Players’ on-court behaviour subject of report

Press, 13 February 1981, Page 24

Players’ on-court behaviour subject of report

PA Wellington The on-court attitudes of two Auckland tennis players, Bruce Derlin and Mark Lewis—the Nos 2 and 3 seeds respectively at the national championships in Wellington—are the subject of a report to the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association.

The tournament referee, Mr Drew. Dryburgh, said yesterday that a critical report had been forwarded to the N.Z.L.T.A. about incidents in the pairs doubles match on Wednesday evening and from Lewis’s singles match against Hutt Valley’s Tim Tohill yesterday. In the doubles, Derlin and Lewis, the second seeds, beat the unranked Chuck Coleman (U.S.) and James Dutton (Auckla* ’.) in three sets, and Mr Dryburgh was critical of the players’ lack of effort.

Yesterday in the singles Lewis was taken to three sets by Tim Tohill, aged 17, from the Upper Hutt Club. The referee said that the Auckland pair’s attitude was bad for the game and would drive spectators away. On Monday, Mr Dryburgh defaulted Northland’s Peter Hampton from his game against an American, Dick Jones, after Hampton had not continued ■ the game when instructel to.

“That is clearly covered in the rules,” Mr Dryburgh said. In his game against Tohill, Lewis, a member of the Davis Cup squad with Russell Simpson, Onny Parun and Chris Lewis to meet Korea in early March, did nothing to win friends. Lethargic and seemingly uncaring from the start Lewis won the first set, 7-5, and then dropped the second, 4-6. The third- set saw Lewis interested enough to take off his track suit top. Lewis won the deciding set, 6-4, but twice in the latter stages Tohill held break points, but could not capitalise. '' The attitude of Lewi", aged 20, after the game was as arrogant as it was. on the court: “I didn’t want to use up my energy,” he said. . “I didn’t enjoy it at all. I’ve been playing for 25 weeks,- it’s probably too much.” •• If Lewis did not enjoy it,

Tohill certainly couldn’t have. He was treated with contempt by his opponent and some of Lewis’s gestures during the game were certainly offensive.

Tohill said he never though he would win the match: “He was mucking about at the start, and was always going to produce something when needed.” Lewis admitted he would have to play better today against David Mustard if he is to progress in the competition.

“It is three years since I played him and I think he beat me last time,” Lewis said.

Lewis’s younger brother, David, displayed none of Mark’s tendencies as he produced steady, tennis to beat the No. 6 seed, Malcolm Elley, of Auckland. Canterbury’s Alister Chapman made James Dunphy (Wellington) work hard for his 6-4, 6-2, victory to enter the quarter-finals. There was an upset in the ladies singles when the second seed, Linda Stewart, of Auckland, was put out of the tournament by the No. 6 seed, Ruth Seaman, of Otago.Miss Seaman lot the first set, 2-6, but came back strongly to cake the second, 6-3, and then ran away with the last set, 6-0.

"The third set was easier than I thought it would be,” said Miss Seaman. “It’s the fifth time this season I have played Linda, and this is the first time I have taken a set off her.” Asked afterwards what had gone wrong, Miss Stewart, who leaves for Brazil and Europe next month, said: “Everything.” It was a disappointing display from the Aucklander who had held high hopes of winning the ladies’ title. Men’s Singles: M. Lewis (Auck.) beat T. Tohill (Hutt Valley), 7-5, 4-6, 6-4; D. Lewis (Auck.) beat M. Elley (Auck.) 2-6, 7-5, 6-4; J.

Dunphy (Hutt Valley) beat A. Chapman (Canterbury) 6-4 6-2; B. Derlin (Auck.) beat C. Harris (Auckland), 6-1, 6-3. Ladies’ Singles: S. Chapman (Canterbury) beat S. Boyer (Auckland), 6-3, 6-2; R. Seaman (Otago) beat L. Stewart (Auckland), 2-6, 6-3, 6-0. Men’s Doubles: M. Lewis and B. Derlin beat C. Harris and R. Mason (Canterbury) 6- 6-2; J. Dunphy and M. Elley beat G. Callender and P. McErlain (Wellington), 7- 6-4.