Bigger thinking needed in N.Z. tennis

Press, 12 March 1982, Page 28

Bigger thinking needed in N.Z. tennis

By JOHN BROOKS The New Zealand tennis team will need to embrace the “think big” philosophy of one of the most absorbed spectators at Wilding Park last Sunday — the Prime Minister, Mr Muldoon — if it is to make an impression in the top division of the Davis Cup competition. Narrow thinking almost led to the home side blowing its chances of success against Spain after establishing a dominant position on the Friday. Such a defeat would have led to a staggering loss of $150,000 in prize money, almost certain demotion to a zonal competition,

and international humiliation through losing to Spain on grass. For an example of small thinking it would be hard to beat the selection of Onny Parun for the doubles on the second day. The cup veteran had played only two doubles matches in New Zealand this year, and he was sadly out of touch in a match in which the team-work of Angel Gimenez and Sergio Casal triumphed over the in-form Russell Simpson and friend. The obvious pairing for New Zealand in the doubles was that of the brothers Simpson, Jeffrey and Russell, a combination in every

’sense of the word. The choice of Parun came as a big surprise — some sceptics said it was a sop to the seasoned player in his last home tie, and one observer went so far as to describe the selection as “absurd.” Mr Jeff Robson, the New Zealand captain, bad a solution ready-made for him when Chris Lewis was forced to drop out with an ankle injury. Parun was the obvious replacement in the singles, and the cup rules would have permitted the substitution of Jeff Simpson in the doubles. But, incredibly, Parun was asked to. play on all three

days, and tiredness contributed to his defeat by Jose Lopez Maeso on the final afternoon. So what should have been a comfortable win by New Zealand — it should have been over on Saturday afternoon — became a nail-biting nightmare, with Russell Simpson having to come from two sets behind to save New- Zealand’s reputation and all that prize money. And that was asking a lot of a man who only nine months earlier bad lost a cup singles after winning the first two sets. It is now history that Simpson dredged up previously unsuspected

reserves of power and courage to win the key match against Gimenez. But he should never have beem placed in that awkward position. Big thinking by Mr Robson and Tony Roche, the Australian who helped train the team, should have produced the Simpsons as the matchwinning pair. Bigger thinking by the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association should have Mr Robson in a much more involved role as captain, instead of shelling out money to have Roche join tbe team in an advisory capacity. Both Spain and Britain,

New Zealand’s opponent in Christchurch last year, demonstrated far greater togetherness than the home side. Manuel Santana and Paul Hutchins, tbe respective captains, were dynamic figures who called the shots, and their rapport with their players was deep and abiding. But that is chiefly because they are full-time appointees; men who, unlike Mr Robson, have the opportunity of seeing their players in action often. The New Zealand captain has a stop-start role, and the hiring, of Roche was an admission of the weakness of the system.

The N.Z.L.T.A. needs to look closely at the situation in which a city businessman is called in occasionally to preside over the activities of full-time professional players. It is an antiquated system. The national body appears to be working towards a more enlightened arrangement through its appointment of Jeff Simpson as manager-coach to the country’s most promising teenage player, David Lewis. That type of plan leads to better selections, stronger team spirit, and better results. New Zealand needs this type of big thinking now.