By TERRY MADDAFORD
New Zealand's tennis stocks have rarely been so low.
Non-playing captain Glenn Wilson is still on the lookout for Davis Cup players, days out from naming his team to play Pakistan in Hamilton next month.
While Mark Nielsen (singles and doubles) and Alistair Hunt (possibly for doubles only) are certainties, Wilson is struggling to come up with many other names.
Dan Willman's surprise appearance in the Australian Open qualifiers on Thursday has thrust his name back into the spotlight at a time when it had been expected he would concentrate on coaching.
The uncertainty over Simon Rea's availability has further complicated Wilson's selections.
Before returning to the University of Tennessee yesterday, Rea said his college coach would release him only if Wilson would give an assurance that Rea would definitely play the February 7-9 tie.
"There is no way at this stage I could say that," Wilson said. "I would want to see how he was playing on his return before naming the playing team."
Wilson will probably wait until after the Canterbury championships from January 15-17 and the Wellington championships the following week before deciding on his selections.
"I don't have to name the team until January 27, but I hope to do it before that," he said. "I had looked at a few possibilities, including Brett Steven, but things have changed a bit recently on that front."
James Shortall is returning from a stress fracture in his foot, and others in contention include Robbie Cheyne, Jacob Olsen and Dan King-Turner.
Wilson is likely to name four senior players who should play the tie, but may add a couple of younger players such as King-Turner and GD Jones, who is in Australia building towards the Australian junior open, for experience.
Tennis: The Davis Cup captain whose problems are mounting
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