Sterner Competition For Tennis Team Places

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31530, 18 November 1967, Page 11

Sterner Competition For Tennis Team Places

/COMPETITION in national tennis this season may be made keener for both men and women by features of policy adopted by the New Zealand association; in fact, the struggle has begun already.

After the method of selection of Davis Cup teams had been strongly attacked at the annual meting of the association, the management committee met the selectors and decided on a policy of selection on merit alone. This change means that selection, like national rankings, will be based on the results of the tournament circuit and not on choosing a team of young players with potential as has been the case for the last two years.

The significance of this, of course, is that it brings back into consideration players such as R. N. Hawkes, J. H. Lockington, J. B. Souter and R. G. Clarke—if they can perform better than the youngsters who have comprised the last two teams. B. E. Fairlie is easily the outstanding New Zealand player, but both Hawkes and Lockington were ranked ahead of O. Parun this year and Souter and Clarke were ranked ahead of K. Woolcott and H. Broun, who was not ranked at all.

Selection will still not be as simple as might seem likely from the adoption of this policy. Already it has been complicated by the dispute over arrangements and expenses between Fairlie, or rather his father, Mr N. E. Fairlie, and the association.

A great deal will depend on its outcome. Also, there is the alternative, that has been put to players, of a full European circuit tour, including the Davis Cup, or a shorter tour with the Davis Cup. Financial arrangements differ. On these bases, last year’s 10 ranked players, plus Broun, were asked about their availability. A member of the cup side for the last two years, Woolcott is not available at all because he has become engaged and intends to complete his apprenticeship as a printer.

Those for a full tour are Fairlie, R., N. Hawkes, Parun, B. 'Young, D. B. Hawkes and Broun; those for a short tour, Souter and Clarke. Lockington’s decision is not known and that of the leading Canterbury man, J. W. Mitchell, depends on examination results. Mitchell has already forgone two almost certain tours. Major tournaments this season are the Wellington championships, December 9, 10, 16 and 17; the Canter-

bury championships, December 27-31; the South Island title tournament at Timaru, January 1-4; the national championships at Christchurch, January 6-14; and the Auckland championships, January 23-27.

The selectors, Messrs J. R. Bentley (Wellington), E. D. White (Auckland) and J. Anderson (Canterbury) are to complete their selection immediately afterwards, and they will have given full consideration to those who emerge other than those mentioned. Already there are signs that their task will be an interesting one. For instance, in Auckland, D. Simmonds, who was ranked third New Zealand junior in 1963 and who made a private tour overseas in 1966, beat Parun in the West End tournament and extended Fairlie in the final. He then beat Young, J. E. Robson and E. D. White to win the Remuera tournament. Broun won the Auckland hard-court title at Labour week-end, beating White in the final, and he has this week beaten Parun in Australia.

In Wellington, Clarke began the season with a rush, beating both Parun and Woolcott for the Wellington hard court title, after Woolcott had beaten Souter. However, Souter has since beaten Clarke. For a change the women also have something to strive for, apart from titles and ranking—and they badly need it Concern over the women’s standard in New Zealand, which ap-

peared to have slipped last season, has induced the national association to decide on the selection of a squad of at least eight players. This will be formed immediately after the national tournament and will be developed for the selection of a team to contest the Federation Cup at Auckland in 1969. There has been plenty of ground for fear that the host country might be humiliated in this tournament.

Here, again, some circumstances make the competition interesting. Mrs M. Headifen, ranked third, has turned professional and is coaching in Wellington and Hutt Valley, and Miss C. Fleming, ranked seventh, intends to travel overseas at the end of this year.

The present national champion. Miss B. Vercoe, who will make a private tour next March, has already suffered a set-back. She beat Miss P. Rogan, ranked seventh, comfortably enough in the Auckland hard court, but Miss Rogan turned the tables in the Remuera tournament

All the present ranked women who have their sights set on Federation Cup representation at the beginning of 1969, will have to pay due regard to the improving youngsters, including Miss M. Pryde, of Wellington, Miss S. Collins, of Southland, and the Canterbury trio, Misses R. Legge, R. Dillon and J. Bishop. All have been praised by the Australian coach, Mrs T. Long.