Tennis: Pair of French latecomers bring entertainment boost

France's Sebastien Grosjean during a practice session before the Heineken Open. Photo / Brett Phibbs

A chance phone call over dinner was responsible for bringing two more well-performed international stars to the Auckland men's tennis open.

Close buddies Arnaud Clement and Sebastien Grosjean were dining together in Sydney on Saturday night when a call came through for Clement from Heineken Open director Richard Palmer offering him a place in the tournament.

Clement had already decided to play in Sydney, where his ranking of 63 was good enough to just squeak into the draw. But Grosjean, the former world No 4, was at a loose end.

With his career having been severely disrupted by a shoulder injury, the 31-year-old former Australian Open finalist's ranking has slid to 677.

As fate would have it, a withdrawal in Auckland meant Palmer had a wildcard - previously earmarked for David Nalbandian - up his sleeve.

A deal was quickly struck. If Clement would come to Auckland, Grosjean could have the wildcard.

The late recruiting double swoop of the entertaining French pair is certainly a boon for an event deep in quality but lacking a superstar drawcard.

After a week of mismatches in the ASB Classic, New Zealand tennis fans will be desperate to witness some hard-fought, entertaining encounters.

Clement and Grosjean may be past their "best before" dates, but they are both well capable of delivering in the entertainment stakes.

Clement has drawn countryman Jeremy Chardy in the first round, while Grosjean will play German Florian Meyer.

For Grosjean, 2010 represents one last crack at the big time.

"It is never easy to come back, especially when you turn 30," he said. "But I have been practising for the last two months and had a few matches at the end of last year. There is no pain, so I try to come back and play one more year."

Grosjean has been to Auckland once, when he was eliminated in qualifying in 1997.

Argentinian Nalbandian, whose ranking peaked at three before also tailing away after injury, is another making his return to the circuit.

Although he had been practising hard and had played some exhibitions in Argentina, he was realistic about his prospects in Auckland.

"I don't come here to win the title, I try to be a good player, play some matches, win some," he said.

With the top four seeds receiving byes into the second round, spectators will have to wait at least another day to see any of the top drawcards in action.

The opening day's schedule sees just one seeded player in singles action, with sixth-seeded Austrian Jurgen Melzer taking on Italian Fabio Fognini in the first match of the evening session.

The main attraction of the day session is the all-New Zealand first-round match between Dan King-Turner and Rubin Statham.

Statham will be up twice on centre court, teaming up with brother Oliver for a doubles match against fellow Kiwi Marcus Daniell and Romanian Horia Tecau.

The only other main-draw singles match scheduled for the day will pitch Brazilian Thomaz Belluci against Marco Chiudinelli from Switzerland.