EASTER TENNIS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 87, 14 April 1941, Page 8

EASTER TENNIS.

HARD COURT PLAY.

FINAL STAGES REACHED.

Rain held up play for more than an hour this morning when the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association's hard court championships were continued at the Windmill Road courts. The first match finished was the f»emi-final of the men's doubles between S. J. Robinson and M. Solomon and Rodney Smith and McKecwn. The match, of which two sets were played yesterday, went to Smith and Mc-Kcown, 2 —6 9—7, 7 —5. In yesterday's play Solomon and Robinson were slow at the start and ilia not seem to be making a real game of it. In the second set, however, they improved vastly. When play commenced to-day Smith and McKcown ran to a 4—o lead, aiid it looked liki a walkover for them for a while. However. Solomon and Robinson improved to trail at 2 —4 when the rain stopped them. On resumption they improved to take sot and match at 7—5.

An attempt will be made to-day to finalise all events in the first, second, third and junior sections, but if showers continue it may bo necessary to complete the tournament on Saturday.

In the second section filial of the women's doubles Mrs. v eiguson ami Mrs. Xicholeon met Mrs. Gamlie and Mrs. Calvert in a match that was particularly scrappy in the first set. A tricky crosscourt wind ruined all lobbing. Mesdamcs Nicholson and Ferguson taking the first two garnet; and their opponents equalising by winning the next two. Mrs. Nicholson and Mrs. Ferguson won the first set. 6—2. On the second set Mrs. Gaudie and Mrs. Calvert took the first two games, lost the next, took two more and then lost five in a row to lose set and match at 4—6. The match was uninteresting throughout.

The match between Burns and Smith in the final of the men's singles in the first section was fairly even for a start, but Burns got on top after Smith made several errors. In the second set. the players went fo one game each before Burns lapsed. Smith came on and though Burns rallied towards the end of the set, lie was unable to retain his form. In the third set Smith took the lead from the start and ran out a comfortable winner. Both players matj:> br?iliant recoveries throughout the matc'.i.

Results were: — FIRST SECTION. MEN'S DOUBLES—Semi-final. Smith and MrKewon beat Robinson and Solomon, 2—6. 9—7, 7—5. MIXED DOUBLES—FinaI. R. Smith and Miss P. Cooke beat Potter and Mrs. Potter, 6—3. 6—3. MEN'S SINGLES.—SemI-flnai. Zane beat Rawlinson, 6—l. 7—5. MEN'S SINGLES—FinaI. R. Smith beat A. S. Burns. 3—6. 6—4, 6—3. WOMEN'S SINGLES—FinaI. Mrs. Rodger beat Mrs. Gaudie, 6—4, 6—3. SECOND SECTION. WOMEN'S DOUBLES—FinaI. Mrs. Nicholson and Mrs. Ferguson beat Mrs audie and Mrs. Calvert 6—2 6—4. THIRD SECTION. WOMEN'S SINGLES—FinaI. Miss Wood beat Miss Walker, 7—5, 6—l. MEN'S DOUBLES—FinaI. King and Pearman beat Jones and Stewart '—2, 6 —o. JUNIOR SECTION. BOYS' SINGLES—FinaI. Maisey (Waikato junior champion) beat D Xelly, 6—3. 6 —4.