Overseas players for tennis circuit

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33381, 13 November 1973, Page 18

Overseas players for tennis circuit

One of the best group of entries from overseas players to come to New Zealand is expected to compete on the National tennis circuit this season.

Twenty-six players, more than double the number last year, had indicated they would play on the circuit, the chairman of the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association’s management committee (Mr R. B. Brown) said at a meeting last evening.

Mr Brown had received the information in a letter from the New Zealand association. Last season 12 overseas players competed on the circuit. Mr Brown said that the Canterbury association had been guaranteed half the

players to compete in the provincial championships, from December 25-28. The circuit this season has been divided into two sections—the North Island and South Island circuits—and all the players will meet in Wellington’early in January for the New Zealand championships. The management committee decided that in the hope of getting the overseas players to the Canterbury championships, it would send entry forms direct to interested players. “It would be great to have the players at the tournament, but we will have to wait and see,” Mr Brown said.

The top players include Miss K. Blake (United States), who has played on the Virginia Slims circuit for the last five years; P. Burwash, a member of the Canadian team in the Davis Cup clash with New Zealand two years ago; H. Plotz, a member of the West German Davis Cup team; and P. McNamee, a leading Australian junior who was the No. 1 player for the Victorian Linton Cup team last year. Mr Brown said that of the other players, four came from England, one from the New Hebrides, one from Amsterdam, and most from the United States. He said the Auckland championships would be held at the same time as the Canterbury tournament, and half the overseas players were guaranteed to Auckland. The Canterbury event will be the second meeting on the Soqth Island circuit, South Canterbury being the first, and the third tournament will be in Nelson from December 28-31.