Wildcard Nalbandian Leads Field at ATP Munich

Argentine David Nalbandian heads the field this week in Munich after his late entry, attempting a return from illness after pulling out of events at the Masters Series-Monte Carlo and Barcelona.

While suffering from what was thought to be hepatitis, then an unknown virus in his liver, the Argentine is still thought to be struggling with his fitness level but is keen to get some matches under his belt before defending his runner-up points the week after Munich at the Masters Series-Rome.

"David Nalbandian is one of the top players in the world and I am sure he will prove that in Munich," said hopeful tournament director Rudi Berger. "We tried to get Australia's Lleyton Hewitt too but it looks like he will play here next year instead."

Nalbandian will be tested right from the start in Munich, opening against the hot-handed Nicolas Lapentti who reached the semifinals last week in Houston, if the Ecuadorian can shake off the jet lag and fatigue.

Nalbandian is joined among the seeds in Munich by Nikolay Davydenko of Russia, Croatian Mario Ancic, Germany's own Tommy Haas, Romanian Andrei Pavel, Russian Igor Andreev, Thai Paradorn Srichaphan, and another German hope in Rainer Schuettler.

Other tough openers include the clay-challenged (7) Srichaphan vs. rising Dutchman Peter Wessels, (3) Ancic vs. Argentine Jose Acasuso who recorded a win over Marat Safin last week, and (4) Haas vs. hungry Spaniard Nicolas Almagro.

Other wildcards went to Germany's Alexander Waske and Tobias Summerer.

In last year's final the unseeded Davydenko, the lone returning champ in this year's field, defeated No. 4 seed Martin Verkerk, who is still out in 2005 with a shoulder injury.

Scheduled for Monday in Munich are Juan "The Principality" Monaco vs. Burgsmuller, (5) Pavel vs. (WC) Waske, (WC) Summerer vs. Schalken, Arthurs vs. Irakli "Freak Show" Labadze, and Zib vs. "Everybody Love" Raemon Sluiter.