Heineken Open preview

Heineken Open
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Dates: January 12-17, 2009
Draw Size: 28
Surface: Hard
Prize Money: $480,750; men’s singles champion: $78,000
2008 Singles Final: Philipp Kohlschreiber, GER, def. Juan Carlos Ferrero, ESP, 7-6(4), 7-5
Official Web site: http://www.heinekenopen.co.nz/

Top story lines:
1. Can defending champion Philipp Kohlschreiber survive a brutal lower half of the draw to win a second straight title in Auckland?
2. Can No. 2 seed and 2007 champion David Ferrer make a run at another title in Auckland?
3. Will No. 1 seed Juan Martin Del Potro have a winning streak by the time next week’s Australian Open begins?

Justin’s notable first round match-ups:
1. No. 5 Philipp Kohlschreiber vs. Dominik Hrbaty
2. Juan Carlos Ferrero vs. Kei Nishikori

Potential notable late round match:
No. 1 Juan Martin Del Potro vs. No. 8 Juan Monaco, Quarterfinals
No. 2 David Ferrer vs. No. 5 Philipp Kohlschreiber, Quarterfinals
No. 4 Nicolas Almagro vs. No. 6 Sam Querrey, Quarterfinals

Watch out for…
1. No. 3 Robin Soderling
2. Ernests Gulbis

Champion prediction:
Justin: No. 3 Robin Soderling