Tennis: Robredo signing delivers Auckland Open's strongest line-up yet

Spain's Tommy Robredo has been confirmed for January's Heineken Open tennis tournament in Auckland. Photo / SNPA

Spain's Tommy Robredo has been confirmed for January's Heineken Open tennis tournament in Auckland.

He is the sixth player ranked inside the world top 20, making the line-up the best the tournament has offered.

The world number 17 has had another consistent year, reaching the third round or better at all four Grand Slams. He made semifinals in Buenos Aires, quarter-finals in Barcelona and the ATP Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati, as well as the finals in Umag, Shenzhen and Valencia.

Robredo pulled off big wins against top 10 players Marin Cilic, Richard Gasquet and most notably a victory over world No 1 Novak Djokovic at the Masters 1000 in Cincinnati.

However, it has been the second half of the season that has ensured Robredo remained in the world's top 20.

After reaching the fourth round of Wimbledon, where he pushed Roger Federer, Robredo went on to make the fourth round of the US Open, and finals appearances in Shenzhen and Valencia, meeting world No 6 Andy Murray on both occasions. While the Scot twice came out on top, the pair battled out a gruelling 3-hour 20-minute match to decide the title in Valencia. Robredo joins top seed David Ferrer, Ernests Gulbis, defending champion John Isner, Kevin Anderson, Gael Monfils and rising star Dominic Thiem in the event from January 12 to 17.