Tennis rankings may need revision

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31920, 22 February 1969, Page 11

Tennis rankings may need revision

This season’s national tennis rankings have appeared far earlier in the year than is usual and without the complete lists in either the men’s or women’s sections. Evidently the selectors were required by the New Zealand association’s management committee to submit their lists earlier so that the rankings of those players travelling overseas would be certain.

Eight men and seven women have been ranked, two men and three women to be added after Wilding Shield and Nunneley Casket matches have been completed and after the national hardcourt championships in Dunedin.

Performances, apart from those of the three top men, have been so inconsistent, that the reluctance of the selectors to name complete lists is understandable. But they should be given the opportunity of issuing revised lists rather than just adding names for places still to be filled. Some players would have to perform exceedingly well to get on the 'list while ethers already on could have very bad results without affecting -their placings.

It may be that no change would be needed but if the system is to be run this way it should be understood that revision is possible. This is done in the United States.

The selectors’ task was complicated by the participation in the New Zealand circuit of the Rhodesian, H. Irvine, and the Canadians, T. Bardsley and P. Burwash who kept appearing in quar-ter-finals.

Three of last season’s 10 ranked men left gaps—R. G. Clarke <s> is overseas; J. W. Mitchell (8) did not play in the tournaments; and B. Leach (10) has returned to Australia. K. Woolcott (9) played in the national championships but has not yet been ranked.

So six of last year’s 10 have stayed. B. E. Fairlie, unbeaten and the first winner of five New Zealand major tournaments obviously held his top place. O. Parun got ahead of R. N. Hawkes for the first time because, although he lost to him in a Wellington semifinal, he beat him in North Island and 'New Zealand semi-finals.

D. J. Simmonds, of Auckland, has held his fourth place after beating J. H.

Lockington (Auckland) to reach the national semi-

finals. Lockington has risen a place with the absence of Clarke and has been on and off the list now for 10 years. H. Broun (Waikato) has also risen a place. The newcomers to the list are P. Thomson (Auckland) and K. Long (Auckland) Once the top junior, Thomson has made the grade at last. In Auckland he readied the semi-finals with wins over E. D. White, Irvine and Simpson before losing to Parun. Long was first ranked in 1958, but it is significant that he only appears when the circuit is based on Auckland—sixth in 1966, seventh in 1963. Vying for the other places will be players such as J. G.

Simpson, D. Cassidy, D. A. Parun, R. Rae, I. Baudinet, I. Beverley and Woolcott. So far seven women have been ranked, six of last year’s list and one newcomer. Miss J. Bishop, fifth last year did not play and Miss C. Fleming (8) is overseas. Misses A. Stevens (6) and R. Legge (10) are still in the running for remaining places New Zealand champion again, Miss B. Vercoe is ranked top and the tenacious Otago girl, Miss S. Collins, has risen from fourth to second after being a finalist in the three tournaments she played. Mrs S. Blackwood, formerly Miss S. Clements, who had been overseas, returned to the New Zealand tournaments with considerable impact Ranked second in 1966, she was this season an Auckland semi-finalist and North Island finalist with good wins. Miss M. Pryde has dropped from first to fourth in spite <rf winning the Wellington and Auckland titles her record was not a strong one. Miss J. Bloxham has dropped from third to fifth, Mrs P. Stevens has risen from ninth to sixth and Miss P. Rogan has remained at seventh. Those under consideration for the other places must include Miss Legge, who has beaten Miss Collins twice this season, Miss Stevens, and Mrs E. Stephan.