Three New Zealand stars of tennis have put their hands up in the search to find a world-class player.
Brett Steven, Brenda Perry and Chris Lewis have accepted the challenge to act as selectors for the Seed Foundation in their effort to find New Zealand's best talent.
Seed - "spot, encourage, enhance and develop" - is the brainchild of Auckland Tennis chairman Alan Chester and aims to provide significant funding for players identified as exceptional.
Speaking at the foundation's launch at the ASB Tennis Centre yesterday, Perry, a former top 100 player, said that to be competitive and develop at the highest level a player would need US$100,000 ($146,000) a year.
The money will come from corporate sponsorship, private donations and endowments, and will start to become available in the next few months.
The selectors will invite prospective recipients to apply for funding.
The identification process will be ongoing. Steven admitted he may well be seen from time-to-time leaning on the fence watching matches at age-group tournaments or even interclub events.
"We are not going to define 'exceptional', rather we will take a broad look across the sport as a whole," said Steven. "I hope the kids will select themselves."
Steven was keen to see players given the chance to attend established overseas tennis ranches and academies.
Tennis New Zealand chief executive Don Turner said his association was right behind the initiative.
"We are already supporting around six to eight players but only up to $20,000 which really only covers air fares and accommodation," said Turner. "And they have to reach certain levels to trigger funding of that level.
"There is no problem in our talent pool but we have to go further than that and hope that promise shown at a very young age can go on to something better.
"New Zealanders are traditionally late developers. Hopefully,Seed will find the next Brett Steven or Belinda Cordwell."
Tennis: Old hands behind search for talent
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