Tennis: NZ learn much in Cup loss

By Terry Maddaford

Playing the reverse singles in a "dead" Davis Cup tennis tie is a bit like kissing your sister. But for the Spanish at Mystery Creek in Hamilton yesterday, it was the chance of a Sunday afternoon blowout after a healthy celebration the night before.

For Kiwis James Greenhalgh and Mark Nielsen it was a not-to-be-missed opportunity to play players they would not normally get on the court with.

In seeing off Brett Steven and Greenhalgh in Saturday's doubles, Spain, took an unbeatable 3-0 lead and were assured of their place in the top-16 World Group in 2000.

That mission accomplished, Julian Alonso and the everimpressive Francisco Clavet returned to action yesterday and wasted little time in completing the 5-0 sweep with wins over Greenhalgh and Nielsen.

New Zealand and Spanish tennis are miles apart - just how great the difference was underlined by the decisive manner in which the below-strength visitors were able to lift their game to give the battling Kiwis virtually nothing.

Nielsen took a couple of sets off the injury-hampered Felix Mantilla in Friday's tie-opener, but lacked the killer punch to serve it out; Steven was wiped aside in three by Clavet; and Steven and Greenhalgh lasted a tad over two hours against Alonso and Juan Balcells - their only resistance was taking the first set to a tiebreak.

Yesterday Greenhalgh took the first set from Alonso 6-3 in just 25 minutes, but that was merely a stay of execution as the Spaniard took the next two 6-1 6-3.

Clavet, all bristling business, was in an even greater hurry as he despatched Nielsen 6-1 6-4 in a clinical 59 minutes.

Relishing the opportunity to step in for Steven, who opted out of the reverse singles, Greenhalgh started strongly. But once Alonso adjusted to the pace of the game he lifted his play to finish it off.

As he had done in the doubles, Alonso served with purpose and venom. Not one for thundering aces, he relied on placement and vicious spin to put Greenhalgh under pressure.

"In doubles I might get to serve a couple of times in a set," said Greenhalgh. "Out there I was serving every second game. That's a huge difference, but if I am going to play singles for New Zealand in future ties I have to take all the opportunities I can."

Lack of experience against class players showed in the third set.

Greenhalgh ended the first game with his fifth ace and then converted a break point with a superb cross-court volley for 2-0. But rather than take a deep breath and maintain the pressure, he rushed it. A double fault had him 15-30, a weak shot 15-40 and Alonso closed it out. The match was lost when, at 15-40 in the ninth game, Greenhalgh succumbed with an unforced error.

Nielsen, too, had to adjust.

"I did not want to lose 0 and 0," said Nielsen, reflecting on his 0-6 4-6 loss. "I don't normally get the ball coming at me that fast. With Clavet being a leftie he made it just that more difficult.

"I felt I played a great match [against Mantilla]. It was a mental battle but I have to teach my mind I can play these guys."

Nielsen, Greenhalgh and Alistair Hunt carry the future hopes of New Zealand Davis Cup tennis. They are likely to be joined by American-based James Shortall.

Non-playing captain, and now retired, Jeff Simpson has no doubts this quartet have the ability to have New Zealand back challenging for a place in the top 16 this time next year.

"James and Mark played well here," said Simpson. "If our top players work hard they can compete. Davis Cup has to remain a priority for New Zealand Tennis and the players. We have to take the positives from a tie like this and go from there.

"Given the ranking of our players we, unfortunately, do not get the opportunity to play players like these [the Spanish] often enough."

Simpson, who relinquished the Davis Cup reins at the end of the tie, said he had enjoyed his 16-year involvement, and as NZT director of coaching would happily take time to work alongside the new captain when he is named in the next few weeks.

In the meantime, Greenhalgh and Nielsen hope to win wildcards into January's Heineken Open in Auckland, and with it the chance to again test their singles skills against some of the world's best.