Fairlie arrives for cup tie

Press, 8 February 1979, Page 30

Fairlie arrives for cup tie

New Zealand’s Davis Cupj team captain. Mr Jeff j Robson, was a relieved man yesterdav when Brian Fairlie I arrived "at Wilding Park from the United States through Auckland and went into a hard practice session. Mr Robson said he was pleased with the way Fairlie was hitting the ball and moving around the court. The tie against Japan will begin tomorrow and although Fairlie has joined the team later than Mr Robson would have wished the latter is not expecting any problems with “jet lag.”

F a i r 1 i e arrived in Auckland on Tuesday and spent the night there. He had spent the previous three weeks “sharpening up” at Hany Hopman’s tennis camp in Tampa, Florida.

Mr Robson said the training had obviously been of benefit yesterday from Fairlie’s form. Over all the team had no problems and Onny Parun, the Davis Cup veteran, was happy with his form.

Yesterday the side practised on the centre court at Wilding Park and approved the way it played.

“H’s a little bit slower i than the outside courts but I still a very good court,” said iMr Robson.

I The practice involved two sessions of between two hours and a half and three I hours. The players were still lon the courts at 6 p.m. I Mr Robson said that the main emphasis at training was bn sharpening up. with “a lot of reaction volleys and things like that.”