Tennis: Rea looks to future after upset wins

By DAVE WORSLEY

Simon Rea has some big decisions to make after winning the New Zealand Residentials title yesterday.

The 19-year-old from North Harbour upset top seed Mark Nielsen in a three-set marathon on Saturday and then yesterday scored another coup by beating third seed Alistair Hunt in straight sets, 6-0 7-6 (7-2), to take the title.

As the sixth seed, Rea was probably expected to reach the quarter-finals and challenge for a last four spot, but his demolition of Hunt in the first set was something unusual in New Zealand tennis.

Rea was able to break the Davis Cup player's serve on three occasions in the first set.

The second set went service game for service game with punters in the crowd probably placing their bets on Hunt's experience and Rea's inexperience.

However, Rea showed resolve as the match went to a tie break.

An ace to go 4-1 up in the breaker and then an ace to win the title was all part of a remarkable few days for the North Harbour player, who spent this year attending the University of Tennessee.

"He looked a little flat early on. In the second set I was in the lead so I felt I didn't need to change anything," said Rea.

He now has to consider his future direction - either go back to the scholarship or play professional tennis.

"I'm going to sit down and look at my options.

"I'd like to be considered for a wildcard into the Heineken Open. I feel I have pushed my cause.

"If I'm lucky enough to be given a wildcard into the main draw, I'd probably leave school and go pro. There's a lot to consider."

The winner of the Residentials title automatically gets an entry in the $US25,000 Gallagher Challenger in Hamilton in March but the Open wildcard is highly sought after.

Already former French Open champion Michael Chang has been awarded one of the three wildcards along with New Zealand No 1 Dan Willman.

The third will be decided before the tournament with the possibility of an overseas star or perhaps another New Zealander.

Rea has beaten the top option, Nielsen, and James Shortall didn't play the Residentials, so tournament director Graham Pearce may have a few tough choices.

In the women's final, holding serve was not an option as top seed Pavlina Nola defeated fifth seed Tracey O'Connor 7-5 2-6 6-3.

Although having mild problems with her back, which she said was stiff from so many matches on hardcourts, Nola feels that she is in a positive frame of mind for next week's ASB Classic.

"I definitely feel positive ... It will be exciting to play at home in front of family and friends for the first time," she said.

For O'Connor, the final showed she has plenty of potential for the future as long as she can believe she is good enough to beat the top players - a fact Federation Cup coach Mark Lewis thinks is important for her to overcome.

"She can walk away from today's match and know it doesn't take that much more to beat these type of players who are ranked higher," said Lewis.