Tournament Preview: Buenos Aires 13 - 19 February 2006 COPA TELMEX 2006 The second tournament of South America's "Golden Swing" is held in Buenos Aires, Argentina - a country that has recently produced several talented players on the men's circuit. This year's event has attracted almost all of them, as well as other top players from around the world. The list is headed by Argentine world number 4, David Nalbandian, who won the year-end Masters Cup in Shanghai in November, defeating Roger Federer in the final, and who is always a consistent competitor on any surface. He returns to play his home tournament in 2006 and is bound to be a crowd favourite. His compatriot and world number 7, Guillermo Coria, is arguably one of the world's best clay courters, winning titles Hamburg, Stuttgart and Monte Carlo, and reaching the final of Roland Garros in 2004. He will also be hoping to do well at home and will be a force to be reckoned with on the Argentinian clay. Spaniard, Juan Carlos Ferrero is making his debut at the Copa Telmex. Also an established claycourter and 2003 Roland Garros champion, Ferrero will be looking to improve further after a promising comeback in 2005 following an injury-riddled 2004, which saw his ranking plummet. Fellow Spaniard Carlos Moya is no stranger to the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club, winning here in 1995 and 2003 and being a finalist in 2004. In 2006, he once again returns and hopes to add a 3rd Buenos Aires title to his collection. Another to watch is Frenchman, Florent Serra, who has shot up the rankings, recently winning Bucharest in September and Adelaide a few weeks ago. The Argentine fans, however, will have more than just Nalbandian and Coria to cheer for. Juan Ignacio Chela, José Acasuso (recent doubles and singles winner in Viña del Mar), Agustin Calleri, Mariano Zabaleta and rising youngster, Juan Martin del Potro (who has received a wildcard) will all be in action as well. Another crowd favourite to receive a wildcard is Brazilian Gustavo Kuerten. Effectively a tennis icon, Kuerten pleases crowds wherever he goes and is sure to do so here too. Qualifying runs on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 February, and entry is free. Main draw action kicks off on Monday 13 February starting at 11.30am. Wednesday-Saturday sessions start at midday and Sunday's final gets underway at 2pm. All night sessions throughout the week start at 7.30pm.Tickets may be purchased through Ticketek, either online (http://www.ticketek.com.ar/) or by calling 5237-7200. The tournament is played at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club, though the surface is clay. The official tournament hotel is the Sheraton Buenos Aires Hotel & Convention Centre Buenos Aires is one of the most cosmopolitan and bustling cities in Latin America. Often referred to as the "Paris of the South" for its European architecture, it is a metropolis that rarely sleeps. For all your travel needs in Buenos Aires, check out this tourist guide (http://www.easybuenosairescity.com/english.htm) for the city. Tournament Fast Facts: Venue: Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club, Buenos Aires, Argentina Dates: 13 - 19 February 2006 Singles Qualifying draw: 32 Main Draw Singles: 32 Main Draw Doubles: 16 Surface: outdoor clay Prize money: US $425 000 Tournament Director: Martin Jaite Main Draw Entry List: Nalbandian, David ARG Coria, Guillermo ARG Ferrero, Juan Carlos ESP Moya, Carlos ESP Volandri, Fillippo ITA Chela, Juan Ignacio ARG Acasuso, Jose ARG Serra, Florent FRA Martin, Alberto ESP Calleri, Agustin ARG Massu, Nicolas CHI Montanes, Albert ESP Berlocq, Carlos ARG Pashanski, Boris SCG Zabaleta, Mariano ARG Horna, Luis PER Monaco, Juan ARG Behrend, Tomas GER Daniel, Marcos BRA Vanek, Jiri CZE Kim, Kevin USA Starace, Potito ITA Saretta, Flavio BRA Vicente, Fernando ESP Mello, Ricardo BRA (WC) Del Potro, Juan Martin ARG (WC) Kuerten, Gustavo BRA Alternates: Sabau, Razvan ROM Marin, Juan Antonio CRC Almagro, Nicolas ESP Hernandez, Oscar ESP Mazarakis, Vasilis GRE Portas, Albert ESP Ramirez Hidalgo, Ruben ESP Di Mauro, Alessio ITA Marach, Oliver AUT Delgado, Ramon PAR Patience, Olivier FRA Navarro Pastor, Ivan ESP Kubot, Lukasz POL