Tennis: Spanish keen to make statement in Auckland

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Beware an invasion of Spanish players hellbent on breaking their duck in Auckland.

Spaniards have been among the strongest Heineken Open supporters but apart from the appearance of Francisco Clavet (now retired) in the 2001 final - beaten in three sets by second seed Dominik Hrbaty - the pickings have been lean.

But, wasting no time after a rain-delayed start to this year's open yesterday, the Spaniards had an almost perfect day.

Twenty-eight-year-old Felix Mantilla, in his fifth ASB Tennis Centre appearance, disposed of fifth-seeded Argentinian Jose Acasuso in straight sets 6-3 7-5.

Acasuso, the only singles seed in action on opening day, sent down three aces in his opening service game.

Mantilla, not to be outdone, finished his first two service games in a like manner.

The service break came in the sixth game. Mantilla was broken in the same game in the second set but immediately broke back and repeated that in the 11th game before serving it out in the next.

"Hopefully this will be a good year for the Spaniards," said Mantilla, who then headed for a back court an hour's practice.

"Acasuso is playing well. He is a tough guy. He served hard and his groundstrokes were very good."

Of his decision to spend more time on court, he said: "I have a lot of energy. I'm very motivated to go back again to my best level. It takes me a long time and a lot of hard work for me to do that."

Tomorrow, Mantilla will face Dane Kenneth Carlsen, who came from a set down to beat Brazilian Andre Sa in a drawn-out back-court affair.

Other Spaniards to win through to tomorrow's second round were David Ferrer, who beat Alberto Martin in an all-Spanish clash, and Fernando Vicente.

Ferrer needed just 1h 12min to win 6-3, 6-2 with a service break in the first set and two in the second. Vicente, the only Spaniard to be taken to three sets, was tested to the utmost by 22-year-old Peruvian Luis Horna before winning 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2.

A fourth Spaniard, Feliciano Lopez, will attempt to join his countrymen in the second round when he tackles third-seeded Chilean Fernando Gonzalez in the second match on stadium court today.

They will be preceded on court by second-seeded Argentine David Nalbandian playing former world No 1 junior and compatriot Mariano Zabaleta.

Gustavo Kuerten - who, with doubles partner Sa, thrilled the crowd with a straight-set doubles win last evening - will make his first singles appearance in Auckland in the third of the six stadium court singles matches today.

Down 4-2, Sa and Kuerten came from behind to take the first set tiebreaker 8-6 from third-seeded Czechs Petr Pala and Pavel Vizner. After some worries, the Brazilians closed it out 6-3 in the second and the match in a little over 1 1/2 hours.

There was no doubt the Brazilians, and their enthusiastic supporters, enjoyed themselves. Rusty perhaps after a lay-off, Kuerten still showed glimpses of the form that once had him the world's No 1.

Against a more established pairing, "Guga" and Sa mixed it up but with only one ace and two double faults in a steady opener.

New Zealand wildcard Simon Rea came, saw but could not conquer 2001 open champion Slovak Dominik Hrbaty last night. Hrbaty won 6-4 6-2 in just 70 minutes but Rea, too, could take something from the match.

"It was a good experience. At least I can say I never gave up," the 20-year-old said. "I needed to serve a lot better. It was my first match against a player of that level. I would love to be back. It was a real wake-up call but I got a bunch of things from that game."

Hrbaty meets the winner of tonight's Michel Kratochvil-Jan-Michael Gambill match.

Last night, top-seeded Americans Donald Johnson and Jared Palmer lost to Devin Bowen of the US and his Italian partner Davide Sanguinetti 7-5, 6-3.