Tennis: Heineken confirms Open sponsorship to 2007

By TERRY MADDAFORD


Graham Pearce breathed a sigh of relief with yesterday's announcement that Heineken will continue their Open sponsorship for another three years.

Naming-right sponsors for the past six years, the company will continue its support until at least 2007.

Pearce, the chief executive of Auckland Tennis and Open director, said it was fantastic news for the tournament.

Heineken sponsorship manager Peter Wills said: "We are delighted to continue our sponsorship of this premier sporting event. We have developed a strong, loyal and mutually rewarding partnership with Auckland Tennis".

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Today's finals from 1pm at the ASB Bank Tennis Centre are a sellout.

Every day apart from Monday had been sold out to equal the best-ever attendance at the Open.

A sellout crowd means more than 3000 spectators packed into the four stands and more than 108 courtside boxes. All the boxes were sold before the tournament.

By Thursday night's rained-out session, the caterers had taken record figures in food and beverage sales.

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Next year's international tournaments will again be played in early January. The women's ASB Classic will be played from January 3-8 and the Heineken Open from January 10-15.

Any change, to accommodate a proposed switch of dates for the Australian Open will not happen until 2006 at the earliest.

Record prizemoney - close to US$410,000 ($610,500) - will be on offer at next year's Open, up at least US$6000 on this year's payout.

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Fewer than 300 uncovered stand seats remain for the February 3 exhibition between John McEnroe and Pat Cash.

All covered seating and more than 100 courtside boxes have been sold.

"We expect the remaining seats [at $65 each] to go in the next three or four days," Pearce said.

The match, the best of three tiebreak sets, will be followed by a celebrity doubles in which Matthew Ridge and television presenter Tony Veitch will play.

In Christchurch, the previous night, Andrew Mehrtens and former Wallaby Tim Horan will be on court with McEnroe and Cash.

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Special celebrations are being planned for next summer's Open which will mark the 50th anniversary of Auckland's international tournament.

"We are keen to involve past players, officials, sponsors and administrators," Pearce said.

"We hope to have former top New Zealanders such as Onny Parun, Brian Fairlie, Chris Lewis, Russell Simpson and Brett Steven, along with any overseas players we can get."

The Auckland event is one of the oldest on the ATP tour, which started in 1969.

The first international in Auckland was played in 1955-56 and was won by American Bob Perry.