Hopes on Lewis

Press, 31 July 1978, Page 19

Hopes on Lewis

PA Wellington New Zealand’s tennis bosses are putting their money on Chris Lewis as a superstar of tomorrow. Eight photographs of the 21-year-old Aucklander decorated the covers of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association’s annual report presented at the annual meeting in Wellington. The chairman of the association, Mr lan Wells, told the meeting that Lewis’s progress during December and January was undoubtedly the highlight of last season.

"Lewis has had a tough tiine in recent months but he is only 21, highly regarded and undoubtedly capable of resuming the success he enjoyed in Australia,” Mr Wells said.

“As Onny Parun and Brian Fairlie move toward the end of their championship careers, it is most reassuring to have Lewis emerge and take over the number one ranking in the country.”

Mr Welts had less happy news in other directions. “The Davis Cup fund was hammered severely in 1978 and stays in the black only because of the high television fees we received for the ties against Australia in 1975,” he said. To break even over a four-year period the association would have to retain monies received from sponsorships of home Davis Cup ties, then share the other income and tie expenses on a 50-50 basis with the staging association.

“It is not possible to look on the Davis Cup as a financial bonanza,” Mr Wells said. Last season’s ties had shown a total loss of more than $30,000. Mr E. H. Moston, nominated by Wellington, was elected president, H. Brocx, I. Houghton and P. Jenkin were re-elected to the management committee and R. Callender took the remaining vacancy. Mrs P. Leopold, F. Scarlett and B. Wong were appointed national selectors.