Most interest will centre on top woman Pavlina Nola when the New Zealand residential championships start at the North Harbour Tennis Centre today.
Nola, who reached No 68 in the world this year but is now at 127, is using the tournament as match practice for her summer events.
The Bulgarian-born, 27-year-old
looks likely to play the winner of a match between two junior players, Kairangi Vano from Auckland or North Harbour's Katee White, and will not be fully tested until she probably faces eighth seed Tanja Markovic.
The women's draw includes all of the top-ranked players, including Shelley Stephens, formerly of Otago, who has a world ranking of 283, and former professional Rewa Hudson, who made the final of the Auckland championships last week.
Stephens is aiming for the second wildcard into the ASB Bank Classic behind Nola. She will probably play Leanne Baker, her main rival for the wildcard, in the semifinals.
The men's draw has Davis Cup player Mark Nielsen looking for his third title as the top seed ahead of Wellington's Robbie Cheyne, who has an ATP ranking of 971.
With Dan Willman, James Shortall and Lee Radovanovich not available, Cheyne becomes second seed.
Defending champion James Greenhalgh is the fourth seed.
The championships run until Sunday.
Seeds:
Men: Mark Nielsen 1, Robbie Cheyne 2, Alistair Hunt 3, James Greenhalgh 4, Mark Thompson 5, Simon Rea 6, Nick Turner 7, Jacob Olsen 8.
Women: Pavlina Nola 1, Shelley Stephens 2, Leanne Baker 3, Ilke Gers 4, Tracey O'Connor 5, Rachel Dive 6, Rewa Hudson 7, Tanja Markovic 8.
