ASB Classic top seed Roberto Bautista Agut has withdrawn from the tournament citing a stomach virus.
Bautista Agut was handed a first round bye and was expected to play Czech Jiri Vesely in the second round on centre court on Wednesday afternoon.
Last year's defending champion warmed up for the tournament with a win at the Aircel Chennai Open in India last week but wasn't expected to leave for New Zealand until Monday night (NZ time).
His withdraw means that New Zealander Jose (Rubin) Statham will be plucked as the lucky loser to play Vesely late on Wednesday.
The kiwi, who lost in qualifying to American Ryan Harrison, is also set to start his doubles campaign in the first match on the Grandstand court on Wednesday.
Newshub.