"I think we need something that creates an atmosphere and attracts a lot of people but also it gets our juniors involved playing our top guys in New Zealand. I have never come across men playing women in the world except for Bobby Riggs and Billy Jean King (1973). I knew Bobby really well when he used to train me back in the day."
At no other tournament could a rising star on the national junior scene in Otumoetai's Caelan Potts, 16, in one afternoon play against a top women's veteran player in Debbie Garea and New Zealand-ranked men's singles players Rhett Purcell and Alex Klintcharov.
On Sunday Potts gave former New Zealand number one junior Klintcharov, 21, quite a scare before going down 6-4 in the closest of the quarter-finals.
Defending champion Purcell, 21, beat Sean Martin 6-1 in one semi with Klintcharov winning 6-3 over Daniel Brown. The final was full of booming groundstrokes and big serves with Purcell heading Klintcharov 6-4 to take the $1000 prize money.
Aucklander Purcell loves the new format and is looking forward to being back on January 7 to win a hat-trick of titles.
"It is completely different the format of this tournament. It is just one set and sudden death deuce scoring. I have never played anything like it before. It is exciting to play, it is fun and it is really unpredictable so anyone can win," he said.
"It is also interesting to get to play against different players. It is a good experience for juniors to be able to play against different types of players and ages."
Among the good-sized crowd watching was Jim Dykes, who can track his tennis history at the Mount Tennis Club back to the 1950s. He loves the new format.
"It is bloody great mate. It is good for the club and members can see some really good tennis rather than having to go up to Auckland. It is good for the game," he said.
The final Golden Homes Sunday Shootout is on January 8 at the Mount Maunganui Tennis Club from 3.30pm to 6.30pm. Free entry.
