N.Z. players on top in tennis

Press, 13 February 1982, Page 64

N.Z. players on top in tennis

All but one of four New Zealand Davis Cup hopefuls in the Air New Zealand tennis tournament advanced to the semi-finals of the singles at Wilding Park yesterday. It was almost a clean sweep for the home grown players, because the 17-year-old David Lewis battled valiantly for three sets before losing narrowly to the Australian, John McCurdy, an upset winner against the fourth-seeded Warren Maher in the Quarter-finals. In the semi-finals today, McCurdy will be matched against the second seed, David Mustard, while the No. I player, Bruce Derlin. tries

conclusions with Jeff Simpson. Simpson, who is also in the semi-finals of the doubles with his American partner, Jai Dilouie, has not previously faced Derlin on the satellite circuit this summer. While he did not commit himself to a forecast of the result, he acknowledged that Derlin was in good form. “And I wish that I was 20 or 22, not 31,” he added wryly. Playing bis eighth, grass court tournament since his return to the circuit, Simpson said competing on the back courts at Wilding Park was a matter of survival. “It’s so difficult what with

the odd bounces, the wind blowing, and you are slipping on the bare patches," he said. “But once we got used to the court today Rand (Evett) and I were able to turn on some good tennis.”

Most of the problems will disappear today because the semi-finals will be played on the well-groomed and grassed centre courts, which will be the scene of the Davis Cup tie between New Zealand and Spain early next month. Both Derlin and Simpson are keen to play in that tie, so this will add extra meaning to their duel. Derlin has conceded only 16 games in winning eight straight sets on the

way to the semi-final; impressive credentials indeed. Yesterday be was too good for Wesley Horskins (Australia), who had survived by the skin of his teeth in his two previous encounters.

Simpson warmed to his task after dropping the first set to Evett, who was runner-up to Onny Parun in the New Zealand singles final after eliminating Derlin. And Mustard remained strongly in contention for the title when he, too, came from behind to snuff out the bold run of a lean, hardhitting Australian, Ken Barton. Mustard and Evett teamed well to add another doubles

success to their list, and they will play Simpson and Dilouie in the semi-finals. Results were:— SINGLES Quarter-finals B. Derlin (N.Z.) beat W. Horskins (A.). 6-0, 6-4: J. Simpson (N.Z.) beat R. Evett (U.S.), 5-7, 61. 6-4; J. McCurdy (A.) beat D. Lewis (N.Z.), 4-6. 6-3. 6-4; D. Mustard (N.Z.), beat K. Barton (A.). 3-6. 6-2, 6-4. DOUBLES Quarter-finals D. Graham and L. Warder (A.) beat P. Lyons and T. Bennett (U.S.). 7-5. 6-2; P. O’Donoghue and N. Mohtadi (C.) beat R. Grant and S. Maloney (A ). 6-4, 6-4; J. Simpson (N.Z.) and J. Dilouie (U.S.) beat M. Holland and J. Stoddart (G. 8. 6-3. 6-4; D. Mustard (N.Z.) and R. Evett (U.S.) beat B. McQuon and G. Farmer (U.S.). 6-2. 7-6.