it has been the second half of the season that has ensured the popular Spaniard remained well entrenched in the world's top 20.
After reaching the fourth round of Wimbledon, where he pushed the king of grass Roger Federer, Robredo went on to reach the fourth round of the US Open, before making finals appearances in Shenzhen and Valencia, meeting Andy Murray on both occasions. While the Scot came out on top in each encounter, the pair battled out a gruelling 3:20 match to decide the title in Valencia - the longest final on tour this year.
