Tennis career ahead

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33112, 30 December 1972, Page 26

Tennis career ahead

IN.Z. Press Association)

WELLINGTON.

The youngest competitor in the Qantas New Zealand junior tennis championship, C. Lewis (Auckland), who is 15, will turn professional as soon as he leaves school.

Lewis, fourth seed in the tournament, is reasonably confident of passing School Certificate this year and then only University Entrance will stand in his way before he launches himself on a tennis career.

“My parents are in agreement with my decision. I just have to finish school, and then I can concentrate completely on tennis,” he said. At present, Lewis plays at No. 4 for Eden-Epsom in Auckland, under such players as J. Lockington, the national coach, who is in his 30s, and D. Shaw, who is also about the same age.

“It doesn’t really bother me being so young. People at tournaments usually just think I’m 17 or 18 years old,” Lewis said.

At 14 years of age, Lewis had already completed one overseas tour, and reached the semi-finals of the New

[South Wales under 15 championship. [ “I had beaten their No. 2 seed in the quarter-finals and was to meet their third seed, but play was cancelled and because the team had to get back to New Zealand I was unable to play,” said Lewis. Last August school holidays, he went on Frank Sedgeman’s coaching ranch, with P. Hampton (Canterbury). "But Britain is the place to go to if you want to improve your tennis,” said Lewis.

“I hope to be over there in two years time.”