Tennis: No Rafael Nadal for Heineken Open in January

The chances of Heineken Open officials signing up Spanish star Rafael Nadal for next summer are all but nil.

Open boss Graham Pearce understands the 19 year old has signed to play in the Sydney tournament, which is played the at the same time as the Heineken Open.

Pearce heads off to the US Open next week to begin his recruitment drive for the 2006 tournament, but he will not have the world number two on his list.

He will be aiming for their usual two players in the top 20 and one in the top ten if they can.

Nadal has won nine titles including the French Open since playing in Auckland for the second time last summer.

- NEWSTALK ZB