By TERRY MADDAFORD
Tennis fans who felt they were short-changed when Chilean Marcelo Rios pulled out of the Auckland international tournament two years ago fear the worst again because of rumours that he might not play at Stanley St this week.
Reports from Qatar, where Rios won the final of a $US1 million ($2.2 million) tournament in three sets on Sunday, suggest that he has a "slight back injury."
Heineken Open director Graham Pearce would not be drawn on Rios' possible no-show.
"As far as we know, he is due in Auckland at 11 o'clock tomorrow morning," Pearce said last night.
"There has been no indication from the ATP he will not be here. He has already requested an afternoon rather than night match. We have scheduled him to play after 4 pm."
Asked whether Rios, who withdrew in 1999 after playing one set, would be paid appearance money, Pearce said "the top players expect to be paid."
He would not comment on whether Rios would have to get through his first-round match to be paid. Rios is thought to have received about $60,000 for his previous appearance here.
Pearce said he was annoyed that some people continue to question the 1999 injury, which kept Rios out of the Australian Open.
Tennis: Rios could miss Open
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.