BRILLIANT TENNIS.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19212, 19 January 1928, Page 6

BRILLIANT TENNIS.

FRENCHMEN IN WELLINGTON. NEW ZEALANDERS LOSE SINGLES. GREAT FIGHT BY BARTLEET. From a Special Correspondent. WELLINGTON, January IS. Fast and accurate driving, brilliant volleying, spectacular smashing, and dogged determination were outstanding features of the play in the fiist series of matches in the lawn tennis Test between Prance and New Zealand, which was begun to-day on the Wellington Lawn Tennis Association's courts at Miramar. Two singles matches were played, and both were won by France. J. Borotra, who captains the French team, defeated E. L. Bartleet, first string for Auckland, after a sensational match in which Davis Cup form was displayed by both men. The score was 4-6, 6-3, 8-6, 6-4. The Aucklander played inspired tennis in the first two sets, and Borotra's marvellous volleying and dogged determination alone carried him to victory. The match was easily the best seen in New Zealand since the visit of the Australian and American Davis Cup teams in 1920. In the other contest J. Brugnon defeated G. Olliver, of Canterbury, who is the present holder of the Dominion title, in four sets, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1. The tennis in this match, too, was of an exciting nature, but after the third set the issue was never in doubt. Brugnon completely outplayed his opponent. In an exhibition match C. Boussus, the colt of the French team, defeated C. E. Malfroy, the young Wellingtonian and ex-junior champion of New Zealand, in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3, 8-6. The Frenchman gave a finished exhibition, and his form would indicate that the time is not far distant when ho will mako a name for himself in Davis Cup competitions. Borotra is ranked No. 4 in the world's first ten players, and his com-rade-in-arms, Brugnon, occupies No. 9 position on the same list. If a rather tricky wind is overlooked, the weather was all that could be desired. The sky, which was slightly overcast in the morning, cleared at midday, and the sun shone gloriously in the afternoon. The atmosphere was oppressively warm. The match court was in good order, but the turf did not play so fast as that at Wilding Park. The seating accommodation was taxod to the utmost capacity, and an enthusiastic gallery applauded the play of both teams impartially. A start was made punctually at 2.15 p.m., when Malfroy and Boussus took the court. The next contest was that between Ollivier and Brugnon, and, strangely enough, this finished according to schedule at 4.30 p.m., when Borotra and Bartleet began their match. Both teams played brilliantly. The pace maintained by the Frenchmen came as a revelation to those present, although from the base-line the men fought more or less on terms of equality, Bartleet especially shining in this phase of the game. At the net the visitors were supreme, volleying crisply and with beautiful precision. Borotra and Boussus were deadly overhead, and sent over terrific smashes from any position in the court. In spite of their long sea voyage the play of the Frenchmen was up to Davis Cup standard, and they proved most conclusively that controlled speed is the deciding factor in modern lawn tennis.

Brugnon and Ollivier. Ollivier was very fit, but in spite of his long experience of big tennis he apparently was nervous in the first set, in ■which Brugnon had him chasing from side line to side line, which is an experience uncommon for Ollivier, The second set was in marked contrast to the first, and a wildly ekcited gallery saw New Zealand's champion playing with the precision of a well-oiled machine. Ilis tactics could not have been improved upon, and in every move there was a purpose. His forehand drive was wonderfully accurate in this set, and he kept Brugnon constantly on the move. Ollivier went for placement only when he had manteuvred his man out' of position, and it was noticeable also that whereas Brugnon drove, on his forehand at any rate, as closely as possible to the top of the net, Ollivier invariably cleared it by a good foot. Any doubts as to Brugnon's superiority were dispelled in the third and fourth sets, in which he was at all times master of the situation. The most subtle feature of his game, however, was clever, changes of pace. Brugnon played alternately to Ollivier's backhand corner, and short to tho half court. These tactics paid handsomely. Brugnon was very erratic at times; one moment he would rise to the heights, and would bring off a sensational coup at tile l'.tL, and in the next he would sink to mediocrity.. Nevertheless, his was a brilliant exhibition, and although he is very unorthodox off the ground Brugnon made many wonderful shots on both forehand and backhand, leaving Ollivier standing on numerous occasions. The Frenchman was always dangerous at the net, but his smashing was very weak for 'a player of his standing, and he gave Ollivier many points by his mishandling of smashes within the service court.

Borotra and Bartleet. When Borotra met Bartleet the gallery saw a thrilling duel between one of the greatest volleyers in the world and a man inspired by a great occasion. From the knock-up it was apparent that Bartleet had struck his finest form, and although Borotra may not have been up to his best form as a result of his long sea voyage he played only as well as lie was allowed to by the tenacious Bartleet. Happy of mein, wearing a black Tam-o-Shanter as headgear, and literally bursting with energy, Borotra dashed around the court in sensational style, making marvellous shots from difficult positions and, like Brugnon, only to fall down on the easiest of returns. His ground shots were unique, and his great agility enabled him to dazzle the gallery with amazing recoveries of seemingly impossible shots. Although essentially a volleyer, his game off the ground appeared to be fairly reliable in contradiction to reports that have preceded his visit. It may be that his ground shots are judged in comparison with his volleying and overhead work, which are the best seen in the Dominion for many years. That Bartleet put up such a wonderful fight was due solely to the fact that on the day he had remarkable control, and even when running at top speed he could raise the chalk on both forehand and backhand, which proved most disconcerting to the French star. Never has Bartleet played such tennis. Time and again he passed Borotra with only a couple of feet into which to punch his