Tennis: Juggling the games in Davis Cup tie

By TERRY MADDAFORD

There will be no surprises when New Zealand non-playing captain Glenn Wilson reveals his team for this weekend's Asia-Oceania Davis Cup tie with Pakistan in Hamilton.

With Mark Nielsen as No 1 and Alistair Hunt at No 2, the interest in today's draw will be who plays the opening singles tomorrow.

Nielsen will play Pakistani No 2 - likely to be Aqeel Khan - with the visitors' top player, Aisam Qureshi, set to meet Hunt in a match that could be the key for New Zealand.

If Hunt, 30, can make the most of conditions he is familiar with and beat his 22-year-old rival, New Zealand could end the day 2-0 ahead in the group one match. That would give Wilson a couple of options in naming his doubles pairing.

He would prefer to use the tested combination but, if Hunt is facing a tie-decider singles on Sunday, he might prefer to play Nielsen with James Shortall in Saturday's doubles.

Much of Wilson's emphasis this week has been on getting his players used to the hard plexipave surface at the Hamilton Tennis Centre.

But he did give them some time to practise doubles yesterday.

"There would be no problem in using James Shortall in the doubles if we have to," Wilson said.

"Apart from a bit of stiffness he is fine, with no signs of the two stress fractures in his feet which curtailed his play last year.

"I have had a look at their No 1 [Qureshi]. He is a very good player. The tough thing for them will be with their No 2."

That is likely to be Aqeel Khan, who played in that position in Pakistan's 3-2 win over China in the Asia/Oceania group two final in September.

Wilson is hoping for better weather than last year, when New Zealand were thrashed by India in windy conditions in Wellington.

"The weather was unsettling last year," Wilson said. "Alistair Hunt for one wants to do better than we managed in that tie. There appears to be a greater air of confidence among the players here.

"They have done well this week. We have been on court twice a day."

The New Zealand team of Nielsen, Hunt, Shortall and Robbie Cheyne have been joined in Hamilton by youngsters GD Jones and Daniel King-Turner.

"The young guys are here for experience," Wilson said.

Looking ahead, Wilson says there could be changes in the team if New Zealand win and have a home tie with Japan in April.

It is likely he will again court Brett Steven in the hope of having him join the team.

"We will again be without Simon Rea," Wilson said. "Before I named the team to play Pakistan I went back to Simon's coach at the University of Tennessee and gave him an assurance Simon would play here.

"But even that was not enough to get him released. He has already told me Simon will not be available in April."

Dan Willman could, however, come into contention.

Initially unavailable for the Hamilton tie, Willman, after playing in the qualifying draw for the Australian Open, made himself available but was unable to reach terms with New Zealand Tennis.

The draw will be made in Hamilton at noon today. The first singles is scheduled for 11am tomorrow, followed by the second. The doubles will be played from 1pm on Saturday, with the reverse singles set down for 11am on Sunday.