As reported by the news agency AP, for example via Yahoo (thanks Krystle) and stated by tournament director Richard Palmer on the Heineken Open's website, David has received a wildcard for Auckland and will play his first ATP tournament since Estoril this year in New Zealand. (So I heard it correctly in the Fox interview.)It's not his first appearance at this event, though it's been a while since he chose to play it (back in 2002 and 2003), having preferred the Kooyong exhibition or Sydney to prepare for the Australian Open in recent years.
Now, the tournament director is happy to have him back. “Nalbandian is a quality player who has something special in his game as witnessed by his Grand Slam record of having reached a final and several semifinals,” says Heineken Open tournament director, Richard Palmer. “He’s the sort of player who has the ability to really challenge for the Heineken Open title and get back into the top 10.” (From the tournament website.)
This year, Auckland apparently featured its own live webcast but in the past, a stream has also been available via the betting sites. Let's hope that this will be the case again, next January.
5 comments:
What a good news....hope he can have a good come back in New Zeland
Vamos David
I'd still like to know what made him change his mind. As apparently, the initial plan was to play Sydney. And I find it hard to imagine that they'd refuse to give him, the reigning Sydney champion, a wildcard. So there must have been other reasons.
Maybe he thinks that the weather in Sydney would be too much of a challenge. Maybe he wants to avoid Warinka (who'll play there). :P
It's just that Auckland will definitely mean a challenge for me, trying to keep up with his matches. Because of the even bigger time difference...
That's an interesting question Julia, umm hiding from Warinka noooooooooo, he has courage :p
But it's good news that he'll play and will have the chance to properly test himself before the AO.
Well, if it's about the weather he can't escape it anyway...I mean, he'll be playing the AO in the same weather conditions so better get used to it beforehand. I thought he'd play Sydney to defend you know but whatever logic behinds it, I'm just glad he'll be back.
I hear you, Julia. There is I think 12 hours time difference, not sure how I'll keep up.
It's all just speculation... I mean, I really don't know what made him change his mind. What's behind that decision. I don't really think it's Wawrinka ;) But I guess that the field at Auckland might not by quite as strong as it'll be at Sydney (Speculating again).
I mean, Auckland is a nice tournament, - as far as I can tell, as I haven't been able to watch too much of it...
And yeah Nancy, I think it'll be 12 hours for me, as well. :(
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