Fresh from getting the last wildcard into the Heineken Open, New Zealand tennis No.1 Rubin Statham has drawn a qualifier in the opening round.
However, the challenge facing Statham increases markedly if he gets past the first hurdle.
Lying in wait is big American John Isner, the No.3 seed and 2010 champion, who along with the other top-four seeds has a first-round bye.
Statham would have played in qualifying if world No.4 Andy Murray had accepted the offer of a wildcard after the Briton's early exit from the Qatar Open.
However, tournament director Karl Budge said on Saturday that the Wimbledon champion had declined the offer.
Statham, who is ranked 290, will make his fourth appearance in the main draw of his hometown tournament.
The 26-year-old has got past the first round once, in 2010, after he beat compatriot Dan King-Turner.
This year's tournament, which begins on Monday, is again headlined by Spanish world No.3 David Ferrer, the defending champion and four-time winner.
Ferrer's first match will be against either Argentine world No.55 Federico Delbonis or a qualifier.
No.2 seed Tommy Haas of Germany will face the winner between Frenchman Adrian Mannarino and American wildcard Jack Sock.
The third wildcard, Cyprus' Marcos Baghdatis, a former Australian Open finalist and one of the tour's showmen, has drawn German Daniel Brands.
The winner will face fourth seed Kevin Anderson of South Africa.
NZN rlo/pjg
Share
