Professional tennis tough lark, says Seeman

Press, 6 July 1988, Page 46

Professional tennis tough lark, says Seeman

By

DIANNA LESLIE

Life on the professional tennis circuit is a tough lark and can be a tenuous existence, according to Ruth Seeman, who is ranked No. 3 in New Zealand.

Seeman who holds the No. 212 ranking on the Women’s International Tennis Federation ladder has spent the last four years on the circuit in Europe. It is currently prime time pickings for players overseas but Seeman has missed the cream of the tournaments since she has been in New Zealand recovering from illness and the death of her father.

“It is financially difficult to take a break. This is the first year that I realised just how uncertain a tennis career is,” said Seeman.

"I was very stressed out in May and I had to take a break. It was-a shock to

have no income and it took a lot of money to get home.”

Seeman has had her best year in terms of results, and she is rueing the missed tournaments. “There are some beautiful tournaments in Belgium, France and Germany at the moment. France has a unique grading system where every club has to stage a tournament every year. So there are usually plenty of chances for me to make a living,” she said. Seeman played 12 W.I.T.F. tournaments to gain her current world ranking, but she has not been in the prize stakes in these tournaments. “I haven’t won any money on the W.I.T.F. tournaments. I play the French tournaments and club tennis in Munich to earn my living, so I am based in either Germany or France.”

Seeman’s brother, Phillip, who is also involved in the professional tennis circuit, has bought a camping caravan and the pair intend to travel and compete together. Seeman is considering playing some tournaments in the United States if her form holds.

Perhaps the most disappointing factor about Seeman’s return to New Zealand is that she has had to forfeit the chance to play at Wimbledon. “It was the first time that I had made the draw, but I wasn’t in good form so I had to realise that I couldn’t do it.” Seeman finished in the last 16 of the Nutri-Metics tournament in Auckland this year and made the semi-finals of the masters in Australia during which she had her best win this season. She beat Liz Minter (Australia) who has a world ranking of 87.

Seeman also won the residential championships in New Zealand, beating Claudine Toleafoa in the final.

Toleafoa made it to the third round in junior Wimbledon recently and with her national ranking at No. seven, has been included in the Federation Cup team, which Seeman is also ardently eyeing. Belinda Cordwell (1) and Julie Richardson (2), comprise the top two slots and while there is provision for one addition, some may question why Seeman was not selected in the top three. Seeman, aged 25, has also been involved in coaching in a German club.

But she has certainly not been idle while in New Zealand and neither has the tennis fraternity. It appears likely that Seeman will be available to

play in one of the Canterbury teams that will contest the inaugural national club tennis league which is expected to be played in November and December.

Seeman has been keeping in shape at the new Indoor Tennis Centre in Ferry Road, working, out against top Canterbury players. If she is recruited in a league team she will probably take a job at the centre, which she is impressed with. “It’s a great facility. It has a nice comfortable playing surface and it would be a great shame if it is not supported by Christchurch.” Meanwhile she intends returning to the European circuits soon and has no immediate plans to shelve her travelling lifestyle. “I don’t know what keeps me going,” she says.