Tennis: Auckland's showcase tennis tournament finals always full of surprises

France's Arnaud Clement was a surprise finalist in 2010. Photo / Steven McNicholl

On Saturday we will have at least one - and possibly two surprise finalists in the Heineken Open. Michael Burgess and Kris Shannon look back at five other unexpected names to reach the decider of Auckland's long running ATP event.

Danny Saltz (1984)
Saltz remains the last qualifier to win the Auckland event. 1983 Wimbledon finalist Chris Lewis was the top seed that year, and big things were also expected of Davis Cup teammate Russell Simpson and Australians Wally Masur and John Alexander. But the unheralded Saltz became just the eighth qualifier in ATP history to win a tournament, beating second seed Chip Hooper in the best of five sets final. It was the only final the American reached in his career, where he achieved a career high ranking of 122 - Michael Burgess

Arnaud Clement (2010)

Arnaud Clement was a former top-10 player and made a grand slam final in 2001 but few would have foreseen this run. Clement was ranked 63rd in the world and his Heineken Open seemed destined to end with a second-round clash against David Ferrer. But Clement knocked over the second seed and cruised through a quarter-final against sixth seed Jurgen Melzer. A semifinal against Philipp Kohlschreiber brought another straight-sets victory before Clement came up just short in the final, losing a third-set tie-break against John Isner. - Kris Shannon

Jerome Golmard (2002)

The 2002 Heineken Open included such names as Marat Safin, Michael Chang, Gaston Gaudio, Jonas Bjorkman, Goran Ivanisevic, David Nalbandian and Jiri Novak but somehow Golmard made it through to the last day. The Frenchman was no mug but he sat outside the top 50. He lost in three sets to Greg Rusedski. - MB

Jean-Phillippe Fleurian (1991)

The French world No77 beat local favourite Brett Steven in the first round before dispatching top seed and world No9 Emiliano Sanchez in the quarter-finals. Fleurian took care of the fifth seed in the semifinal, before his run was finally stopped by Czech Karel Novacek in the final 6-7 (5) 6-7 (4). Fleurian never won an ATP singles title and the Auckland run marked the second and last final of his career - MB

Francisco Clavet (2001)

Auckland was the last ATP Tour destination where Francisco Clavet advanced to the final.

The Spaniard had a decent career - making more than US$4 million and winning eight tournaments - but his career was winding down.

He enjoyed one last hurrah at the 2001 Heineken Open, knocking out third seed Jan-Michael Gambill in the quarter-finals and tournament drawcard Greg Rusedski in the semis, before falling in the final against Dominik Hrbaty - KS

Against the odds

• 2010 Arnaud Clement

• 2002 Jerome Golmard

• 2001 Francisco Clavet

• 1991 Jean Phillipe Fleurian

•1984 Danny Saltz