Tennis: Linesman gets a break

There is no need to tell Canterbury's Daniel King-Turner that his rise from linesman to New Zealand Davis Cup player has been swift.

Three years ago King-Turner, 19, was a linesman in the first Davis Cup tie in Invercargill, between New Zealand and Uzbekistan.

He was one of the country's most gifted age-group players and jumped at the chance to officiate in a Davis Cup tie.

Now the tall teenager is back as a member of the New Zealand team for the three-day Asia-Oceania zone one match against India at Stadium Southland, starting on Friday.

"It's pretty big for me," King-Turner said.

"As a linesperson, you just go out there and worry about your one line.

"But now you go out there and try to get ready for Davis Cup.

"It's been my dream [to play Davis Cup] since I started playing tennis. It's great to be in the team."

King-Turner is vying with fellow newcomers Simon Rea and Matt Prentice for the No 2 singles spot behind Mark Nielsen, and a place in the doubles on Saturday.

Non-playing captain Bruce Derlin is expected to announce the team today.

King-Turner has been training at Stadium Southland on the fast portable court surface and has given it the thumbs up.

"It's not as quick as I expected, but it's still pretty quick," he said.

"It should be good for people with big serves and who like to serve and volley."

King-Turner is that sort of player, a right-hander with a powerful serve and crisp volleying skills.

He was trying not to think too much about making the team, taking in the advice from veteran New Zealand Davis Cup player and training partner Alistair Hunt.

"He just told me to work hard and make sure my preparation is right," King-Turner said.

"I'm just trying to learn off players such as Mark [Nielsen] and I'm just trying to get used to Davis Cup.

"Hopefully, the nerves won't take too much effect by the end of the week."

King-Turner's apprehension was understandable.

The tie will be the third in Invercargill in four years and the most anticipated yet because of the star-quality nature of the Indian team.

They will be led by their new playing captain, the gifted Leander Paes, who arrived in Invercargill on Monday night.

Paes will link up in the doubles with his former world No 1 partner, Mahesh Bhupathi.

He is also expected to be the No 2 singles player, behind Harsh Mankad.

India will be favoured to win the tie, having beaten New Zealand 4-1 in Calcutta last year and by the same margin in Wellington in 2002.

King-Turner, though, knows a Davis Cup tie often throws up surprising results, which is why he urges fans not to discard a new-look New Zealand combination.

"India have got some good players, but anything can happen in Davis Cup if somebody has a good match," he said. "We'll just see how it goes."

- NZPA