KEY POINTS:
The clues are easy to spot. Empty desks, jobs away from the office and suspicious mid-week sunburn.
Auckland is again in the grip of tennis fever, this time the Heineken Open at the ASB Tennis Centre.
Esmee Dunlop, an Auckland public relations consultant, has just the kind of
understanding boss who would delight tennis fans.
"My boss sent me here," she said, beaming. She recommended the tennis as "a great day out" even though the strawberries and ice-cream in a waffle cone cost $7 and the pasta $10.50.
Rain washed out play on Tuesday but spectators hoping for a full day of tennis had their prayers answered yesterday. Temperatures on centre court nudged towards 30C and fans got a double dose of action as organisers packed in matches to get back on schedule.
Lauren Cornash, 15, of Devonport, was among a group of friends enjoying the tennis.
"I came last year and it was great and I saw the women play last week," she said.
"You just don't appreciate how good these guys are until you come here and see them live," she said.
Jason Schwarz, 37, who runs Goldwater vineyard on Waiheke Island, took a day away from the grapes to come to the tennis.
"I've been coming here for about five years now and I love it. I think Robredo is going to take it this year - he's seeded highest here and he finished well last year."
His wife, Christine Schwarz, said her boss was kind enough to give her the day off as well.
"That's my boss right there," she said, pointing at her husband.
"I've been coming here for about the same amount of time. It's a really good way to spend the day."
Bill Clark, who works for a construction company in Mt Wellington, was eager for the next match to start.
"Does my boss know I'm here? Of course he does," he laughed.
Marianne Poh, 15, from Takapuna, said she wanted Mario Ancic to win the title.
"It's because I know him, well ... not personally, but I like the way he plays the game and I see a lot of him on TV."
Chris Buchanan, a quantity surveyor, also reckoned Ancic had a good chance.
"He's a good player, mate, good to watch and he came second here last year," he said.
They were to be disappointed. Soon afterwards Ancic, the No 2 seed, was bundled out of the second round by American Mardy Fish.
A spokesman for the Open said attendance was the same as in previous years.
"If you take out Tuesday we've basically been sold out every day."
He said last week's ASB classic was the best ever in terms of numbers attending.
"We had sold-out days nearly every day, which is almost unheard of."
This year's crowds were even better than 2002 when the star attraction was pin-up girl Anna Kournikova.