Tennis: New captain wants local stars to shine

New Davis Cup captain Bruce Derlin will be taking a keen interest in next week's national residential championships.

Derlin, who has replaced Glenn Wilson as non-playing captain, will next month name his first team to play India in Invercargill in February, and wants to see as many players as possible in action before then.

"Some will be missing next week," said Derlin.

"Mark Nielsen is doing some coaching in Japan to get some of the funding he needs to go back on the circuit next year. Dan Willman is in Hawaii, also doing some coaching. He is due back on January 5."

New Zealand Tennis is about to send contracts to a number of likely Davis Cup players.

"They will probably contact six or seven and there are a couple of others I'm looking at," Derlin said.

"All apart from Nielsen and Willman will play the residentials."

One of his first tasks will be to work with Heineken Open director Graham Pearce in identifying the one, perhaps two, wildcards for the main draw. They will also look at likely doubles pairings.

Derlin is also awaiting a decision on James Shortall's availability.

"He is undecided on whether he wants to play," said Derlin. "Unfortunately I have the feeling, for one reason or another given the coaching set-up, that all our players and coaches are not singing from the same song sheet."

Derlin gives the impression he is not going to get involved in stand-offs with players who want to hold New Zealand Tennis to ransom.

"We do not have one player in the ATP top 500.

"I want them to show me some results and guts before we start talking about money and other things.

"It is the time to start looking at the young guys. There is still, however, a need for the older players as, in some ways, we have lost a generation of players."

During his time in the Davis Cup, in the mid-80s, Derlin and his team-mates could point to eight New Zealanders ranked in the top 150.

Derlin sees the Davis Cup as a huge part of the game here.

"I played 15 ties and enjoyed most of it," said Derlin.

"Hopefully, there is still a pride from our players in playing for their country.

"I feel the Davis Cup has lost a bit of its oomph. I want to bring back a bit of fun and humour."

Summer of tennis

Dec 12-16: NZ under-18s, More FM Tennis Park, Albany

Dec 17-21: NZ Residential Championships, More FM Tennis Park, Albany.

Jan 5-10: ASB Bank Classic, ASB Bank Tennis Centre.

Jan 12-17: Heineken Open, ASB Tennis Centre.

Jan 20-25: World Team Cup (ITF Wheelchair), Christchurch.

Feb 4-8: ASB Bank International (women), Wellington.

Feb 6-8: Davis Cup, NZ v India, Invercargill.

Mar 2-6: NZ Futures 1 (men), Blenheim.

Mar 9-13: NZ Futures 2 (men), Hamilton.

Mar 16-20: NZ Futures 3 (men), More FM Tennis Park, Albany.