Boost for tennis titles needed

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34044, 7 January 1976, Page 9

Boost for tennis titles needed

(By

JOHN BROOKS)

The appearance of one or two top class overseas players would to restore the New Zealand tennis championships to their former position of eminence. Administrators are aware of the need to provide greater financial attractions for the players. They have cause to be grateful to men such as the defending champion from last season, Gerhard Wimmer (Austria), who paid his own air fare from Sydney to Christchurch and won the princely sum of SIS. Some form of financial stiffening needs to be entertained before the national title meeting wilts in the shadow of the lucrative open tournament at AuckFrom an organisational point of view, the championships at Wilding Park were a great success. This reflected great credit on the Canterbury association officials at the helm, for the late arrival of a number of players posed difficulties in scheduling The national body paid an oblique tribute to the Canterbury association in allocating the champion-

ships to Wilding Park for the second successive season. in the meantime, Parun is looking forward to adding more New Zealand singles titles to his collection. Only three players in the history of the event have won the championship more times than the lean Wellington man. “I am 28 now, and 1 reckon 1 have a few more years of good tennis in me.” he said. “I have not always been able to play in the championships, but I would like to try to give the record (seven wins) a nudge.” This is the opinion of Onny Parun, who won his fourth national singles title at Wilding Park last weekend. “Certainly, it would mean outlaying more money, but ’ the effort would be worthwhile if a couple of good players from other countries were attracted. It would ensure a decent final, and this would bring in the public.” Parun said two of the top 10 players in Australia, or two of the top 30 in the United States would meet requirements. “To get Tonj Roche, for instance, would mean an outlav of 51.500 plus a re-

turn air fare. But Roche would be great for this tournament — he does not lose to poorer players and his appearance in the final would be a certain drawcard. "I think the New Zealand championships should be pushed up in status. The tournament has had its great days, and 1 wouldn’t like to see it fade into insignificance.” Parun described the quality of the overseas players at the recent championships as “a bit thin.” Nine of them reached the last 16 in the singles, but only three of them went any further. Although pleased at participating in an all-New Zealand singles final, Parun was adamant that the tournament needed the stimulus provided by good class overseas competitors.

Other players at the championships were critical of the relatively low amount of prize money. The total was a modest $155.

“You get only $25 if you are a losing quarter-finalist in the singles,” said one man. “Why, that hardly covers the cost of a restring these days. It is almost worth being eliminated early, for you get $4O for winning the plate.”