Rising tennis star to play in Chch

Press, 24 December 1980, Page 14

Rising tennis star to play in Chch

Does New Zealand have in Julie Richardson an international tennis star in the making? Keen judges of -the - game in Christchurch -will be able to answer that question after watching this, gifted young Auckland player compete in the; TAA national age group ' championships at Wilding Park after Christmas. - ■

Julie is only 13, but she holds- the New Zealand under-15 girls’ singles and doubles titles, and is ranked first in the country in her division .and ninth among the under-17 girls. . However, the extent' of her ability was shown in bold relief when she toured California with the Spalding national junior team this year. She qualified for a Masters tournament after competing in nine regional events, and carried off the singles championship in her division. This was a wonderful achievement, and the New Zealand team’s manager, Mr Barry Shute. described her as being as talented as any American of comparable age. Which is saying a lot. . .■ Julie Richardson could well set herself for a hattrick of titles in the under-15 division, but she realises that would scarcely aid her development. So in the TAA championships she will contest the senior division, under-17, and has been seeded fourth for the

singles. She will also contest the Qantas national under-19 championship, and has been seeded eight ■ in. this event. Her principal opponent in the under-17 singles will be another Aucklander, Simone Boyer, with whom she will play in the doubles. Miss Boyer was No. 1 player in the. national Reid Cup team in Melbourne last January and was also prominent s on the Californian tour. - She is 16, and was runneruo in htfr division at the Masters tournament, revealing a gift for analysing the play of opponents. Consequently, she .was' rarely beaten twice by the same girl. Miss .Boyer 'has been seeded first in both singles and doubles for the championships at Wilding Park. - The other members of the. successful .team in California ..who will play > in . Christchurch are Roy Dutton, David Lewis, and Mark. Long. All are from Auckland. ■ Dutton and Lewis are seeded first and second in the under-17 boys’ singles, and will, be the hot favourites for the doubles. Long, who is 13, is top seed for the under-15 boys’ singles. The other member ’ of the team in California, Janine Perkinson, is over the age limit for the under-17 titles, but she is seeded

second for the national under-19. singles. . Wilding Park will be a scene of unbounded activity from December 27 until January 1. As well as the under-17 and under-45 championships, the park will also be the venue for the inaugural BP under-13

tournament. The national administrators are determined to “catch ’em young,” and in Julie Richardson they appear to have notched their first success.

JOHN BROOKS