"To reach my initial goal of making the top 500 in the world it's not only important for me to challenge myself mentally, emotionally and physically every day, I also need the funds to play as many tournaments as possible to get the experience required for success on tour. Rubin and Ajeet both know how important it is to continuously get world class match play," Reynolds said.
"I hope this event can inspire the juniors here in Hawke's Bay to work hard towards their goals and also get the community behind tennis as a growing sport here in the region. We have some big hopes for a new venue of courts so we can host national and hopefully one day international tournaments. It would be awesome to bring quality tennis to the region," Reynolds explained.
He was commenting on the proposed 16-court complex for the Hawke's Bay Regional Sports Park in Hastings.
"I'm so humbled by the support from the Hawke's Bay tennis and sporting community. Other sports in New Zealand have shown they can produce world class athletes and I want to show the kids that it can and will be done on the tennis front.
"Dan [Willman] and Sean [Tennis Eastern's development officer Davies] truly believe we can produce world class players in Hawke's Bay, first at junior level and then transition them onto the adult circuit. As a team and with other believers in the community we are pushing to change the tennis culture," Reynolds said.
"We are helping kids and their parents understand a lot more work is required ... a lot more hours of training."
When Reynolds was based in Europe last year he played interclub for Bremen in Germany. He also played in some ITF Futures level tournaments.
"I got to the last qualification round at some of them and wasn't far off qualifying. That made me more determined to chase my dream of playing tennis fulltime," Reynolds said.
This year he will play interclub for Club Zur Vahr in Bremen as well as chase tournaments in Holland, Spain and France.
"It's going to be tougher this year as there will be pre-qualification rounds and qualification rounds for new payers like me. So I've been training hard," Reynolds said.
"Improving my mental strength is my biggest work on. I have to be gutsy and gritty. Most matches are decided by one or two points these days so it's important to be gutsy," Reynolds said.
A professional for 17 years, Statham, caused a huge upset at the ASB Classic in Auckland in January when he beat the world No 25 and sixth seed Hyeon Chung 7-5 6-3 for the biggest win of his career. At the time Statham was ranked more than 300 places below the Korean at 360 and it was just his second career victory in an ATP main draw match.
Chung, who reached the Australian Open semifinals last year, beating six-time champion Novak Djokovic on the way, looked like he was cruising to victory at one point, as he led 5-1 in the first set against a struggling Statham.
Reynolds is hoping for a crowd of 400 at the Okawa venue which is described as a stunning vineyard setting. During the evening an auction will be held and among the items will be a helicopter ride for up to five people, seven nights accommodation on the Gold Coast, the Tremains corporate box for up to 25 people to attend a Magpies Mitre 10 Cup game and coaching with Reynolds and Willman.
■ Tickets are $700 for a corporate table of eight people, $50 for a family of five or less or $20 each. These can be purchased through the Tennis Eastern website.
