Talent not enough on ‘pro’ circuit

Press, 9 November 1988, Page 34

Talent not enough on ‘pro’ circuit

By

DIANNA LESLIE

The problem for young tennis players in New Zealand is that they do not have anyone to emulate, according to the top women player, Belinda Cordwell. Speaking in Wellington recently, Cordwell made it clear that the professional circuit was a hard row to hoe. “It is not enough to have talent, there are just so many other components that come into it,” she said. “People overseas play like there’s no tomorrow. I never realised when I started just how much work is involved.” Now aged 23 Cordwell has been playing overseas since she was 16 years of age but she feels that her life could have been made easier. “I learnt the hard way. People in New Zealand have no conception about what it’s like over there.” Mark Cox, a former British Davis Cup player and captain, gave Cordwell’s career direction when he began to coach her a year ago. “Mark set me on the right track at a time when I needed it. Now I can say I am on target to get where I want to be. A year ago I would have

said, I would love to reach my potential — how the hell will I do it? “I really enjoy the pro. tennis circuit. It has taken me a long time to be able to say that because it has been so hard. But how many people get paid for what they love doing. I am really lucky.” Cordwell has a world ranking of around 60 and she is keen to climb as many notches up the international ladder as

possible. “I have talent and I really feel that I owe it to myself to give it 100 per cent. I am fortunate to have the chance but I would prefer to do it incognito.” Cordwell has played at No. 1 in the Wellinton men’s senior tennis competition at different stages, but reacted swiftly to the news of two women playing in the Canterbury men’s competition. “I am sorry but it is ludicrous. It is too far down the scale. I was allowed to because I was a ‘pro’ and Wellington gave me the go-ahead so that I could get strong match play. It was for a reason,” she asserted. “If women are going to do it then they have to set a precedent. Men’s tennis is men’s tennis and women’s tennis is women’s tennis — unless there is good reason.” Cordwell found she was well accepted. “I was pretty much accepted except for a couple of older guys who thought it was a bit off. The guys usually played harder than normal

against me. It was great but physically really tough. Guys kept rallies alive for longer and I didn’t know if I would win from one week to the next. But to be fair to the guys there has to be a reason for it.” Cordwell will be available for Wellington for the Air New Zealand tennis league when it fits in with her commitments to the Federation Cup team. The league will begin later this month. "Wellington have done a lot of favours for me, especially Dermot Whelan. I was going to be home anyway and so decided that I may as well play,” she said. Cordwell will be available on November 20, December 10, 11, 18 and 19. This means she will not play when Wellington faces Shirley or Edgeware, but she will be available for the final. Steven Guy and Chris Lewis are also in the Wellington team and it will be a tough line-up to beat. The Wellington team is: Men: Neil Carter, Jeremy Grubui, Guy, Lewis, Graeme Liddell. Women: Anna Callender, Cordwell, Liz Daly, Ros Gunnion, Michelle Parun.