TENNIS STARS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 23, 28 January 1939, Page 10

TENNIS STARS.

STRAIGHT SETS. BEDFORD'S TRIUMPH. J. W. GUNN ELIMINATED. MEN'S SEMI-FINAL RESULTS. Semi final? in the men's singles and doubles sections were the first matches played on the Stanley Street courts tins afternoon, when the seventh day of senior play in the Auckland provincial lawn tennis championships -vas started.

In the men's singles J. W. Gunn met N. I'. Bedford, and in the men's doubles M. T. WiNon and R. W. Smith j.layed ■T. I'. Charters and R. Pattiison.

Bedford's Victory.

Bedford took the first ganje in his match against J. W. (iunn in tbe semifinals of the men's singles, and then pulled away to lead 3 —l before Gunn took the lead at 4—3. Games went to 4 —4- with the play fairly quiet, and Bedford took the next game to lead •>—-4. The following game went to Gunn. but Bedford, catching his opponent out of position on the sideline, took the lead at G—Plav went to down the centre exchanges, but Bedford was too tricky with angle shots, and won the first set 7 —•">.

Gunn took the first two games in the second set. Bedford judging his distance badly. The plav was uninspiring, both players keeping strictly to orthodox rules. For all that, it was certainly good solid tennis. The special feature was Bedford's net play. He was following in on the right ball, and finishing off with a decisive angle smash. Close to the net he was deadly. Rallies were well-sustained. The second set went to Bedford o—3, giving him two sets in hand, and at 2 2,3 o'clock he was 3—l up in the third set.

Bedford ran away to a lead of 4—l in the third *et, took the next game, and deuce followed in the seventh game, when Bedford, with brilliant angle smashes, won the *et and match. ° Doubles Clash. First exchanges in the doubles semifinal between Wilson and Smith and Charters and Pattinson were in favour of Smith and Wilson, who were unperturbed by the clever retrieving of their opponents, both of whom were lefthanded. Smith's heavy overhead smashes kicked high, and Pattinson and his partner were kept on the run.

Smith and Wilson drew steadily ahead, forfeiting one game only until they led a—l. Pattinson and Charters then took another game, and, with Smith serving, rallied slightly, but Smith and Wilson came back to win the set, 6—2.

Spectacular volleying by both combinations excited the crowd, but the advantage belonged to Smith and Wilson. They won a prolonged first game. The score then went to 3-all. but again Smith and Wilson forged ahead to win the set (3 —4. Minor Matches. In the minor matches one of the surprises of the day was the defeat of W. T. Pountley, who partnered Miss N. Beverley' to victory over J. W. Gunn and Miss M. Beverley in the senior mixed doubles yesterday, by A. S. Burns, the Xew Zealand junior titleholder, in straight sets. In the intermediate girls' singles Miss M. Beverley, last year's holder, of the title, winner of the senior women's singles for 1938 and winner, also, with J. W. Gunn of the 1038 doubles title, had no difficulty in beating Miss W. Smith in two easy sets at 6 —l, 6 —l. Results were:— MEN'S SINGLES. , Semi-final. u N -{ 6'—i edrord beat J ' W ' Gunn ' 7 —3INTERMEDIATE BOYS' SINGLES (Under 21.) • iiarter-finals.—A. S. Burns beat W T intney, 6—l, 7—5, J. H. Moller beat .Solomon, b—l. 4—6. 6—2; B. Broun J. B. Smith. 6—B. 6—4, 6 2; A. S. mid beat K. I. Clements, o—6,' o—6] BOYS' JUNIOR SINGLES. (Under 18.) : irter-finals.—P. G. Haddock beat T .nowles, 6—4, 4—6, 7—5. XTERMEDIATE GIRLS' SINGLES. M. Beverley beat 1 w." 1!. ®—L 6—l: Miss B. Potter Mies K. C. Hodges, 6—l, 6—2 ; Miss .vines beat Miss M. Hodges, 6—2, 6 10. XTERMEDIATE MIXED DOUBLES, ■cond Round.—Miss R. E. Horn and C lorn beat C. W. Dryland and Miss j' •and, 6—l, 6—4.