Kiranpal Pannu. Photo: photosport
New Zealand will have just one player in the men's field at the ASB Classic after wildcard qualifier Jack Loutit failed to advance to the main draw.
Loutit, 19, went down 6-3 6-3 to American Alex Michelsen in their final-round qualifying match in Auckland on Sunday, having reached that stage following a 7-5 6-2 win over Australian Blake Mott a day earlier.
The left-handed Aucklander, who is based at the University of Kentucky, is ranked 43rd on the ITF junior rankings.
The result means New Zealand will only be represented by world No.574 Kiranpal Pannu, who will take to the court as a wildcard on the first day of play on Monday, against Australian eighth seed Max Purcell.
Another highlight is the first appearance of Canadian Denis Shapovalov, who was handed a late wildcard for the tournament and will play Austrian seventh seed Sebastian Ofner.
Shapovalov, a former Wimbledon semi-finalist who was once ranked 10th in the world, is returning to the sport after ending his 2023 campaign prematurely in October with a knee injury.
Defending champion Richard Gasquet opens his campaign against sixth-seeded French compatriot Arthur Fils.
