Chch’s grass courts chosen for Cup clash

Press, 6 September 1989, Page 72

Chch’s grass courts chosen for Cup clash

By

DIANNA LESLIE

Grass tennis courts have not been fashion* able for several years but Canterbury has remained true to the surface like hippies to the 19605. It has been rewarded with the Davis Cup clash against Yugoslavia in February.

New Zealand Tennis Incorporated announced yesterday that Christchurch’s Wilding Park would be the venue for New Zealand’s first-round

tie in the elite worid group draw in February next year. Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland were in the race to host the tie, but the grass surface tipped the scales in Canterbury’s favour. Jeff Simpson, the David Cup captain, felt that grass would be an advantage. “After consulting with Jeff and Kelly Evernden (New Zealand’s top player), theydecided that grass would be the weakest surface for the Yugoslavians,” said Simon Allatson, the executive director of New Zealand Tennis.

The decision was made in spite of Evernden’s performance for hard courts.

—think Kelly is quite comfortable with the decision. He does prefer hard courts — there is no doubt about that — but he realises that the Yugoslavians are at their weakest on the grass and it gives us a chance.” New Zealand will need every available weapon as Yugoslavia was a semifinalist in this year’s competition, and all of its players are in the top 100 on the world ranking list. Auckland was discarded because the timing clashed with the NutriMetics international women’s tournament from January 29 until February 4 and the Auckland Com-

monwealth Games from January 24 until February 3. Canterbury’s bid was further enhanced by its exemplary record hosting Davis Cup ties in the past, according to lan Wells, the New Zealand Tennis chairman. “Christchurch has staged some tremendous David Cup matches in the past and the South Island now has the opportunity again to support international tennis,” he said. New Zealand Tennis is still, haggling with the International Tennis Federation about the dates of the tie. It was scheduled to be played from February 2 to 4, but New Zealand wants to bring it forward to February 1 to 3.

“Obviously we would prefer the first to the third of February because it would free up satellite coverage for the final of the Nutri-Metics event. TV3 is looking for the

best scenario. But most of the Yugoslavian team will be. down here for the Australian Open so I’m sure that they would want to leave for home earlier if they could,” said Mr Allatson. “We are hopeful of getting approval so we will plan on the altered dates.” There is also speculation that Brett Steven, who was included in the Davis Cup team to play in the Phillipines, will be fit for the February clash. He has been recovering from an elbow injury which dogged him earlier in the year. He has been under the care of Ivan Lendl’s doctor. “His arm was responding well when I last chatted to him three weeks ago,” said Mr Allatson. “It would depend on his form, but he was feeling good and had started to serve again when we spoke.” Christchurch last hosted a Davis Cup tie in 1985 against Korea and yesterday’s new breaks a drought in international matches. “We are absolutely delighted,” said David Blackwell, the chairman of the Davis Cup organising committee for the association. Mr Blackwell was confident that the 2200 seats would be easily filled. “We are installing more private boxes, but I think it will be a question of people being able to get seats rather than worrying about not filling the stands.”