Burden proves far too heavy for Thompson

Derek Burden thought he would be back home in Brisbane by now, and Mark Thompson could yesterday have been wishing it were so. Thompson, crowned Auckland tennis champion last week, was the first major casualty of the New Zealand Residential championships at Forrest Hill, scorched by Burden, a Gisborne-born Australian thinking of coming back to his roots.

Seeded third, the ATP-ranked Thompson was outslugged 5-7 2-6, his usually reliable winged feet made to look as if they were fitted with clogs under a barrage of serves and passing shots. Burden, unlike Thompson, was playing his second match of the day, yet seemed fresher. It was the touch 18-year-old Burden has been seeking since he arrived for tutoring from Chris and Mark Lewis two months ago.

Burden, born to a Maori mum and Maltese dad before moving to Queensland at the age of four, could be mistaken for a surfie as he is dark-skinned through heritage and Brisbane's sun, has the makings of a goatee, wears shades and a cap backwards.

He so enjoys the ride he has hitched with the Lewises, Auckland's coaching managers, that Burden, last year's No 1-ranked Australian at 18, has already stayed a month longer than expected, and plans to stay on until February. Lately he has been bundled out in Auckland's second round and the national 18s semifinals. He trains with Thompson for whom he held no fears. "Everything just clicked," said Burden, who will meet Andrew Cochrane next.

It was not quite so smooth for fourth seed James Shortall, the 2m-tall flame-thrower who still appeared to be unfolding himself out of the economy class airline seat which brought him from the United States on Sunday. Still, he picked apart Brandon Rowe 62 62 for a thirdround match with Matthew Prentice, this week's national 18s runnerup to Lee Radovanovich.

Shortall, 19 on Christmas Day, won the 18s last year and went on to a scholarship at University of Mississippi, where he was blooded on their nationally fourthranked team from No 6 to No 1 or 2. He has won 23 of 29 singles and during his midyear break, he became ATPranked, qualifying for four futures events and winning a futures doubles title."I decided this time last year I wasn't ready to go on the circuit, and I had this great opportunity to play in the States, and I thought I could improve if I was in the right environment," said Shortall. "I think in another half-year I should be ready to play on the circuit."

On the women's side, Auckland diehard Angela Strachan knocked out eighth seed and national 16s titleholder Gorana Marsic 64 75.--Foster Niumata.