Simpson lands crucial tennis assignments

Press, 24 February 1984, Page 30

Simpson lands crucial tennis assignments

By

JOHN BROOKS

If Davis Cup team strengths were relative to national playing numbers in tennis, the BP New Zealand side would be a warm favourite for the N.E.C.-sponsored tie against Paraguay, which starts at Wilding Park today.

Both Paraguay and New Zealand have populations of similar size, but while there are more than 60,000 tennis players affiliated to the N.Z.L.T.A., the land-locked South American country has only about 5000 racket wielders.

Applying the pyramid principle, New Zealand should’ have much stronger international players, and more of them, than the Paraguayans, with their relatively narrow base.

Unfortunately for the home team, things have not turned out that way, and Chris Lewis and Russell Simpson will start on virtually equal terms with the lofty visiting pair, Victor PecciandFranciscoGonzalez.

The only factors which could give New Zealand a slight edge are the grass surface and the anticipated vociferous support of the home crowd. If that doesn’t eventuate, it will not be the fault of the executive president of the N.Z.L.T.A., Mr lan Wells, who has been on his annual crusade to shake sedate spectators into fullthroated enthusiasm.

Both camps eyed their prospects cautiously yesterday after the draw had been made by the Mayor, Sir Hamish Hay, in a Town Hall function.

Simpson found himself in the critical position of having to play the opening singles, and also the final reverse singles, against the Paraguayan No. 1, Pecci. But his brother and team

captain, Jeff Simpson, was not perturbed by this outcome of the draw.

“Russell is ready,” he said. “He knows what Davis Cup tennis is all about, and he’s got to cope with the pressures. I feel confident that he can.”

Jeff Simpson said he thought the New Zealanders’ greater experience of grass court play would be significant, but he was not concerned over the way the draw had worked out.

“To have a really perfect draw I would have liked Chris to be playing Victor Pecci in the opening singles,” he said, “but I had no real preferences. We have got to get three points somehow — and the boys have just got to win.” Simpson’s rival captain, Alberto Gross Brown, forecast that the tie would still be alive on the third day, Sunday, and “preferred” that the team with its nose in front would be Paraguay.

“I wish ... but I am not confident,” he smiled. “Will you win?” he was asked. There was a long pause and then, slowly and deliberately, he said, “yes.” Brown said that although Pecci was the recognised No. 1 player, Gonzalez was probably just as good on grass. He said Pecci would have to get into the net more to make his mark on the New Zealanders.

The Paraguayan pair once won the Italian Open doubles title, and this entitled them to be regarded

with respect, Jeff Simpson said. “But Chris and Russell have played some good doubles together, and on a grass court I think they’ve got a good chance.” As anticipated, each side named its top two players for the entire tie. Alberto Brown said Pecci was the best player to be produced by Paraguay, but Simpson was just as wary of Gonzalez, a likeable Latin who has spent much of his life in the United States and Puerto Rico. “On his day Gonzalez can beat anyone,” he said, “but he’s got to have one of those

days. Our boys have just got to hang in there.”

Davis Cup competition was one of the most important things in the careers of Lewis and Simpson, the New Zealand captain said. Playing for their country brought out hidden reserves, and a week's preparation in good conditions was ideal for producing top tennis. Both sides practised on the centre court at Wilding Park yesterday, and the Paraguayans, who come from a country of clay courts, expressed pleasure at getting the feel of the well tailored grass. Alberto Brown, however, echoed Simpson’s thoughts about the surface and how it could help New Zealand. “I think New Zealand will be a hard team (to beat) and it will be happy to play on grass. When we beat Czechoslovakia (including Ivan Lendl) last year, the match was played indoors on wood in Paraguay.” Both sides reported that their men were in good physical shape and eager for the fray. Asked if he would play in the event of an injury to Pecci or Gonzalez, Brown, with refreshing honesty, said that for Paraguay’s sake he hoped such an eventuality did not arise. The draw for the matches is.— Today: Simpson v Gonzales; Lewis v Pecci. Tomorrow: Simpson and Lewis v Pecci and Gonzalez. Sunday: Lewis v Gonzelez; Simpson v Pecci.