LAWN TENNIS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27035, 9 May 1953, Page 4

LAWN TENNIS

UPSETS IN ITALIAN TITLES ROSE AND SEIXAS ELIMINATED (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) ROME, May 7. Two Swedish tennis players caused a surprise at the Italian championships in Rome today when they eliminated the Australian and American top-ranking players from the singles. Sven Davidson beat Mervyn Rose (Australia) in a marathon five-set battle. Lennart Bergelin provided the second upset when he put the United States No. 1 player, Vic Seixas, out. The only Australian to enter the quarter-finals so far is Ken Rosewell, who beat the exiled Pole, Skoecki, fairly easily after dropping the first set. Lewis Hoad will probably join him, as he was leading the Italian Davis Cup player, Merlo, by two sets to one when the - fading light caused a postponement till tomorrow. Drobny put Clive Wilderspin out, and Italy’s champion, Fausto Gardini, eliminated Rex Hartwig in straight sets. The American, Budge Patty, who will meet Rosewall in the beat lan. Ayre by 3 sets to 1. While Davidson made few mistakes and played soundly, Rose became more and more temperamental as he netted or lofted the ball out of the court. Frequently he banged his racket angrily on the ground. The Australian appeared refreshed after the interval and levelled at two sets all, but wilted after leading 3-2 In the final set.

Sweden’s other representative, Bergelin, outplayed Seixas from the first set. He placed his shots perfectly and made brilliant recoveries. After the match Seixas curtly told reporters: "No excuses.” Ayre and Wilderspin put up a stubborn resistance, but their more experienced opponents, Patty and Drobny, always had the edge. In the quarter-finals Bergelin will play Gardini, Patty will meet. Rosewall, Bartzen will play Drobny, and Davidson will meet the winner of the Hoad v. Merlo game. Three American girls entered the women’s singles semi-finals with one match still to be played. Doris Hart and Shirley Fry will meet each other in the semifinals, and Maureen Connolly will play the winner of the remaining quarter-final, Dorothy Head Knoed v. Nelly Adamson. Results:—

Men’s Singles Third Round.—Rosewall beat Aldislas Skonecki (Poland), 6-1, 6-0, 6-0; Drobny beat Wilderspin, 6-3, 6-0, 7-5; Davidson beat Rose, 3-6, 8-6, 6-8, 2-6, 6-3; Bergelin beat Seixas, 6-4, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4; Bernard Bartezen (United States) beat Enrique Morea (Argentine), 6-4, 10-12, 1-6, 6-4, 6-3: Gardini beat Hartwig, 9-7, 6-4, 6-1; Budge Patty beat Ayre, 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4; Hoad leading Merlo, 6-3, 9-7, 4-6, when bad light stopped play. Women’s Singles Quarter-finals.—D, Hart (United States) beat T. Zehden (Germany), 6-1, 6-1; S. Fry (United States) beat J. Sampson (United States), 6-3, 6-2; M. Connolly (United States) beat S. Lazzarino (Italy), Mixed Doubles Second Round.—E. Morea (Argentine) and Nelly Adamson (France) beat .G. Clerici and Maria Veronese (Italy), 6-0, 6-3.