By TERRY MADDAFORD
Francisco Clavet played his first matches on the ATP tennis tour as a 19-year-old.
Now, 13 years on, it is hardly surprising he rarely stands across the net facing an older opponent.
Proudly a top-50 player for nine consecutive years, Clavet first played at Stanley St in 1991. Yesterday's 6-3,
4-6, 6-3 win over Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela in the first round of the Heineken Open took him into the second round for the third time in four visits.
"I like it here. It is a good way to start my year," said the 32-year-old who was knocked out in straight sets by top seed Yevgeny Kafelnikov in the first round of the Qatar Open last week. "It is much warmer here than in Spain."
Warmer, too, than when he was last in New Zealand - in April 1999 when he played the Davis Cup tie which launched what was to become Spain's first cup triumph.
"Unfortunately after that [he beat Brett Steven and Mark Nielsen] I was not needed, but I really enjoyed the Davis Cup," said Clavet, who admits he rarely looks at the rankings or the money he has earned - around $US3.7 million ($8.2 million) at the last count.
"I'm not playing for money. I have the security I want, but it does not mean when I finish on the tour I will retire. You will die if you do that."
Like many, from different countries, Clavet admits that soccer is the biggest sport in his homeland. But tennis, he says, has become more popular, especially with the Davis Cup success.
Against 21-year-old Chela, Clavet showed all the experience his many years at this level brings.
The pressure, in the end, irked his younger opponent, who showed his frustration in not being able to wear down the Spaniard by hitting a ball out of the stadium and earning himself a code violation after two double faults handed Clavet a 4-2 lead in the third set.
Clavet will meet No 3 seed Jan-Michael Gambill today.
