Hopes of long runs for the top seed, Russian Marat Safin, who is ranked in the world's top dozen, and popular wildcard Michael Chang, of the United States, were dealt the cruellest possible blow when they drew each other in a first-round clash tomorrow that organisers would not have wanted.
That match will, however, ensure a classic second-day battle in front of a packed centre-court crowd.
With the week-long tournament almost a sellout - there are likely to be fewer than 100 tickets for gate sales - most matches will be played in front of capacity crowds of more than 3000.
Today's feature promises to be the third match on centre court, between Franco Squillari, of Argentina, and one of five Spaniards in the main draw, Fernando Vicente.
Squillari, the top seed last year, will be looking for something better after bowing out to Austrian Stefan Koubek in one of four first-round upsets in 2000.
Defending champion and eighth seed Dominic Hrbaty, of Slovakia, will be another starter tomorrow (against a yet-to-be-found qualifier), as will former champion and fourth seed Dutchman Sjeng Schalken, who meets Spain's Galo Blanco.
There will be a strong New Zealand presence on opening day.
United States-based Aucklander Dan Willman, a wildcard entry and ranked 359 on the latest ATP list, meets French left-hander and 50th-ranked Jerome Golmard in the night singles at 7 pm.
Doubles, the poor cousin of tennis at this level, will hold some interest today.
The rookie New Zealand pairing of Jacob Olsen and Simon Rea, who were handed the third of three late wildcards, will play the last of the four matches before the evening session.
They meet the unseeded pairing Andrei Olhovskiy (Russia) and Japan's Thomas Shimada.
Later, after the Willman-Golmard singles, top seeds and one of the strongest doubles pairings, Jonas Bjorkman (Sweden) and Australian Todd Woodbridge play the Czech combination of Leos Friedl and Radek Stepanek.
This pair last week beat Heineken Open second seed Goran Ivanisevic in the second round of the Doha tournament.
Today's schedule:
Centre-court (from 11 am): Singles qualifying match, James Blake (US) v Andre Sa (Brazil), followed by (not before 12.30 pm) Mark Nielsen (NZ) v Andreas Vinciguerra (Sweden), Franco Squillari (Argentina) v Fernando Vicente (Spain), Jacob Olsen/Simon Rea (NZ) v Andrei Olhovskiy (Russia)/Thomas Shimada (Japan), followed by (not before 7 pm) Jerome Golmard (France) v Dan Willman (NZ), Jonas Bjorkman (Sweden)/Todd Woodbridge (Australia) v Leos Friedl/Radek Stepanek (Czech).
Court four (from 11 am): Singles qualifying, Robby Ginepri (US) v Fernando Gonzalez (Chile), followed by a further qualifying singles followed by main draw doubles, Francisco Clavet (Spain)/Andrea Gaudenzi (Italy) v Daniel Orsanic/Sebastian Prieto (Argentina).
Court six (11 am): Singles qualifying (one match).
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