TENNIS IN SYDNEY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 115, 17 May 1922, Page 7

TENNIS IN SYDNEY.

MISS CURTIS' SUCCESS. (From Our Special Corresponeentt SYDXEY, May I*. The X.S.W. Tennis Tournament lias now reached its concluding stage:Miss Curtis gave a very line display against Misa Gray. She was driving well ami volleying brilliantly, and although Miss Gray played well throughout, she could only score three gainer in the two sets, Miss Curtis winning li—-2. 0— I. The match between Mrs. Mol.-sworth end Mrs. Lister was the 'best single yet played, and a New Zealander remarked: ••Worth coming to Australia, to see.' , Mrs. Moles worth eventually won 15- •!, 5—7. S-β. In the first set' Mrs. Mole--worih started brilliantly, and her wonderful tbackhand drive won many points for her, -as also did her severe "chop.'' which she uses as an attacking shot only. 'She. took the set 6—.1. In the second set she led 5—2 and 40—0, when with wonderful pluck and first class tennis Mrs. T/tster evened it to ~> —s. amitl great excitement. She was playing wonderful tennis and her brilliant "saves" were marvellous. Mrs. Lister took the. set T—s. In the third set Mrs. Molcsworth again got the lead 5—3 and had the ■matoll point again, but Mrs. Lister steady play again halved th« score to 5—5. The tennis now wa; of a high order, and 'both players showed great accuracy with their eide-lira shots. Mrs. Molesworth got the eleventh game 6—o in her favour, and making no mistakes in the next took the match Early in the afternoon the stand was full around eoiirL 11. and both players received a great ovation on appearing. The crowd, though not a= large as at the recent exhibition matches, was worked up to a pitch of enthusiasm seldom approached in Sydney, during tbe nia.tr li. In the last game, play on other courts was momentarily suspended until the applause and cheering which greeted a miraculous winning voHey 'by Miss Curtis after an extraordinary rally, hud subsided. When at last the winning point was gained by the Xew Zealander, she received an oration and was "(■'haired' , to the pavilion by enthusiastic friends from the Dominion. Again, ■when Miss Curtis received her trophy at tbe close of the day. the usual applause wa.s supplemented liy prolonged cheering, as Tiearty as unusual here, which was a tribute of appreciation by the Sydney people, who have quite ""taken her to their hearts."* "One •who has added to a degree of proficiency seldom seen the true spirit of sport, by which the importance of the contest never impairs the enjoyment of the, enme."" — f "Sydney Morning Herald.") THE GAME. Miss Curtis won the toss, and serving, took the first game. Both players seemed to feel their way at firsthand it was not Until about the seventh game that they really "opened up.' . Each one was -winning her own service game, 'Miss Curtis leading on the odd game all the way to i> —4. Mrs. Moleeworth's service was brilliant, at times being untouched. At r>—s the excitement was intense and the. tennis now of a very high order and the points very even. They continued to win alternate ■games to 3—B, when Miss Curtis getting tho lead ajrain, t> —S. managed to win I her opponent's serve. Mrs. Mblesworth giving a doirble fault to finish the set. 10—S to Xew Zealand. The second set Mi-s Curtis appeared to have the match in hand. leading 5—3. Mrs. Molesworth. however, won the next game, and -with wonderful accuracy took the next three with the loss of only two point.?, giving her the set. 7—•"). amid loud applause. H?r backhand drive was well-nigh perfect. In the third set Miss Curtis excelled herself. She was now working on differ. ent tactics and keeping the ball off Vγ opponent's IvHchand and varvini her game -well. She got the lead 3— -. but again Mrs. Molesworth. with great skill and determination, made a great recovery to s—v>. Then Miss Curtis seemed to take a fresh 'life." and rominj into the net frequently, where shf volleyed brilliantly, she took the next two gan*?s and the match, 7—5. the last shot being a well-placed cross court vtolley. Miss Curtis, whose game has improved 15 since she came to X.S.W., shows no weakness in .her game. She varies her strokes well and her ground shots arf now equally as brilliant as her wellknown smash volley. Mrs. Molesworth has won the X.S.W. championship twice in -succession, and had she been victorious this year, would hnvp retailed the cup. Her same is excellent a>ll round, her backhand drive, perhaps, outstanding. Her forehand drive is always clean and -well-placed, and she varies it well with a clever ■short chop shot, which to many is unpayable. She is a great general and her I fighting powers, with her great skill, make her a player whose game is not over until tho point is called. Her service is brilliant, and lipt volleying very sure. Xew Zealandcrs may -well be proud of their champion. She has proved herself able to -beat the best in Queensland. New South Wale«. Victoria and South Australia, and she can deservedly be placed under the title of "Cham■pion of Australasia."