Altitude No Problem In Davis Cup Tennis

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31362, 6 May 1967, Page 11

Altitude No Problem In Davis Cup Tennis

'ALTITUDE was not the serious problem we expected it to be when we started training for the Davis Cup tie with Mexico i’’ Mexico City last month. Our normal breathing habits of shallow breathing when just walking about left us feeling as though we were short of breath. We learned to deep breathe regularly and felt better. Our initial tiredness proved to be mainly because of the 17 hours of air travel and not because of the altitude. With rest at regular intervals I do not believe the players were any different

from at home after ending a practice session. Physical fitness before leaving stood them in good stead for the different conditions encountered. It was found that the food was different. Its preparation differed so much from ours and it seemed to take longer to digest After the first few days we attempted no serious exercise until at least two hours and a half after meals. The tennis courts were elay—a fine moving surface on top of rock hard sand. They were watered at regular intervals and were immediately ready for play. The bounce was higher than grass and while not anywhere near as fast as grass a good serve hit well was often difficult to play. Players had to develop the ability to slide and then retrieving was possible. The balls seemed the most difficult. In sealed cans which hissed when punctured, they seemed to induce overhit

serves, volleys and ground strokes. We worked hard at practice, trying to eliminate errors and develop doubles combinations. We discussed the Mexicans and developed a fine team spirit as the tie approached. We were told on arrival that Osuna would not play but when the teams were announced he was included —a compliment to the New Zealand team which was shaping very well in practice. The Club Centre is within a beautiful Chapultepec Park. It has an office staff of 40-50 and we were made honorary members. The building, with its army of attendants and two lifts had the following indoor facilities; a basketball court, badminton courts in a separate area, and a fully equipped gymnasium above which was an elevated running track. There were several special rooms for weight training, a table tennis room, nursery for small children, several lounges, library, music room, two medical rooms with two doctors in attendance, a lounge tv room, a restaurent which could accommodate 350-400 comfortably and which was open for all meals and a large sun deck with easy chairs. Open balconies on each floor gave magnificent views of the outdoor activities. There was one Olympic swimming pool, one Olympic diving pool, and two smaller learner pools. Six clay tennis courts—one with a covered stand to house 500-600 people—several volley, ball courts, the . club’s own picture theatre were on one side and a look to the front showed three more clay tennis courts. One, the stadium court, had stands on three sides each with canvas covering, and a total capacity of about

3000. There were six frontennis courts—a game, more popular than lawn tennis and played in a high wire enclosed area with walls on three sides—several areas for archery and several enclosed areas for tennis coaching on volley boards. The club has professional coaches available In most sports and there are many shops in the building. Membership costs about £35 a year and there are 22,000 members.

;********<***************i; !• [Specially written for "The ]’ J! Press" by MR S. PAINTER, , ' > captain of the 1W New ' > ,[ Zealand De /is Cup tennis.! < > team. The team recently ' > *[ lost to Mexico, 1-4.] ‘ -**esr^*#^*<**********^***!