There is a pulse, after all. A year after tossing tennis and a month after vanishing from the world rankings, Steven Downs has ripening ambitions of playing seriously again.
In the midst of the New Zealand Residential championships he won two years ago, and a quarter-final duel this morning with
another son of the North Shore, top seed Mark Nielsen, Downs said he has begun work to get fitter.
Downs, this country's most gifted prodigy in 20 years, peaked his ranking at 279 in mid-1995, after which he did not play Davis Cup again, becoming bogged in injuries, lack of results and frequent detours to parties.
The touch remains. He was too cagey yesterday by 6-1 6-3 for doubles partner Lee Radovanovich, the latest junior talent to watch.
Downs and Nielsen have not met for two years. Another highlight should be between fourth and fifth seeds James Shortall and James Greenhalgh.
