Top 10 representation is lacking this week at the Heineken Open where Chilean defending champ Fernando "Gonzo" Gonzalez heads the seeds in Auckland, New Zealand.
Spain's Dave Ferrer comes in as the No. 2 seed, followed by American
Robby Ginepri, Dominik "The Dominator" Hrbaty, Mario "Baby Goran" Ancic, Olivier "The Roach" Rochus, Finn
Jarkko Nieminen, and Spain's Feliciano "F-Lo" Lopez.
Other notables in Auckland this week are Brit-Scot
Andy Murray (vs.
Kenneth Carlsen first round), Cypriot comer Marcos "Bombs Over" Baghdatis (vs. (7) Nieminen), and Olympic gold medalist
Nicolas Massu (vs. (4) Hrbaty).
Mark Philippoussis withdrew from the event over the weekend citing injury.
Last year Gonzalez beat
Olivier Rochus in the straight-set final. Gonzo (2005) and The Dominator (2004,'01) are returning champs in the field.
Monday in Auckland will feature (WC) King-Turner vs. Mayer, Carlsen vs. Murray, Vik vs. (8) F.Lopez, (WC) Nielsen vs. (5) Ancic, and Zib vs. Wawrinka.
