Tennis: Top talent for Heineken Open

Spaniard David Ferrer headlines a strong Heineken Open field. Photo / Getty

Seven of the world's top 20 will converge on Auckland this January for perhaps the strongest field in the history of the Heineken Open.

Top seed and four-time champion David Ferrer will be a warm favourite to add another title to his considerable collection but the Spaniard is set to face a real fight for the crown.

Already announced were Ernests Gulbis (13), Kevin Anderson (16), Tommy Robredo (17), Gael Monfils (18) and defending champion John Isner (19), while world No 15 Roberto Bautista Agut was today confirmed to round out the front of the field.

"To have seven players inside the world's top 20 is an amazing feat," said tournament director Karl Budge. "I'm not sure we will replicate this in a hurry."

But the tournament's depth extended beyond the front group, with eighth seed Santiago Giraldo (32) also announced for the Stanley St tournament, along with Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (36), Steve Johnson (37), 2014 finalist Yen-Hsun Lu (38) and Jack Sock (42).

Bautista Agut enjoyed a career-best year in 2014, which saw him earn the ATP most improved player award. Kicking on from his semifinal appearance in Auckland, the Spaniard went on to beat Juan Martin del Potro, world No 5 at the time, in the second round of the Australian Open, before capturing his first ATP World Tour title in the Netherlands.

His second title came quickly only weeks later in Stuttgart, while he also reached the semifinals in Madrid before ending the year strongly by finishing runner-up to Marin Cilic in Moscow.

Giraldo has also had a fine year on the ATP Tour, reaching four semifinals and a final in Barcelona. He also made the semifinals of the doubles in Kuala Lumpur alongside New Zealand No 1 Michael Venus.

The tournament will also welcome back American rising star Jack Sock, who as a wildcard last year defeated world No 12 Tommy Haas to make the quarter-finals.

Sock will form part of a strong contingent of the most promising talent on tour, with youngsters Bautista-Agut, Dominic Thiem and rising Portugal star Joao Sousa (54).

"It is such a varying field with some big servers, some of the better returners and the most promising talent on tour," said Budge.