THE TENNIS RANKING LIST IN REVIEW

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 169, 19 July 1941, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE TENNIS RANKING LIST IN REVIEW

(By HALF-VOLLEY.) It is unfortunate that the introduction in Auckland oi' the present system of ranking matches, which was adopted two seasons afro, coincided with the outbreak of the war. Naturally tenuis players, in common with tile players of either sports codes, have responded nobly to the cause of King and country. Still the ranking matches during the past season provided necessary recreation for those who remain behind, and were not without interest.

Fewer opportunities for competition presented themselves, as a number of tournaments throughout the country were abandoned. chief anion;; which was the New Zealand championships. Players whose names appeared in the ranking list last year, aud who are omitted this year on account of war service with the forces overseas or at home, or on territorial training. include:—T. Spira. M. T. Wilson, E. D. B. Lusk, R. 11. Lewis, A. S. Broun, ,T. D. Bull. H. Boys, B. McL. Wallace. It is noteworthy to record, too, that the three members who comprised New Zealand's last Davis Cup tea.m have been serving overseas for some time: —Alan Stedman. Cam Malt'roy and Dennis Coonibe.

It 19 customary to rank 20 players only, but the present lift shows the placings of all those who took part in ranking matches limine tlio past season. Figures in parentheses refer to last year's ranking.

Men 1. N. P. Bedford (2> 2. J. T. Mayson U> 3. w. T. Pountney <*> 4. A. S. Burns O) b. B. Broun H3> 6. L. H. Watson (12) 7. C. O. Litherland (10) 8. G. M. Radonich (19) 9. W. Butler <—) 10. J. H. Moller (17) 11. S. J. Robinson (9) 12. M. Solomon (—) 13. K. J. Clements t—) 14. J. D. Lewis (20) 15. J. D. Mitchell (14) 16. C. H. Bower) ( —) 17. N. J. Kingstone (—) 18. W. F. Bush (—) 19. H. Stone (—> 20. B. J. Baxter ( —) 21. W. Huckstep ( — > 22. J. A. Hurley (~) 23. M. G. Casey ( —) 24. G. W. North (—) Ladies 1. Miss P. Cooke (1) 2. Miss B. Potter (3) 3. Miss M. Hodges (5) 4. Miss L. Adams ( —) 5. Mrs. V. Swann ( —) 6. Miss J. Hansen ( —) 7. Miss R. Taylor (6) 8. Mrs. C. Partridge (8) 9. Miss N. S.vmes (10) 10. Mrs. P. Potter (7) 11. Mrs. A. Pennell (—) 12. Miss Li. Mumford (—) 13. Miss J. Wallace (11) 14. Miss B. Sherlock (12) 15. Miss P. Mitchell (16) 16. Miss L. Jeffries (14) 17. Miss A. Johnson ( —) 18. Mrs. J. T. Mayson ( —) 19. Miss N. Cowper ( —) 20. Miss K. Milne ( —) 21. Miss Z. Swanson (—) 22. Miss M. Nash (—) 23. Miss I. J. Rodger (—) 24. Mrs. J. D. Bull (19) 25. Miss P. Protheroe ( —) 26. Miss J. Snowling ( —) j 27. Miss J. Howard (—) 26. Miss A. Prenter ( —)

For the purpose of ranking matches the players are divided into four gToups each of five players, each player, therefore, playing every other player in that group during the first series of matches. For the second series of matches two or three of the leading players in the first group are eliminated and new playeiw added to the bottom of the list, when all players are then regrouped.

The first group flayed no matches owing to several ot' the players being absent and on war service. This group comprised May .-.-on. Bedford, Wilson. Fonntney and Luslc. In ranking these players, therefore, one lias to rely on the results of the Auckland championships and inter-club matches. Xocl Bedford is accorded first place on this occasion due to his victory over his clubinate Mayson in the Auckland championships. Mayson is number 2 and I'ounUiey takes third position. Bums advanced three places over his lust yeats ranking and it was unfortunate that he was in camp wlu-n the Auckland tourney was played. This robbed him of any opportunity of perhaps improving his position. He lias consolidated his game of recent years and he is the logical number one player of the future. B Broun advanced from thirteenth place to fifth place. He was beaten easily by Badonich anil by his clubmate Stevens on two occasions. Nevertheless, Bioun has shown improvement and he, too, -will no doubt improve his ranking when the oppoitunity arrives. is shortly. 1 believe, to join the Air Force, in winch three brothers are already serving. Watson played most consistently i throughout the season and displayed good tactics in all his games. He was beaten by Broun and once by Burns. He also lajjsod in his club championships when Clements defeated him in three sets. On one occasion, too, he scored a defeat over Broun.

Litherland did not compete in the Auckland championships and lost all hit; ranking matches. Ho won tho l'arnell championship. but- must be ranked lower than Watson in view of hit; poor display cailier in the season. Robinson, it will be recalled, had some splendid victories in the ranking matches in the previous season and actually beat Bedford in the Remueia championship. The results were reversed on this occasion where Robinson failed to win a match. Radonich by advancing from nineteenth to eighth place showed much improvement and ho lost only one ranking match —to Watson. He :.s a player who is likely to still further improve his play. Butler returned to competitive tennis after a few seasons 011 the sideline and performed excellently in all his ranking matches. He suffered one 10.-* only, to Radonich. but overcame stiff opposition in Moller (twice), Solomon and Bush. Moller still fails to consistently produce the tennis of which he is capable. He won five and Iwt three ranking matches, to Wilson, twice to Butler, and having a win and a loss over Radonich. J. Lewis scored only .moderate results, winning three and losing five matches during the season. Clements is a young player with distinct promise, but loses matches that he has 110 right to lose. He lost to Lewis. Stone and Kingston?, but he is undoubtedly a better player than any of these three. Of the remaining players several call for special mention, chief among whom are Solomon, Baxter, Huc-kstep and Casey. Solomon entered these matches for the first time and gave some real sterling performances. He has some splendid shots, but nevertheless is called upon too often to defeat two players at the one time —his opponent iicrofls the net and himself. When he develops better match temperament he will make his presence lelt amongst leading players.

For the second series of matches a number of jimima were brought up. and they performed very well indeed and the experience should be invaluable to them. Baxter i.s the best of those juniors and won his four matches in style. He al.*o had some nood victories in the tournaments and club matches in which he played. His same is played on stereotype lines and he is the one, I fancy. to make considerable progress durinjr the next few years. Huckstep follows fairly closely on his heels, as also does Casey, and no doubt with greater experience these two players will be heard of in later years. -