Tennis: Wickmayer and Isner set to return

The first signings for next year's summer tournaments have been confirmed, with defending champions Yanina Wickmayer and John Isner set to return to Auckland in 2011.

After starting the year with wins in Auckland, the pair went on to have strong seasons, both breaking into the top 20 for the first time.

The year has been particularly memorable for Isner, who secured his first career ATP title in Auckland in January and reached another three finals before mid-year.

However it was his first-round win over French qualifier Nicolas Mahut at Wimbledon that will stay in the minds of sports fans around the globe. The 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (3), 70-68 win was the longest professional match in history. It took 665 minutes to complete over three days.

Richard Palmer, tournament director for the ASB Classic and Heineken Open, said he was delighted to lure the defending champions back after both players advanced to the top 20 this year.

"John Isner really is a big name in the sport after some quite remarkable results in 2010. No one will ever forget Wimbledon and his win at the Heineken Open captured the crowd's imagination.

"Yanina is ranked in the world's top 20 players. She has immense power in her shots and the ability to race through a draw."

Still, the news of the pair's signing has been greeted with a degree of apathy from fans who are eager to see top-name players make an appearance in Auckland.

Palmer is under pressure to secure one or two big names for the WTA and ATP events.

But the pickings are relatively slim. Rival tournaments and exhibitions in Asia and Australia have nabbed the high-profile names with eight of the top 10 women and seven of the top 10 men committed elsewhere.

Palmer, who has targeted players in the top 20, has promised more announcements.

The final field in the women's tournament will be confirmed on November 24, with the Heineken Open line-up to be announced in early December.

Isner and Wickmayer will return to a new-look ASB Tennis Centre, with construction at the $26 million redevelopment at 1 Tennis Lane well under way.

A new stand between the centre court and the outside courts has been erected and will house the players' lounge, medical treatment rooms and the sponsor "superboxes". The new stand will link up to the existing Redwood stand, which will also have a facelift.

The blue plexi-cushion court - the same surface used at the Australian Open - will begin to be laid on Monday.