Although Juan Martin del Potro's win at the US tennis Open may raise his asking price, the organisers of Auckland's Heineken Open still hope to secure the big Argentine's signature for January's tournament.
Director Richard Palmer maintains the 20-year-old enjoyed his time in Auckland and with a maximum of four matches it's not too sapping a lead-up event to the Australian Open if del Potro did return to defend his title.
Palmer says they're targeting perhaps four to six top 20 players and if they can get three of them to play in Auckland, they'll be doing well.
Caroline Wozniacki, who lost her US Open final to Kim Clijsters, is definitely not returning to Auckland for the women's ASB Classic and tournament director Brenda Perry says Kim Clijsters is very unlikely too as the comeback mum wants to stay in the one country for the year's first major.
Del Potro has moved up a place on the world rankings to number five and is now the fifth singles player to qualify for November's ATP World Tour finals.
