By PETER JESSUP
The Y2K bug appears to have bitten deep into the ranks of tennis players targeted for the Auckland tournaments which open the new millennium, with many opting to stay home to celebrate.
Last year's beaten finalist, Tommy Haas, will be the leading player at the Heineken Open. He and
struggling-for-form Michael Chang have both confirmed. that they were attracted to Auckland as lead-up to the Australian Open.
Haas, aged 21, is No 11 in the world, and coming with 1999 victories over Andre Agassi, Todd Martin and Richard Krajicek is a logical top seed for the Open, from January 10 to 15.
Chang, now aged 27, was the youngest winner of the French Open, in 1989 when he was 16. He was ranked No 2 in 1996 and has won 33 singles titles and $US34m in prizemoney.
But he has been a long time in the wilderness, his semifinal defeat at the $US2.3m Paris Open this month being his best performance for some time. Chang could not so long ago command appearance fees of around $US300,000, but it is certain he will not be getting anything like that to come to Stanley St in January.
Confirmed for the earlier womens' ASB Classic, from January 3 to 8, are Barbara Schwartz, Cara Black, Anna Smashnova and Maria-Antonia Sanchez-Lorenzo.
Womens' tournament director Richard Palmer said a "millennium blight" had affected the top end of the draw.
He had gone through emotions ranging from frustration to anger and disappointment as he tracked down potential competitors. It was clear that many wanted to spend the New Year at home, while others, including last year's beaten finalist, Dominique van Roost, and winner, Julie Halard-Decugis, had been attracted elsewhere.
There were six players in the top 50 confirmed and three just outside that ranking, and he was still talking to two top-30 ranked players and remained hopeful as there were always late inquiries and there was a week to go before cut-off for entries.
New Zealand players Leanne Baker and Rewa Hudson will both be back, and ASB Bank yesterday announced it was extending its sponsorship for a further three years.
Former Australian star turned ATP tour representative Brad Drewitt, in Auckland to promote the tournaments' launch, gave an indication of law changes which the Tour board was considering with the aim of improving the player-fan relationship, making the game more accessible and attractive and producing a playing programme and ranking system that was more easily understood.
The Tour would require top players to compete at all the major events, so a good clay player could not skip the grasscourt Grand Slams or vice versa.
By PETER JESSUP
The Y2K bug appears to have bitten deep into the ranks of tennis players targeted for the Auckland tournaments which open the new millennium, with many opting to stay home to celebrate.
Last year's beaten finalist, Tommy Haas, will be the leading player at the Heineken Open. He and
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