5.20pm
Former Heineken Open winner and world No 17 Sjeng Schalken is returning to Auckland to play in New Zealand's premier tennis tournament in January.
Schalken won the Heineken Open in 1999, and after injury hampered the start of his 2003 season, the Dutchman made solid progress during the year winning two singles titles and reaching the quarterfinals at Wimbledon and the US Open.
Schalken, 27, has won nine singles titles and has finished inside the top 30 rankings for the past four years.
Heineken Open Tournament director Graham Pearce said the return of such a consistent campaigner on the world circuit was a great bonus for the event.
"Sjeng is always a great competitor when he comes to New Zealand. He is fondly remembered by the crowd and it's great that we have been able to announce three players in the top 20."
The Heineken Open will be held from January 12-17 at the ASB tennis centre.
Other players confirmed for the 2004 Heineken Open are world No 5 Guillermo Coria, current champ and No 15 Gustavo Kuerten, 2003 beaten finalist Slovak, Dominik Hrbaty, hard-hitting Chilean Fernando Gonzalez.
- NZPA
Tennis: Schalken returns to Auckland for Heineken Open
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