LAWN TENNIS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27038, 13 May 1953, Page 5

LAWN TENNIS

DROBNY WINS ROME TOURNAMENT

MISS HART BEATS MISS CONNOLLY (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) ROME, May 11. Jaroslav Drobny, of Egypt, won the men's singles title in the international tennis tournament today when he beat Lewis Hoad (Australia), 6-2, 6-1, 6-2. Drobny dominated the match from the start. He forced the Australian into many errors, drew him to the net, and then beat him with beautiful passing shots. Drobny never gave Hoad a chance to use hia aggressive game. Doris Hart provided the major upset when she beat Maureen Connolly. 4-6, 9-7, 6-3, in the final of the women's singles. Only, once before had Miss Hart beaten Miss Connolly. • Hoad and Rosewall won the men's doubles title, beating Drobny and Budge Patty. 8-2, 5-4, 6-2. In a semi-final Hoad and Rosewall beat lan Ayre and Rex Hartwig, 5-7, 7-5, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2. In the doubles final the Australians played in perfect harmony. Hoad raked in points with his powerful service and smashes, and Rosewall with a text-book backhand at the net. They were invincible, and the pair did full justice to their reputation as the world's best amateur doubles team. In the mixed doubles, Doris Hart end Vic Seixas (United States) beat Maureen Connolly and Mervyn Rose (Australia), 6-4, 6-4. The result was never in doubt. Miss Connolly was still feeling the effects of her singles match, and Rose played listlessly.

Miss Connolly and Rose won the semifinals against Shirley Fry and Lewis Hoad by default.