TENNIS IN N.S.W.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18680, 1 May 1926, Page 5

TENNIS IN N.S.W.

NEW ZEAL ANDERS* PLAY. account of matches. (SPECIAL TO 4i THX FHZSS* *) SYDNEY, April 23. Noel Wilson's match with Willard in the third round of the singles of to New South Wales championship proTided a good contest, and the young New Zealander, although defeated, extended his experienced opponent to five sets. Wilson's driviDg for the first four sets was good, but in the fifth set, when leading two-love, he tried to play Sieler's game, and lost the nest six games. Wilson has failed on several occasions during the tour, when in a winning position, by failing to go for his shots at critical moments. ith more match experience and an appreciation of the lessons learned during the tour, Wilson should make his presence felt in the future.

Andrews, although not playing. a.t his best, had little difficulty in defeats ing Cummmgs in three &eU- Andrews countered his opponent's attempts to draw hiin to the net, and forced mm to play a back-line game, which prevented him from nsing his well-known side-line drives nith effect. A. Willard had little trouble in defeating Smyth, C 2, 6-3, 6-2.. .Smyths form throughout lias been rather m and out. J. Willard had a hard fight to put Sieler out, 9-11, 8-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, and he then met Andrews in the semi-final. The match was started late on Saturday afternoon on a heavy rain-sodden court. The conditions were against Willard, who depends on his activity. On the dead court he was no match for Andrews, who drove true and hard, without a moment's let-up. With Andrews leading in the first set 6-3, and 3-2 in the second, rain stopped play. The match was resumed on Tuesday, when Andrews -epeated his fine showing of Saturday, and finished off the second set with three games on end. Willard, bv adopting rushing tactics, put Andrews on the defensive in the third set, and won five games in succession. Andrews took a game on his service, but lost the next, which gave the set to Willard at 6-1. A rest after this set favoured Andrews, who took charge from th& commencement of the fourth set, and, playing with astonishing accuracy and vim, won six games on end and match, 6-3, 6-2, 1-6, 6-0. In this match the New Zealander confirmed the good impression he had made previously. Andrews v. Kalms. In the final of the singles Andrews met Kalms, who had beaten Baker in the semi-final of the top half of the draw. On the form displayed during the Test match and the State championships, Kalms was easily the best of the State's players. In his play and action ho is quick and deliberate. He has change services, lift, and cutdrives, and volleys deep and 'short as circumstances demand. His favourite method of attack is to serve a high hounding ball to the side lines, and then take up a position on the centre line between the service courts, and volley the. return of service. When liis opponent etood out too far he would send down a fast sliced ball to the centre. Andrews stood about a yard behind the back line to receive the service, and as a result he had to play a high swerving ball. This was not to his liking, and ho could not his fast drives down the side lines. _ln the third set Andrews tried lobbing with good results, and, playing with more confidence, got his drive working, and won the sot, 6-3. The pace was fast right through, and both players took advantage of the rest allowed. The fourth set saw Kalms secure a lead of 2-love, then Andrews evened, and each won his service to four all. Then Kalms pressed every advantage, and won at 6-4. Apart from the-service, Kalms's chopped drives troubled Andrews more than anything else, and prevented him from getting pace on his returns. ' ■ In the junior championship singles, Wilson met Hopman in the semi-final. In the first set Wilson could not strike his game, and lost at: 6-3. The second set saw a big improvement in his game. When he was leading 9-8 and 15-40 on Hopman's service, one of Hopman's drives cleared the back line about six inches; the umpire, standing on the ground, appealed to one of the onlookers standing about 15 feet behind the court, and the ball was declared good. This robbed Wilson of the set, and he was visibly upset, although he.conducted himself splendidly. The set went to Hopman at 15-13. Andrews had no difficulty in defeating Crawford, the Australian junior champion, 6-0, 6-4. Crawford's ground strokes and footwork are disappointing and his poor.showing against Attdrews's sound play can be attributed to these defects. •

In the final Andrews met and defeated Hopman, 6-2, 6-2. Hopman lost heart when Andrews was leading 4-2 ill the second set, and accepted Andrews's undoubted superiority to any of the juniors in Australia' and New^Zealand. The Mixed Doubles. Interest in the mixed doubles was spoilt for the New Zealanders by the unexpected scratching of Wallace and Miss Lloyd. The unbusinesslike and haphazard method adopted in announcing the times for the day's matfches misled Wallace, who thought he would not be wanted until after 3 in the afternoon. He was called at 1 o'clock, and 25 minutes later was scratched. Other players in the tournament were granted privileges, and allowed to delay matches of importance, and the New Zealanders present were quite justified in. expecting the management to telephone Wallace before taking, such dras-tic-action, especially as his.opponents in the match in question were D. G. France and Miss Watson, who were not in any other event, and were out in the third round of the event. Excepting on this occasion the New Zealanders were always up to time, due to their" captain's insistence on punctuality. • Seay and Miss Harrington were beaten by N. Peach and Miss Butcherino 7-5, 6 : 4, and Smyth and Miss Bickerton were defeated by Willard and Miss Cox (the ultimate winners), 9-7, 6-4. Had Smyth shown his best he must have won this match. Wilson and Mrs Harper had a hard fight with Kalms and Mrs Utz, but were beaten, 6-4, 8-10, 6-2. Wilson adopted the right method in standing in cn Kalms's service, but the junior and his more experienced partner did not combine well, especially when near the net. Both wanted to take the ball, with unsatisfactory results to themselves. In the 'semi-final of the mixed, Wertheim and Miss Boyd defeated France and Miss Watson in a failing light, 6-4, 7-o.