KEY POINTS:
Another Simpson is about to represent New Zealand in Davis Cup tennis.
Matt Simpson, 22, is the son of former professional Jeff Simpson and nephew of Russell Simpson, both long-serving Davis Cup representatives in the 1970s and 1980s.
He has replaced Adam Thompson in the only change for the Asia Oceania group two semifinal against the Philippines, to be held at the Parnell club starting on Good Friday.
"Both players have similar rankings, with Matt gaining a couple of ranking points last year," non-playing cup captain James Greenhalgh said.
"He has a professional attitude and will fit well into the side."
Simpson joins top-ranked Dan King-Turner, Simon Rea and Rubin Statham in the team. King-Turner is ranked No 477 while leftie Rea will improve his ranking about 300 places after becoming the first New Zealand male to win a Futures singles title, in Hamilton last weekend. Statham, 19, is No 850 on the ATP rankings.
The Philippines are expected to choose world No 190 Cecil Mamiit and Eric Taino, who was No 122 four years ago, for the tie. New Zealand has had one win and one loss in cup ties against the Philippines.
A win will set up a clash with either Indonesia or Kuwait in September, with the victor promoted to the region's group one next year.
* Leading New Zealand woman Marina Erakovic lost her first round match at the US$25,000 ($36,120) tournament in California yesterday. The world No 156 went down 6-2, 6-2 to Taipei's seventh seed Su-Wei Hsieh. And in Perth at a US$25,000 Challenger tournament, New Zealand's Sacha Jones, 16, lost her second round contest to Karolina Wlodarczak of Australia 6-4, 6-2.
