FRENCHMEN WIN ALL MATCHES.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19213, 20 January 1928, Page 8

FRENCHMEN WIN ALL MATCHES.

TENNIS TEST IN WELLINGTON. BRILLIANT DISPLAY IN DOUBLES. OLLIVIER DISAPPOINTING. From a Spbcial Correspondent. WELLINGTON, January 19. Before an enthusiastic gallery of over 2000 people, at the Miramar ground of the Wellington Lawn Tennis Association, France decisively defeated the Dominion representatives in the international test match, winning brilliantly all five rubbers. There was almost a complete absence of wind and glorious sunshine streamed clown from a cloudless sky. The match court was not in such good condition as on the first day, both ends showing signs of wear. When play began thw afternoon, Pranw wL two matches up, having won both the singles on the previous dav This afternoou the Frenchmen swept on to a convincing victory and all thr™ matches were finished in G. Ollivier (Canterbury), 6-2, 6-4, 6-2, and J Brugnon who had improved cons.derably upon his form of the first day beat E. L P Bartleet, the Auckland crack with the loss of but eight games, 1-5, b-J, R 1 'The doubles was the. most spectacular match of the afternoon, and Borotra and C. Boussiis were extended to the limit before they won at 9-7, 7-5, fl 1 The special stadium erected for the contest was filled and it is estimated that at least 300 people were unable to gain admission. Al was the case on the first day, the Frenchmen were very popular with uw gallery, which was greatly amused at the antics of the dashing Borotra. Although the rule governing footfaulting was not observed °n the first day it was enforced rigidly this afternoon, and in consequence the Frenchmen were penalised frequently. Ine visitors all offended in this respect, particularly Borotra, who slides his front foot forward as he makes his aelivery. In his match against Ollivier he was penalised thrice m succession and in the doubles with Boussus he was caught on five occasions but offended on many more. Boussus also was guiltv of foot-faulting, and he too was Wnalised. When first spoken to. Borotra stood further back from -the baseline, but hj« still committed a breach of the rule, as he slid his left foot forward when making his service.

Borotra and Olivier. The first match of the afternoon was between OUivier and Borotra, and it the gallery expected anything m the nature of fireworks, it must ha/ve been sadly disappointed, for the French star was never extended. The score—b-A 64 6-3—was a very good indication of the trend of the game. Ollivicr played only as well as he was permitted, Borotra dominating the game from start to finish. Ollivier has seldom put up such a poor showing. His'forehand, as usual, was very accurate, but his weak backhand let him m for trouble times without number. The Frenchman was deadly overhead and OUivier's short tosses gave him excellent practice in smashing. The New Zealander made a stand in the second set, at one stage in which he held a commanding lead. At 4-2 and 40-15 on his service he was unable to drive home his advantage, and Borotra did not have to exert himself very much to win the set. The tennis in the third period was very uninteresting, 33orotra winning practically as be liked. Borotra did not play nearly so well as he did against Bartleet on the previous day, but he raced all over the court in his usual style, making all manner of astonishing shots.

Brugnon and Bartleet. The meeting of Bartleet and Brugnon resulted in a brilliant exhibition, but after the first set, in which tho New Zealand man more than held his own, Brugnon asserted his superiority and'improved his form of the previous day 30 points a game. The first set sparkling tennis. Both men drove brilliantly from the baseline, Bartleet having much the better of the exchanges, although his drives did not carry the same sting as on the first day, when he extended Borotra. Brugnon was very sure with his ground shots and his sliced drives did much to slow up Bartleet's game. Tho games were even at four apiece and Brugnon went to the front at 5-4. Bartleet captured Brugnon's service to win the 10th game, but tho Frenchman had something in reserve and his forcing shots from the baseline gave him chances to get to the net, where he raised applause by brilliant shots to all parts of the court. The New Zealander was evidently tired in the second set and he was never in the hunt, Brugnon sending over beautiful drives of splendid length, keeping the New Zealander chasing from corner to corner. With defeat at hand, Bartleet played with grim determination in the third session, but his drives were invariably anticipated by Brugnon, who was out to finish the match in straight The Doubles Match. In the youthful Aucklanders, L. G. Knott and N. G. Sturt, New Zealand has not only a brilliant doubles team, but two colts who at no very distant date should be a valuable asset to the Dominion in Davis- Cup competitions. The feature of the day was undoubtedly the wonderful display given by both teams in the doubles. It was express speed tennis, both pairs driving and smashing furiously. The deciding factor in the game was the sustained brilliance of Borotra. who volleyed and smashed from the net with terrific speed to all parts of the court. There were some sparkling exchanges at close quarters with each team fighting for the net position. Up to the end of the second set it was anybody's match, but thereafter the Frenchmen gained control, winning the set with the loss of but one game. Although doubles require placement, finesse, and subtlety of court, craft rather than speed, all four hit hard off the ground, but the difference was that Borotra and Boussus always had the net position in view and were actually moving in to close quarters before their drives were made. This was especially noticeable in return of service. . Both Knott and Sturt sent over lightning sen-ices, but realising that it was suicidal to defend on these stroke? the visitors, Borotra in particular, threw everything they had into the returns an d" immediately crowded tbe net. from which position they won the match.