Hawke's Bay tennis coach Luke Donovan always knew former protege Rhett Purcell had the goods to represent New Zealand at Davis Cup level.
"Rhett has a good work ethic. He also has a good attitude towards his tennis and is really positive," Greendale's Donovan said after hearing of Purcell's selection in the New Zealand squad for this weekend's Asia Oceana Group 2 Davis Cup tie against Indonesia in Jakarta.
Purcell, 23, is expected to be chosen for the singles rubbers alongside 20-year-old Ajeet Rai and when he takes the court it will be his debut for the New Zealand senior side. Nineteen-year-old Macsen Sisam will also join the squad as New Zealand captain Alistair Hunt prepares for the future.
Donovan coached Purcell for five years before he left the Bay in 2008. He still keeps in regular contact with Purcell and his parents Mike and Tracy and they attended his wedding in January.
"While Rhett was here in the Bay I took him down to the club for a session with our juniors. They loved it and were quite inspired," Donovan recalled.