Simpson the hero as N.Z. clinches tie

Press, 8 March 1982, Page 34

Simpson the hero as N.Z. clinches tie

By

JOHN BROOKS

A weeping Spaniard slumped in a chair and a jubilant New Zealander with racket held aloft told the story of the dramatic outcome of the Davis Cup tennis tie at Wilding Park yesterday afternoon. . . . £ r..x "7 r

Russell Simpson had just recovered from a frightening deficit of two sets to win in five against Angel Gimenez and so clinch the contest for the home team, by three rubbers to two. The crowd of 3200 erupted into ecstatic applause for Simpson after undoubtedly his finest performance forNew Zealand. But the diminutive Gimenez, distraught at failing his country at the last gasp, crumbled emotionally. • The New Zealand victory, which seemed a formality after Simpson and Onny Parun had won the opening matches on Friday, became less certain when Spain triumphantly claimed the doubles on Saturday. And hopes evaporated alarmingly after Parun lost to Jose' Lopez Maeso yesterday, and Simpson became two sets down to Gimenez. But at this stage Simpson became incensed at the thought of losing to Spain. His tough streak came to the surface and, urged on by the chanting and cheering of the crowd, he overcame Gimenez with sustained determination and powerful serving and volleying. “I just wanted to win,” he said feelingly. “I was really mad when I was two sets down. The thought of going to the cup dinner after losing to Spain would have driven me nuts. < "And I can imagine what my fellow pros would have said to me back on the circuit — you lost to Gimenez on grass?” - Simpson feared he would have energy problems in the last two sets; his heavy involvement in the tie amounted to 14 sets and nine hours and a half of play. 1 “But I feel very strong,” he said at the end. “I reckon 1 :I could play two more sets 1 right now.” ( . Amid the many congratu- I lations which were showered . on Simpson in his finest hour, • the most heartfelt came from Parun. v . “Obviously I would have < liked to polish off the tie by 1 winning my match; it would 1 have been nice in my last cup appearance in New Zea- 1 land,” he said. "But it is 1 tremendous that Russell won. s I am pleased for him, and 1

for the future of New Zealand tennis with Russell and Chris Lewis at the helm. “This win will do much for Russell’s game, and dispel rumours that he is not good under pressure.” After his splendid win against Gimenez on the first day, Parun played scratchily in the doubles against ■ Gimenez and Sergio Casal and battled stoically but unavailingly against Maeso. A groin muscle injury made his task more difficult, and he admitted that the doubles match the previous day had wearied him. But Spain's comeback was most meritorious, particularly as it Highlighted the strong teamwork which Manuel Santana, had generated among his men. Casal, a young wiry player bearing a strong resemblance to the former Canterbury champion, Stephen Harley, was constantly encouraged by the bustling Gimenez, and their partnership was much more harmonious than that of Parun and Simpson. Maeso gave an assertive display to shake off the tenacious Parun, and Gimenez was at his businesslike best as he waltzed to a lead against a nervous Simpson in the. crucial singles. Small, wonder, then, that he gave • way to tears when the glittering prospect of an up- . set win was snatched from j him. ( “Angel never thought he , would beat Simpson, so he j was elated to be up two- : love,” Mr Santana said. “I .was surprised that he played ; so well initially, but he got i tired. “Simpson was so good; he was unbelievable.” But many members of the j crowd would not have shared | that opinion at a stage when , the short, swarthy Gimenez , in his tight shorts and cloth . cap had opened up such a big gap on the New Zealander. ( It was at this stage that a spectator, sighting the Prime j Minister, Mr Muldoon, in the ( Wilding Memorial Stand, called “Hey, Rob, this is not < New Zealand the way we want it.” ‘ ( Simpson unaccountably 1 lost control of the second set • when leading 4-1. Gimenez , skipped away to win six of < the next seven games to take ;

the set, 7-5. But then the tide turned, and Simpson’s pulsating charge began by taking the third set in a brisk 20min. Then, at 3-3 in the fourth, Gimenez’s opposition effectively ended. Simpson gained a service break and allowed the Spaniard only one more game in the next 10 to win, in racing parlance, "going away.” Throughout the tie, Simpson’s serving was firm and accurate, and yesterday his harshly struck deep volleys gradually eroded the visitor’s resolve. If Parun had sung the old Al Jolson number, “The Spaniard That Blighted My Life,” in the showers after his reverse singles, it would not have been surprising. Parun was in typical mood, using the drop judiciously and hovering over the net to crunch away angled volleys. But that was not enough to tame Maeso. The forlorn statistics of the match revealed that Parun served 10 double faults and was aced 13 times, three of them consecutively,, by the Spanish No. 1. Although Parun had Maeso in bother whenever he lobbed to the backhand side, he did not pound away at this obvious weakness There were only eight points between the teams in the doubles, but Casal and Gimenez were a real partnership; Simpson and a slow, flat-footed Parun were just like two individuals. However, if New Zealand had not slumped from its handsome first day lead to the stage where, as Mr Santana succinctly put it, it no longer had the Spanish bull by the horns, merely a little by the rump, then Simpson would not have discovered the hidden depths in his game. And that is a precious discovery as New Zealand goes forward to play either Italy or Britain in the cup quarter-finals' in July. Results from yesterday and Saturday were.— Doubles: A. Gimenez and S. Casal (Spain)'beat 0. Parun and R. J. Simpson (N.2.), 6-3, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Singles: J. L. Maeso (Spain) beat Parun, 10-8, 6-3, 9-7; Simpson beat Gimenez, 2-6,5-7, 6-1, 63, 6-1.