Memories of one of the hardest-hitting centre-court slugfests in Auckland were revived yesterday with news that world No 34 Feliciano Lopez of Spain will compete in the international tournament in January.
Lopez, 24, played the 2003 Heineken Open, losing in the first round to Fernando Gonzalez in a highly entertaining
clash which featured two of the hardest hitters in the game.
Gonzalez, who also returns to the event (this time as top seed), eventually won in three sets after one of the most exciting matches of the tournament.
Lopez, unlike many of his countrymen, has shown his liking for surfaces other than clay and this year reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon after beating, among others, Marat Safin and Mario Ancic before falling to Lleyton Hewitt.
He also reached his third career final on the hardcourt at New Haven this year, losing in three sets to James Blake.
He reached the semifinals at Marseille and quarter-finals in Kitzbuhel, Doha (lost to Roger Federer), Sydney, Vienna and Estoril.
Lopez also teamed with Rafael Nadal to reach the final of the doubles at the Masters Series in Barcelona. He also represented Spain in the Davis Cup.
In 2003, he was rated the best left-handed player in the world - an honour he has since given up to Nadal.
His one career title came last year in Vienna (indoors hardcourt), where he beat Guillermo Canas (Argentina) in five sets.
Lopez will again be one of the most popular players at the Open with his big serve and flashy play.
Men's Open
* January 9-14
* ASB Bank Tennis Centre
* Confirmed entries: Fernando Gonzalez, David Ferrer, Robby Ginepri, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Dominik Hrbaty, Andy Murray, Mark Philippoussis, Feliciano Lopez.
