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Evernden back to best

PA Wellington Kelly Evernden was back to his best in beating the highly-touted American, Bobby Blair, in a key men’s singles quarter-final match at the BP New Zealand tennis championships here yesterday.

Evernden, who has not had a good year, put it all behind him as he beat Blair 6-3, 7-5. Today the Gisborne man will meet the top seed, Steve Guy, in one of the men’s semifinals. This was not the Evernden who played, often with injuries, overseas this year. Yesterday he was clearly enjoying himself. He still hit the ball with power, especially off the backhand, and scampered about the court retrieving shots.

But he has also obviously matured as a tennis thinker. The Evernden of previous years thought nothing of trying for an ace on second serve. Yesterday’s version was content to slow down the second delivery, putting more top spin on the ball for control.

Blair, aged 21, who has a good American collegiate record, was looked upon as the most dangerous floater in the men’s draw.

He created one moment of worry for the New Zealander, when he held set point at 4-5 in the second set. But Blair netted a simple forehand and from there Evernden nailed home the advantage.

Evernden, aged 25, has

seen his career drift this year but yesterday he seemed a lot more optimistic about the future.

“I’m looking forward to next year. I’ve already been in the top 100. I know I have the ability. This year I had a very frustrating time with injuries, but I’m O.K. now. “If I can stay free of injuries next year I’m hoping to put a few results on the board.” In the other men’s singles yesterday, Guy had no trouble beating Greg Long 6-2, 6-3. The tall Wellingtonian had far too much power and looks to be hitting good form. The big women’s match yesterday was to have been the Belinda Cordwell-Claudine Toleafoa quarter-final.

But Cordwell made no race of it, winning 6-0, 6-1 and was so obviously superior in every department that the match was hardly even competitive. Toleafoa, aged 16, lost her rhythm on serve and tried to hit her way through her problems. In Wellington’s wind, that was not a good idea. Cordwell, left-handed, swung her serve menacingly wide and she was ever-eager to get to the net where she volleyed with authority. Today Cordwell plays

Michelle Parun in one semi-final, a rerun of last year’s final. Parun beat Wellingtonian Anna Callender 6-3, 6-1.

Both players preferred to rally from the baseline, although to her credit Callender did at least view matters with an aggressive intent. Parun, however, hit the ball sweetly and was seldom in difficulty. Results:

Men’s singles, quarterfinals: K. Evernden (Gisborne) b B. Blair (U.S.A.) 6-3, 7-5; S. Guy (Wellington) b G. Long (Auckland) 6-2, 6-3. Women’s singles, quar-ter-finals: B. Cordwell (Wellington) b C. Toleafoa (Auckland) 6-0, 6-1; M. Parun (Hutt Valley) b A. Callender (Wellington) 63, 6-1. Womens doubles, semifinals: Cordwell and J. Richardson (Auckland) b 5. Green (U.S.A.) and A. Tate (Auckland) 6-1, 6-2; Parun and Toleafoa b R. Seeman (Dunedin) and E. Daly (Invercargill) 6-3, 16, 6-4. Men’s doubles, semifinals: Guy and P. Smith (Wellington) b Blair and S. Robinson (Waikato) 6-1, 6-2; D. Mustard and B. Steven (Auckland) b T. Turnbull (Auckland) and Long 6-2, 6-4.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19861220.2.182

Bibliographic details

Press, 20 December 1986, Page 80

Word Count
559

Evernden back to best Press, 20 December 1986, Page 80

Evernden back to best Press, 20 December 1986, Page 80