Davenport in Canty squash

Press, 2 June 1982, Page 46

Davenport in Canty squash

By

TIM DUNBAR

New Zealand’s most exciting young squash player, Stuart Davenport, has decided to contest the Canterbury championships in, Christchurch next week. Davenport, aged 19, has just returned home from Britain after his first six months as a full-time player, competing on the world circuit. His university career has been “suspended,” temporarily at least, as he makes a total commitment to squash. Davenport said from Wellington yesterday that he had been handicapped by a troublesome sciatic nerve in his back and would miss the North Island championships at Khandallah this week-end. “My back’s all right now, but I need time to get ready for squash again and the Canterbury championships will be my first tournament.” ■ Davenport, who first developed his squash in. the Burnside club, left for Europe, last. November with a, sizeable New/ Zealand Sports Foundation grant in

his pocket, and two • bold aims. “One aim was winning the British "■ under-23 tournament and I got that. The other was making the top 25 . ?. and I didn’t quite get there. I Finished up No. 28 in the world.” . Still, Davenport was “reasonably happy” with that position and he said he beat the people he should have.

“When I look back it was pretty much a case of whether you get the right draws and meet the right players.” Ultimately, the lanky Davenport wants to be ranked quite a lot higher than that. “My career aim is No. 3 or 4. That could be quite a way off, but I think it’s quite possible.” “It’s hard to break through to the top 16 and then - it’s harder to get higher than about No. 7 as both’. Bruce Brownlee and Ross Norman pother New Zealanders) have, jound.” •As yet, a full-time-squash career was not bringing in any great dividends. “The trouble is when you’re in the top 16 your expenses, are paid. When you’re not getting expenses it’s a helluva lot to chop out of your. prize money.” His level of fitness was sufficient for him “never to feel uncomfortable” against the opponents he met; including Norman, now the world’s No.- 8, in four encounters. Davenport has also been happy with bis game from

the back of the court. “My length is good.” “But I need to work on my front-court game and get sharper up front and from half-court.” Davenport’s immediate aim now is to “try and win the Adidas series,” though after the North Island titles some New Zealand players on the 11-event national circuit will have a four-tourna-ment start towards qualifying for the finals. “Then I will be trying to win the New Zealand closed.” That might be a formidable task as Davenport will not be: surprised if Norman (already the runnerup three times) returns home from Europe earlier than stated to contest those championships. After two years at Auckland University, Davenport was well on the way to his Bachelor of Commerce degree, but he says that career has been suspended for this year anyway. “You have to commit yourself to something, and I’m committing myself to squash at the moment.”