Two-time defending champion and top seed Simon Rea returns to the courts at his home province of North Harbour for the New Zealand Residentials with the hope of winning another title and pushing his claims for a wildcard into next month's open at Stanley St.
Rea, 21, and ranked at 823
in the world, is facing tough competition from teenager GD Jones for the title and also for a place in the Heineken Open.
Within the past fortnight, third-seed Jones has won the Auckland senior champs and the national 18s.
Rea will start his tournament against Auckland's Richard Cahi. Jones plays Wellington's Andrew Walmsley.
Second seed is West Auckland's Adam Thompson, who has spent several months in Africa playing on the Futures circuit. Thompson's first test is likely to be against either Kiril Tcherveniachki or Canterbury's Dan King Turner in the quarters.
A couple of dangerous unseeded players are Matt Simpson and Henry Gers who are in the quarter of the draw which features sixth seed Jacob Olsen and fourth seed James Shortall.
In the women's draw, second seed Ilke Gers is a late withdrawal due to injury, leaving the bottom half of the draw a benefit for Leanne Baker.
Her main competition will be fifth seed and former pro Tracey O'Connor and top junior Shona Lee.
Baker has won the title four times. Top seed Shelley Stephens is the defending champ and has a tough top half of the draw, with seventh seed Nicola Kaiwai, sixth seed Dianne Hollands and fourth seed Niki Tippins all dangerous.
Play starts at 9 this morning.
Seeded players. -
Men: S. Rea (1), A. Thompson (2), GD Jones (3), J. Shortall (4), L. Radovanovich (5), J. Olsen (6), N. Lane (7), D. King Turner (8).
Women: S. Stephens (1), I. Gers (2), L. Baker (3), N. Tippins (4), T. O'Connor (5), D. Hollands (6), N. Kaiwai (7), S. Lee (8). Dave Worsley
