University of Tennessee Athletics
Rea Granted Wildcard Slot in Upcoming ATP Heineken Open
January 05, 2004 | Men's Tennis
Jan. 5, 2004
Tennessee senior tennis player Simon Rea has been awarded a wildcard spot in the Vodafone singles draw of the upcoming 2004 Heineken Open, an ATP Tour event. The tournament begins Jan. 12 in Auckland, New Zealand.
Rea, a 21-year-old Auckland native, owns a world ranking of No. 823 in the most recent ATP entry rankings. On the American collegiate tennis landscape, he is the nation's No. 12-ranked singles player, and the Tennessee Volunteers' top returning player.
Heineken Open Tournament Director Graham Pearce selected Rea as a wildcard recipient due to Rea's status as the torchbearer for the next generation of New Zealand tennis players.
"We're looking to the future," Pearce said. "Simon is committed to full-time pro tennis when he graduates, and this is one opportunity we get each year to help him on his way.
"He played [at last year's Heineken Open] so that was a good experience for him. He had a good solid year at college and he's got some ATP ranking points now. It's important we help him where we can to launch his (professional) career when he gets going next year."
Also a wildcard entrant in last year's event, Rea was defeated in the first round by 2001 tournament champion Dominik Hrbaty 6-4, 6-2. Hrbaty then went on to the singles final where he lost to Brazilian superstar Gustavo Kuerten.
"I'm grateful to Auckland Tennis," Rea said. "And hopefully I can handle the atmosphere and pressure on center court better this time around. I've been working hard, training on the court four to five hours a day since the end of the [New Zealand Residential Tennis Championships]."
The Vol senior reached the semifinals of that event last month, falling just two wins shy of a third consecutive New Zealand national singles title.
