Simpson crashes out of tournament

Press, 9 January 1986, Page 26

Simpson crashes out of tournament

PA Auckland Russell Simpson, who bypassed much of the Australian circuit to concentrate on the $200,000 grand prix tournament in Auckland, was beaten yesterday by a Sydney professional, Craig Miller.

Simpson, the seventh seed in the Benson and Hedges Open at Stanley Street, went down 2-6, 6-1, 2-6 to the 23-year-old Miller.

“I didn’t want too much exposure against the Australians with the Davis Cup tie against them in mind,” said Simpson. “So I intended to build up for the Benson and Hedges and do really well.

“Usually I am able to pull out something in reserve when I play in Auckland, but there was nothing there today.”

Simpson, twice a finalist in the Benson and Hedges singles, lost the match rather than Miller winning it.

“I did not go into the match in a good frame of mind and played a sloppy game on my own service and kind of struggled right from the start,” he said. Simpson dropped his service in the first game to

love and again in the seventh game of the first set. His service was being returned well and Miller was able to pass on both sides of the court.

Miller, who will meet the top seed, Bud Schultz, in the next round, said his great strength was his return of service.

“I owe my success to my new philosophy of taking one match at a time, going out there to enjoy it regardless of winning or losing,” he said.

A former Davis Cup squad member, David Lewis, defeated an American, Tomm Waneke 7-6 (7-5), 7-5 in their second-round match. It was the first time Lewis had advanced to the third round of the singles at the tournament. Games in the first set went with service and not until the very last points of the tie-breaker was Lewis able to clinch it at 7-5. Lewis broke in the first game of the second set and he kept that advantage to win the second set 7-5 and the match. Waneke served seven aces and Lewis four. Earlier, another New

Zealander, Stephen Guy, was eliminated by Schultz in a match marked more by errors than good play. Schultz won 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 in 127 minutes.

Both players had troubles with their services, Schultz serving nine double-faults and Guy eight. Guy had eight aces to Schultz’s two. Results.—

Men’s singles: Bud Schultz (U.S.) beat Stephen Guy (N.Z.) 6-3, 5-7, 6-3; David Lewis (N.Z.) beat Tomm Waneke (U.S.) 7-6, (7-5), 7-5; Craig Miller (Aust.) beat Russell Simpson (N.Z.) 62, 1-6, 6-2; Mark Woodforde (Aust.) beat Michiel Schapers (Holland) 6-4, 4-2 (retired). Men’s doubles.—

First round: Rick Rudeen and Karl Richter (U.S.) beat Stephen Guy (N.Z.) and Cary Stansbury (U.S.) 6-7, 7-6 (7-4), 86; Brad Drewett (Aust.) and Russell Simpson (N.Z.) beat Brett Steven and Simon Robinson (N.Z.) 6-3, 6-4; Craig Miller and Laurie Warder (Aust.) beat Bruce Derlin and David Mustard (N.Z.) 6-3, 6-2; Danny Saltz and Tomm Waneke (U.S.) beat Peter Carlsson (Sweden) and Mark Woodforde (Aust.) 6-1, 6-7 (4-7), 6-3. Quarter-finals: Peter Doohan (Aust.) and Kelly Evernden (N.Z.) beat Michiel Schapers (Holland) and Alex Antonitsch (Austria), by default.