The hits keep on coming for organisers of Auckland's international men's tournament in January.
A day after confirming that former world No 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero is coming to the Heineken Open, Auckland Tennis officials signed up world No 26 Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina.
His signing means seven players
in the world's top 31 will be in Auckland for the US$404,000 event starting on January 10.
"This is going to be one tough tournament to win," tournament director Graham Pearce said of the 50th anniversary edition.
Chela, a 25-year-old righthander from Buenos Aires, who has been as high as No 15, has won one title this year, beating Russian Marat Safin at Estoril in April.
Chela has won three singles titles and two doubles crowns, and has won more than US$3.3 million.
The Davis Cup regular achieved his best grand slam result this year, reaching the last eight at the French Open before losing to England's Tim Henman.
This will be Chela's second visit to Auckland. He was a first round loser in 2001 to eventual finalist Francisco Clavet of Spain.
The initial entry will be revealed on Wednesday, but it is probable world No 7 Guillermo Coria of Argentina will be top seed.
Chela would be sixth seed, one ahead of the event's likely biggest crowd-puller, Ferrero.
Big names confirmed so far are Coria, world No 13 Tommy Robredo of Spain, No 14 Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia, No 19 American Vince Spadea, No 21 Fernando Gonzalez of Chile, No 31 Ferrero and No 46-ranked Rafael Nadal of Spain.
The final field of 32 will also include at least two New Zealanders, who will be decided in a round robin tournament involving the top eight Kiwis between Christmas and New Year.
