By DAVE WORSLEY
Alistair Hunt thinks he must be getting old or the other players are much too young.
The New Zealand Residentials third seed turned 30 a month ago and once again finds himself the oldest player in the third round, or even the second round. Several of the nation's best
in the singles draw are only 15 years old.
Sixth seed GD Jones, of Auckland, is 16.
Hunt beat fellow Cantabrian Tim Meredith in a rain-interrupted first day at the Residentials for the loss of just one game and said it was a little strange having all the "kids" around for what is definitely his last summer of serious tennis..
"There seems to be a lot more good players and at a younger age. There's a bigger talent pool than in the past."
"Bodywise I feel the best I have in the past four or five years, which makes a change, but it's tough coaching in the morning and then coming here to play."
Hunt will play 18s finalist Aucklander Henry Gers in the third round today.
Defending champion Simon Rea (North Harbour), back from the United States, scored a straight-sets win over Auckland's Andrew Allen and now plays Canterbury's James Spence.
The only seed to lose in the men's draw was eighth-seed Adam Thompson, of Auckland, who was beaten by James Redpath, of Canterbury.
GD Jones was involved in an epic battle against fellow Aucklander, the vocal William Ward.
Jones, who has been awarded a wildcard into the Heineken Open qualifying series, looked like running away with the match during the first set, but tightened up and lost the second set 2-6. He was forced to grind his way back for an eventual 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 result.
Jones' draw does not get any easier because he now faces newly crowned 18s champ Daniel King-Turner (Canterbury) today.
In late matches all of the women's seeds won through the first round, including the finalist from last year, Auckland's Tracey O'Connor, for the loss of one game. Third seed Ilke Gers beat fellow Aucklander Kairangi Vano 6-2, 6-0 and Niki Tippins (Canterbury) scored a straight-set win over Charlotte Bellis, also of Canterbury.
