Tennis: Bring on the boys of summer

The big guns are out at the Auckland Tennis Centre. We measure the calibre of the centrecourt contenders.

Guillermo Coria
(Argentina)

The tournament top seed and world No 5, 21-year-old Coria has six ATP singles titles to his name - a stunning five last year - and has pocketed almost $5 million in prizemoney.

He is the first Argentine to end a year in the top five since Guillermo Vilas, after whom he was named, in 1982. He rocketed up the rankings last year, making the quarter-finals or better 11 times in 20 tournaments, losing in the first round only three times.

His titles were the Masters in Hamburg, then three successive weeks at Stuttgart, Kitzbuhel and Sopot - the last player to do that was Austrian Thomas Muster seven years ago - and he won indoors for the first time at Basel.

The eldest of three brothers, he won the Roland Garros junior title in 1999. Unsurprisingly, clay is his favourite surface. Is the top seed for the first time on the tour.

Rafael Nadal
(Spain)

Last year was a breakthrough year for the 17-year-old leftie from Mallorca. He finished in the top 100 for the first time, won two Challenger titles and made his first ATP semi-final.

He became the youngest player to reach the third round at Wimbledon since Boris Becker in 1984. Nadal began playing tennis at 5, hailing from the same area as grand slam winner Carlos Moya. In 2001 became only the ninth player to win an ATP match before turning 16.

He is coached by an uncle, Toni Nadal. Another uncle, Miguel Angel Nadal, is a former Spanish soccer international. He had a 14-11 singles record last year - and a big future.

Alex Corretja
(Spain)

The 29-year-old Barcelona native has picked up 17 ATP singles titles in a successful pro career entering its 13th year. Missing a title last year was compensated for by helping Spain reach the Davis Cup final.

Had his purple patches in 1998 and 2000 when he won five titles. Showed his versatility in 1998 by winning on three different surfaces while in 2000 also led Spain to its first Davis Cup title.

Reached career-high world No 2 in 1999. Lost in his two French Open final appearances, to Carlos Moya in 1998 and Gustavo Kuerten in 2001.

The ATP Player Council president in 1998, he is a formidable opponent, known for battling through long games, and a popular figure. The 1.8m Corretja has won US$10,136,555.

Gustavo Kuerten
(Brazil)

The tournament third seed and defending champion, the Brazilian was a popular figure last year. He finished the 2003 season 15th in the world rankings, having picked up his 18th and 19th ATP career titles at Auckland and St Petersburg.

The 1.9m tall righthander from Florianopolis has won three grand slam titles, all in Paris in 1997, 2000 and 2001, and has won US$14,224,746 in a glittering career.

In 2000 he became the first South American to end the year as world No 1, winning the Masters Cup in Lisbon. In a thrilling conclusion, he came from 75 points behind series leader Marat Safin to clinch it in the final game of the year, a straight-sets win over Andre Agassi.

Fluent in Portugese, Spanish and English, he is a keen surfer. He has a 29-14 record in the Davis Cup.

Xavier Malisse
(Belgium)

The 23-year-old has yet to win an ATP title but can still look at winnings of almost $3 million. His singles record in the past year is so-so: 18 wins against 21 losses. However, he is tipped to be a mover this year.

In 2002 he became the first Belgian to crack the top 25. Last year he made the third rounds at the Australian and French Opens and the fourth round at the US Open. He came within a match of making the Wimbledon final of 2002, losing to former Auckland visitor David Nalbandian in a five-setter.

If he gets into a tie-break next week put your shirt on him - his record last year was 15-4. His Davis Cup singles record is 8-4.

Todd Martin
(USA)

The 1.98m 33-year-old righthander from Illinois is viewed as one of the good guys of the tour. He has won eight ATP singles titles in a career that began 13 years ago. He finished in the top 100 for the 12th successive year last year and played his 400th career match at the US Open.

Ranked 62nd in the world, he has won eight ATP singles titles and more than US$8 million in prizemoney. He has reached two grand slam finals: the Australian Open in 1994, losing to Pete Sampras, and the 1999 US Open, where he had a two sets to one lead before succumbing to Andre Agassi. Has an 11-8 career singles record in Davis Cup play.