KEY POINTS:
Two leading players are facing code violation charges after an ugly spat marred their quarter-final at the national residential championships at North Harbour yesterday.
Second seed Michael Venus, originally from North Harbour but back from a stint at the University of Texas, defaulted his match against Wellington's Matt
Prentice after a blowup over disputed line calls, an untimely fire alarm and a 15-minute argument allegedly loaded with threats and expletives.
Trouble began at the first set tiebreak. With no umpires or line judges, players rely on an honesty system. The players argued whether the score was 4-1 or 3-2, squared off across the net and the arrival of referee Gladys Mason didn't stop the feud, which took place before about 200 spectators at the indoor centre.
After a lengthy holdup, 19-year-old Venus walked off but returned when ITF-qualified official Pat O'Rourke, who was a spectator, was called in to defuse the standoff.
The tie break restarted at 1-all but at 7-6 a fire alarm went off during the point. Venus was angry a let had not been called during the point.
After a mini-conference between officials and the players, he walked out, putting Prentice to meet third seed and Auckland champion Adam Thompson in the semifinals.
Tournament director Ross Morrison was unimpressed with the attitude of the players and confirmed the violation reports would go to Tennis New Zealand for consideration.
"As far as I am concerned the matter was handled effectively under the circumstances," he said.
"It was disappointing that Michael defaulted."
Venus, who has been based in the US for about four years, is listed on the ATP Tour as an American and ranked 1070 on the circuit.
However, checks are under way to assess his eligibility for New Zealand.
Top seed Dan King-Turner eased past Wellington's Eru Lyndon 6-2, 6-1 to make the semifinals.
King-Turner plays national 18s champion Andrew Allen, who beat Wellington's Pat Metham 6-3, 7-5.
The women's quarter-finals had a spot of drama as well.
Top seed Shona Lee was to play Auckland sixth seed Abigail Guthrie.
However Guthrie found the time clashed with her high school prizegiving and asked that the match be rescheduled. Lee wouldn't budge and progressed to the last four where she faces third seed Kairangi Vano.
* New Zealand's first-round Davis Cup Asia/Oceania group 2 tie against Pacific Oceania will be staged in Dunedin in February.
The tie is the first in the city and it will be the first time the teams have met in the cup.
The New Zealand team is likely to be named during the Heineken Open next month. The tie will be on February 9-11.