Potito is out at the Heineken Open (Auckland)

The Argentinian Chela won with Potito 16 67 (57). Olivier Rochus reached the SemiFinals by defeating the top seed Guillermo Coria 64 64.

Qualified to the Quarter Finals at Auckland

2005 starts well for Potito Starace. The Campanian qualified for the Quarter Finals at the ATP tour in Auckland by winning 64 62 with the Dutch qualifier Raemon Sluiter. Sluiter defeated yesterday the second seed Tommy Robredo. Quarter Finals will tell us whether Potito's improvements are significant. In fact, Potito has to compete with the sixth seed, the Argentinian Juan Ignacio Chela. A victory with could automatically determine the best ATP ranking ever for Potito.

Auckland

Starace won the first round of the Heineken open ($462,000). He have defeated the wild card Mark Nielsen 64 64. It is a lucky week for Potito, since he got admittance to the main drwa, after few players decided to give up.

The first game of the year

Potito was not lucky, he lost at the first round in the Adelaide tournament ($411,000, hardcourts) 36 46 with the French player, Mr. Julien Benneteau. By the way, the guys at Totalbet offered a 11/8 bet, compared to 8/15 for Julien.