New Zealand players had the worst possible start yesterday on day one of the ASB Pro Circuit at the Albany Tennis Park, North Harbour.
Of the two Kiwis in singles action, both Oliver Statham and Kairangi Vano were beaten in the first round of their respective tournaments.
Statham faced topseed Miles Armstrong of Australia and was beaten 6-2, 6-2 in the US$15,000 ($30,170) men's event. Vano had her chances in the US$10,000 women's event but lost to well-supported fifth-seeded Korean Kyung-Yee Chae 2-6, 7-5, 6-0.
A notable result in the first round of doubles was Australian Carsten Ball, who is ranked just outside the top-100, and Kiwi Rubin Statham, the second seeds were defeated by the Malaysian wildcard duo of Adam Jaya and Yew-Ming Si 3-6, 6-3, 11-9.
The second day promises some local success as Dan King-Turner plays fellow Davis Cup team member Adam Thompson, and fifth-seeded Rubin Statham plays another Kiwi pro, Marcus Daniell.
G.D. Jones will be out to prove his worth when he plays fourth-seeded Russian Artem Sitak who is ranked at 410, 240 places higher than Jones, however the New Zealander is renowned for his fighting ability and could play better in the blustery winds at North Harbour.
Wellington teenager Finn Tearney will be hoping to add to his ATP ranking when he plays Australian Matt Reid, while Canterbury teenager Logan MacKenzie has a harder task, facing third-seed Rameez Juniad from Australia as he bids for his first ranking points.
In the women's draw Di Hollands plays the finalist from last year's Hamilton Futures, Anna Wishink
(Australia) in a winnable match. Fed Cup rep Shona Lee is up against Queensland-based Kiwi 16-year-old Chelsea Te Tai.
