Tennis: Derlin dumped as team captain

Bruce Derlin

James Greenhalgh has been handed the hot potato of New Zealand tennis - a two-year stint as non-playing captain of the Davis Cup team.

NZT bosses dumped Bruce Derlin after two years in the job, during which time New Zealand dropped to group two of the Asia-Oceania zone.

Greenhalgh, 30, brings a ton of experience and has no doubt that he is the man for the job.

"I think I'm ready for it," he said after his appointment yesterday.

"I was part of the Davis Cup as a player for nine years and have had the last six years as part of the coaching scene here. I'm confident I will get my ideas across. I have a lot in common with what New Zealand Tennis has planned.

"Sure, it is up to the players to win matches but it is up to the coach to create the best possible environment for them to do that."

Greenhalgh played almost all his Davis Cup ties under Jeff Simpson who is regarded as one of the more successful to do the job.

After playing some singles matches in his early cup years, Greenhalgh became something of a doubles specialist and holds the best record in doubles for New Zealand.

He and Brett Steven had a six win-one loss [and that against Spain] record together while Greenhalgh ended his career with an 11 wins-two losses contribution.

In his nine years of the ATP circuit, he reached a career-high doubles ranking of 89 (April 1999) and 327 in singles (May 1995).

He is likely to turn to Steven for advice in his new role.

"I'm not of the philosophy of knowing everything," said Greenhalgh, who these days is heavily involved in coaching at the St Kentigern College academy.

"I'm certainly likely to go and have a chat with Brett. I learned a lot from him in my playing days."

Greenhalgh, who has made initial contact with prospective team members, will today watch the Chelsea Cup finals at Northcote.

Tomorrow he will be at the Vodafone Tennis Park to watch the Auckland Championships.

"There is a lot of tennis coming up. I want to see as much as I can. It is too early to say who will be named for the next tie [in February at home against Lebanon] but I want to see as many players as possible," he said.

"I want to put together a squad of seven to 10 players and work from there."

He has yet to decide where and on what surface New Zealand should play Lebanon but will talk to the players for some guidance.

Derlin was upset at his axing and had little to say except that he was keen to continue to work with the players he had had in his cup squad.

It is understood Derlin and another former Davis Cup player, David Mustard, had chased the job but Dan Willman and Alistair Hunt had opted out of the race.

There has, however, been no change at the top of the women's Fed Cup with Pavlina Nola reappointed for a second term after some solid efforts in the past two years.