Tennis: McEnroe-Cash signings close

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Auckland's summer of tennis promises plenty, with the John McEnroe exhibition match against Pat Cash just a signature from reality.

"We expect it all to be tidied up within a week," Auckland Tennis chief executive Graham Pearce said yesterday.

"Everything has been agreed. We are just waiting for the contract to be signed off."

McEnroe will play Cash in Christchurch on February 2 and at the ASB Bank Tennis Centre the following night.

"We are comfortable with the financial arrangements and hope to have tickets ready for sale next month."

The McEnroe exhibition will follow the usual ASB Classic and Heineken Open international tournaments. Both seem certain to feature at least one top-10 player.

For the past two years Classic director Richard Palmer has complemented a top player with a big-name drawcard.

Anna Kournikova filled the latter role last year and Mary Pierce this year. Both remain likely starters again.

If Palmer is successful in luring a high-profile, top-10 player here for the January 5-10 tournament, that player could fill both roles.

On present rankings, France's Amelie Mauresmo springs to mind. In her only previous visit to Auckland, she failed (as a junior) even to play in the qualifying tournament.

American former world No 1 Lindsay Davenport is another possibility. She, like Monica Seles, could be contemplating one last tilt at the Australian Open and may see Auckland as a launching pad.

Jelena Dokic, who last played in Auckland as Steffi Graf's opponent in an exhibition, has hinted that she may return to Melbourne, which could mean a stop-off in Auckland en route.

Pearce, as director of the Heineken Open, said Auckland Tennis officials were ahead of where they were at this time last year in finalising the bigger names for the January 12-17 tournament.

"We have scheduled our major announcement for November 5, so we have to have things in place by then," he said.

"We are aiming for at least one top-10 player and at least another two from the top 20."

Pearce hoped to talk to the player (or players) at next month's Masters Cup tournament in Houston. With that event restricted to the world's top eight, plus a few reserves, the field should be bristling with talent.

The likes of Andy Roddick, Andre Agassi, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Lleyton Hewitt and Mark Philippoussis would appear to be out of reach, but others such as Guillermo Coria, David Nalbandian, Jiri Novak, Martin Verkerk (who has New Zealander Nick Carr as his coach) and Sjeng Schalken may be the best bets. They have all played here.

Rainer Schuettler - beaten in this year's Australian Open final by Agassi - Sebastian Grosjean and Thai Paradorn Srichaphan are other top-10 players who may be lured to Auckland.

Auckland Tennis is spending $12,000 to $14,000 resurfacing the Rebound Ace courts to ensure they play at the same speed as the Melbourne courts used for the Australian Open.

While in Houston for the Masters Cup, Palmer and his fellow ATP Tour directors will continue talks on moving the Australian Open dates.

It now appears one of two options will be accepted, following discussions between the ATP, the organisers of the four Grand Slams and player representatives.

"The options are a move to March or - perhaps the most preferred - a move to put the start back by just one week," Pearce said.

"It would suit Auckland better if they moved just the one week. That would leave the Heineken Open and the ASB Classic still in the school holidays, which makes it easier for our volunteers and the public.

"The move will not come until 2006 at the earliest.

"If they go to March then it would not happen until 2007 because of the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in 2006."