Yes, I rather like the name - although it would get pronounced as 'wet' in France which isn't the best....

I also wonder if he is a Persil or a Pur-CELL ? The composer has done an about-turn (in his grave) and all the purists now insist on Persil - which I find very difficult but might be a reflection of age and habit (mine, not his)....

Rhett is down as an American on the live scores?

This was from an article a little while back:

"Rubin Statham falls to Rhett Purcell in New Zealand Tennis Championships quarters :

Top ranked Finn Tearney, third seed Michael Venus and fourth seed Artem Sitak all progressed to the semifinals with their eyes firmly on the prize of the national title and the main draw singles wildcard into the ASB Classoc. However, second seed Rubin Statham was defeated by Rhett Purcell 6-4 6-4.

Purcell, 19, was born in Gisborne, schooled in Hawke's Bay, London and Sacred Heart in Auckland and plays tennis under the British flag, including at Junior Wimbledon last year. Although he's not getting into any debate about who he should represent if his tennis takes off on the professional circuit.

"This is probably the best win I have had. I don't have a ranking yet, so there's no point talking about who I really play for," said Purcell, who now faces Artem Sitak in the semifinals after Sitak took three sets to put away 15-year-old Finn Reynolds from Hawke's Bay.

Purcell is currently coached by former Kiwi pro James Greenhalgh and felt he played a good game to defeat the consistent Statham, who is ranked at No 388 but had been plagued by illness and injury this year."


It certainly doesn't sound as though he wedded to playing for Britain but he still is (however, as he aptly points out, without any ranking points yet, I guess neither federation are really chasing him).


FQR: Rhett PURCELL (GBR) 6-3 7-5 Yuanfeng LI (CHN) [7] WR 1513 (CH 1290 last Oct.)

R1: Rhett PURCELL (GBR) v Kuan-Yi LEE (TPE) WR 965

Well, it was a HUGE improvement from 2 & 0 but....

R1: Rhett PURCELL (GBR) lost to Kuan-Yi LEE (TPE) WR 965 3-6 6-4 6-4