Tennis: World-beaters wanted

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Don Turner is not alone in bemoaning the lack of big-name New Zealand players on the world's circuits.

But at least he is in a position to try to do something about it.

As the just-appointed chief executive of Tennis New Zealand, Turner, a former board member, is well aware of the problems.

Tennis still looks back to 1982 - the year Russell Simpson and Chris Lewis reached the Davis Cup semifinals - as the benchmark.

That is "sad, but true," Turner says, without decrying the pair's achievements.

Turner admits tennis is a sport divided by factions, but he is determined to pull them together.

While not keen to be drawn on the role being played, or likely to be played, by Chris and Mark Lewis in their coaching roles with Auckland Tennis - based alongside the national association - Turner said his catchcry would be "inclusiveness."

He said the sport had to call on as much expertise as possible and use the talents of former top players such as Brett Steven, Jeff Simpson and the Lewises.

He understood the frustration of such players - now coaches - who were too often left to coach "the blue-rinse brigade."

"We need to get an essential structure in place," said Turner, who has replaced Mark Graham in the role. "Every sport needs a shop window. We are no different. We all aspire to have champions."


Turner points, though, to rising membership and the strength among the country's juniors.

Just as readily, he admits "Joe Public" cares little about that part of the game. Instead, they want a name to associate with the sport.

"We can point to a 10 per cent increase in membership - to around 46,000 - as evidence of growing interest," he said, while admitting "a lot of that comes from juniors."

"We know we are as good as just about every other country in the up to 14 years age group, but after that the results do not stack up.

"We can look to a country like Argentina, a country of 30 million but basically bankrupt, yet they have 33 players in the top 500 on the ATP rankings. Why?"

It is something Turner is keen to explore, even to the extent of looking to exchanges with Argentina and other South American countries.

Maybe even a coach.

"Tennis New Zealand has taken over a coach education programme which we plan to work alongside our four planned centres of excellence, working closely with the NZ Professional Tennis Coaches Association," he said.

"We can never stop aspiring to doing something in the Davis or Fed. Cups. We have the talent in our youngsters. The challenge is to bring them on.

"In reality, we are not as big as some states in the United States and Australia, but that doesn't mean we can't make it happen."

A product of St Kentigern College, 54-year-old Turner himself fashioned a reasonable playing record, once winning a qualifying match at the French Open. Five years ago he was ranked 12th among 50-year-olds on the world list.

He had 20 years of Caro Bowl at Parnell. His sons, Andrew and Nick, were New Zealand top-10 players. Daughter Shelley played age group for North Harbour.

He also has two young children from his second marriage.

Away from tennis, Turner graduated with a law degree before joining the family firm of Turners and Growers, rising to managing director during his 35 years there.

"At one stage I was one of 16 Turners in the company," he said. "When I left a year ago, I was the only one."

At a loose end, Turner spent a few months last year in France, returning to a part-time job at Tennis New Zealand.

Without seemingly trying, he has now stepped into a fulltime role ready to implement a strategic plan which should be rubber-stamped at next month's board meeting.

The real work, he says, will start on March 1.