Mystery tennis import arrives

Press, 9 November 1988, Page 72

Mystery tennis import arrives

By

DIANNA LESLIE

lan Robson, the mystery import from England playing for Shirley in the Air New Zealand national inter-club tennis competition, was acclimatising to Christchurch at the New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington Raceway yesterday. “I can’t get over how hot the sun is here,” he said. “It’s a great place.” Robson, who reached the semi-finals in two tournaments recently and won a French tournament, may be signed up to play a series against Pat Cash, the Wimbledon champion in 1987. “I don’t know what is

happening there as my manager is handling it. It depends on which company I sign with whether it goes ahead or not,” he said. Jean Pierre Guillonet, Robson’s manager, also manages Yannick Noah and Henri Le Comte. Robson will play Canterbury inter-club for Fendalton but expects that he will not be able to play for about three weeks yet as he is recovering from a back injury which has sidelined him for eight months. “I am not match fit and I don’t think I will be able to play the first matches. I am not confident enough

to win and it is pointless to let people down. I haven’t hit a tennis ball for a month,” he said. Robson, aged 22, was at the U.C.L.A. university in the United States, until his back injury put him out playing at No. 2 behind Rick Leach. He is eager to play the professional circuit next year but for now is concentrating on putting points on the board for Shirley. “The format of one set tie-breakers sounds good. It is much easier on players to do that and I will be able to get the match practice without straining myself.” Robson will be easing r,

back into the game with a hit up with a local player, Brett Hibbert, today. “My serve is one of my biggest weapons and it was seriously affected by the injury. It is really frustrating to know you can hit a shot but be in too much pain to do it.” Robson was impressed with New Zealand’s top men’s player, Kelly Evernden, when he saw him playing overseas. “He’s great. I can’t understand why he doesn’t do better. I have a similar game. I go for my shots and like to hit powerful shots all the time. I am either hitting winners or doing no good.”