LAWN TENNIS

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21384, 29 January 1935, Page 16

LAWN TENNIS

FERRY TO MEET KAY IN MEN'S FINAL EXCITING FINISH TO MIXED DOUBLES .MISS MACFARLANK AND MISS NICIIOLLS TO PLAY OFF (rSRHS ASSOCIATION lELEGKAM-) AUCKLAND, January 28. The semi-finals and some finals of [he Now Zealand lawn tennis championships were decided to-day. Conditions were ideal, and as there was only a light breeze the dust nuisance which developed early in the tournament along the baselines of the parched courts was practically nonexistent.

No New Zealandcrs have reached the final ol' the men's championship singles, which will be decided between the Wimbledon and United States champion, F. J. Perry, and the young Victorian player, A. A. Kay. To-day, in the semi-finals, Perry defeated E. A. Roussell in straight sets, although the young Wellington player fought pluckily every inch of the way. Kay eliminated the Auckland player, N. G. Sturt, also in stx'aight sets. In the singles, Miss Marjorie Macfarlane (Auckland) reached the final with a victoi-y over the other Aucklander, Miss B. Knight, and will meet Miss D. Nicholls, of Wellington, who is ranked No. 1 in New Zealand. Kay and the other young Victorian, R. W. Ewin, prevailed over L. G. Knott (Australia) and Sturt; but not until their opponents had taken a set at 6-4; and Perry and D. G. France (Wellington) gained a straight-set victory over A. K. Turner and A. C. Johns (Auckland). The final between Perry and France and the Victorian pair should provide the best exhibition of the tournament.

Mrs W. J. Melody (Wellington) and Miss S. Whittaker. the Australian player, accounted for Miss Knight and Mrs R. P. Adams (Wellington), and will play Miss Nicholls and Miss N. Beverley (Matamnta) in the final of tile women's doubles. Perry's Brilliance By defeating Ewin and Miss Beverley, Sturt and Miss Macfarlane gained the honour of meeting Perry and Miss Whittaker in the final of the mixed doubles. This final proved to be the most exciting of the tournament, and kept, a large crowd of spectators on tenterhooks throughout. The second set, which the Aucklandcrs finally won at 7-5, showed the gallery glimpses of the real Perry, who covered the court with amazing rapidity. In the final set, the visitors did not allow Sturt and Miss Macfarlane to take another game, and won the match 6-0, 5-7. 6-0. By a coincidence, (lie victorious pairs in the finals of both the boys 1 and girls' doubles provided the finalists in the corresponding singles events. R. G. Pattinson (West Coast) defeated C. F. Penfold (Canterbury), with whom lie won the doubles title I'll Saturday. Miss M. Beverley (Matajunta), sister of the Auckland champion, won the girls' singles title with a straight set victory over Miss P. Cooke, of Auckland, her successful partner in the doubles event. Partnered by Miss R. Barry (Canterbury) and Miss M. Dickie respectively, Penfold and Pattinson were again opposed to each other in the final of the junior mixed doubles, which Penfold and Miss Barry won in straight sets. Results of the Play Detailed results are as follows: MEN'S SINGLES Semi-finals F. J. Perry (England) beat. E. A. Roussell (Wellington), G-4, 6-2, 6-2. A. A. Kay (Victoria) beat N. G. Sturt <Auckland), 6-4, 6-4, G-2. WOMEN'S SINGLES Semi-final

Miss Marjorie Maefarlane (Auckland) beat Miss B. Knight (Auckland), 6-4. 2-6, 6-4. MEN'S DOUBLES Semi-finals A. A. Kay and I?. W. Ewin <.Victoria) beat L. G. Knott (Australia) and N. G. Sturt (Auckland), 6-1. 4-6, 6-2, 0-4. F. J. Perry (England) and D. G. France (Wellington) beat A. K. Turner and A. C. Johns (Auckland), 6-4, 6-2, 6-1.

WOMEN'S DOUBLES Semi-final Mrs W. J. Melody (Wellington) and Miss S. Whittaker (Australia) . beat Miss B. Knight (Auckland) and Mrs R. P. Adams (Wellington), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. MIXED DOUBLES Semi-final N. G. Sturt and Miss Marjorie Macfarlane (Auckland) beat R. W. Ewin (Australia) and Miss N. Beverley (Matamata), 6-4, 6-2. Final F. J. Perry (England) and Miss S. Whittaker (Australia) beat N. G. Sturt and Miss Marjorie Macfarlane, 6-0, 5-7, 6-0. BOYS' SINGLES Final R. G. Pattinson (West Coast) beat C. F. Penfold (Canterbury), 6-2, 6-4. GIRLS' SINGLES Final Miss M. Beverley (Matamata) beat Miss P. Cooke (Auckland), 6-4, 6-1. GIRLS' DOUBLES Final Miss P. Cooke (Auckland) and Miss M' Beverley (Matamata) beat Miss J. Burns (Wellington) and Miss R. Barry (Canterbury), 6-3, 5-6, 6-3. JUNIOR MIXED DOUBLES Semi-final C F Penfold and Miss R. Barry (Canterbury) beat W. Hooper (Manawatu) and Miss J. Burns (Wellington), 6-5, 6-3. Final C. F. Penfold and Miss R. Barry beat R G. Pattinson (West Coast) and Miss M. Dickie (Taranalti), 6-4, 6-4. NOTES ON THE PLAY (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, January 28. In the first semi-final of the men's singles, both Kay and Sturt started steadily, and neither seemed willing to force the pace. Back-line play characterised the first set, with even honours to four all. Kay then played with greater accuracy, and taking Sturt's service went o:i to win the set 6-4. The second set was similar to the first, with deep court drives predominating. Sturt made occasional excursions to the net, in some of wnlch he was successful. Kay, however, passed him with great accuracy toward the end of the set, and the Aucklander deemed it better policy to stay out; but helost the set at 6-4. The third set opened quietly. Sturt's drives were now slower and higher across the net, aliowing Kay to execute profitable volleys. Uninspiring play followed, in which Kay forged ahead to take the set 6-2 and th<fc.match. Sturt on the whole showed good form, and his inability to take a set from Kay only goes to prove the worth of the Australian, who has not lost a set yet, and who should put up a good exhibition against Perry in the final.

Perry and Kousscll In the other semi-final, Perry met Roussell (Wellington) in an exhibition that was keenly anticipated because ot the great improvement of the latter and his line progress through the tournament. Roussell was not perturbed by the mannerisms or the brilliant shots of his opponent, and by plugging along slowly he evened tlie score at 2 all. Three carefully-directed side-line drives beat Roussell; but he came to the net and won a third game. Perry again attacked, and RousselJ, playing better than ever, put up a great fight, going under at 6-4 in the second set. The Wellington player anticipated nicely, to retrieve many well-placed drives, and to make many good shots from the net. A looselystrung racquet seemed to give him an additional finesse in many drop shots. Perry at 4-2 concentrated deeply on the game, and made few errors. He gave his opponent little chance with loose balls.'."! With the utmost care, hetook the set at 6-2. In the final set Perry played with the same dashing style, and after leading 4-2 he went on to win the match 6-2. Roussell played extremely well against sucli formidable opposition, and kepi the ball in play with regularity, due to his anticipation rather than his agility. Perry found him his hardest opponent of the singles so far. Women's Singles Only one match was played in the women's singles, Miss Nicholls already having won her way to the final. In this contest Miss Macfarlane had to go all out to defeat Miss Knight in three sets, all of which were strenuous. These are old rivals, and seldom has a better match between them been seen.

A Good Match Tin; scmi-linals of the men's doubles produced one good match, full of bright interchanges, smashing, volleying, and all that is expected of topgrade doubles. Ewin and Kay (Australia) romped ahead to lead 5-0, Sturt and Knott eventually taking the sixth game, but losing the set at 6-1. The score gives little indication of the fast work that occurred. The losers reversed the decision in the second set, and combined admirably at the net. Knott got back many fine smashes, and Sturt both served and volleyed well. In the third set Sturt just failed to get right in, and, working with renewed vigour, the Australians won at 6-2, coming back refreshed after the interval. Many clashes occurred from inside the service line. Kay served well and made the ball kick high. An interchange of lobs was an interlude, but this form of attack had to be perfect to defeat the smashing capabilities of all four. A good match ended G-4 in the fourth set in favour of the Australians. Jn the other half, Perry and France met Johns and Turner. The visiting players were too good for the others. Mixed Doubles Play in the mixed doubles renii-final was continued in the morning, when Sturt and Miss Maefarlane easily accounted for Ewin and Miss Beverley in straight sets. The latter pair were not combining particularly well. Miss Beverley was not encouraged much by her partner. Errors led the lastnamed to lose the first set, 6-4. Combining with true artistry, Sturt and his partner played astonishingly well to lead 4-2 and 5-2, Sturt winning his service to love. Here over-drives by ■Ewin and two beautiful interceptions by Sturt gave the Aucklanderc the match. A Spectacular Clash The final of the mixed doubles proved one of the brightest attractions of the tournament. Perry and Miss Whittaker won the title by defeating the Auckland champions, Sturt and Miss Maefarlane. Perry dominated the net by a brilliant exhibition of overhead smashing interceptions. The Auckland pair could not stand the pace, and though the last set was more even than the score would indicate, Perry and Miss Whittaker became the 1035 champions. Women's Doubles Mrs Melody and Miss Whittaker entered the final of the women's doubles by defeating Miss Knight and Mrs Adams. By her failure to read the advertised time of the match, Miss Knight caused an unfortunate delay in starting this match, which was timed to begin at 10 a.m., and which actually commenced after 11.30. Mrs Melody and Miss Whittaker both successfully avoided Miss Knight at the net, and directed their attack at Mrs Adams, leading 4-1, 5-2, and after a splendid ninth game won at 6-3. In the second set Mrs Adams played very steadily, and withstood a battery attack, and aided by Miss Knight's net play, won the set, to even. Their opponents ran to a lead of 5-0, but after dropping three games won the next and the match.