Ideal tennis base for Toleafoa

Press, 21 October 1989, Page 96

Ideal tennis base for Toleafoa

PA Welliington Claudine Toleafoa will have the ideal base for her burgeoning tennis career when her parents move to Brussels this year. Toleafoa, the top women's seed for the national indoor championships at the Renouf Centre in Wellington this week-end, said her parents had just confirmed their November 11 departure date.

“I’m really excited about it,” the 19-year-old Aucklander said.

“Because of the distance, most New Zealand playfers have to find a base in Europe so it couldn’t be better.” The move is a timely one for Toleafoa who earlier this week admitted the professional circuit was tough at times. Yesterday the favourite for the indoor title gave a glimpse of the kind of form which toppled Italy’s Sandra Cecchini in the Federation Cup last month. Wielding her blistering forehand effectively, Toleafoa was far too strong for young Aucklander Rebecca Smith winning 6-0, 6-2.

Toleafoa’s Federation Cup team-mate, Ruth Seeman, seeded second was also in devastating

form in beating Hutt Valley’s Lyn Meachen 6-0, 6-1. Though Meachen did not really fire, Seeman played some brilliant shots aided, she said later, by the indoor venue.

Without the wind, the variables opened up and she was able to play a full range of shots. The third seed, Michelle Parun, was impressive in ousting a talented junior, Paiao Short, 62, 6-2. Short, one of the country's most promising young players, looked a little nervous especially in the first set and the more experienced Parun was quick to capitalise. Parun, who has hardly been near a court this summer, admitted experience was a definite advantage. “It really helps if you know what you're doing out there. Some of the younger players get a bit scared which is help for old players like me.” said the 22-year-old.

The men’s side of the draw will wind into top gear today after a low key first round which excluded top seeds Troy Turnbull, Greg Hansford, Mark Belcher and Phil Seeman.