LAWN TENNIS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27072, 22 June 1953, Page 5

LAWN TENNIS

ROSEWALL BEATEN BY HOAD

STRAIGHT SETS WIN IN LONDON FINAL (N.Z. Press Association—Copy rig M/ (Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, June 20. "In spite of his defeat, Ken Rosewall is still my pick to win Wimbledon,” said a former champion, Fred Perry, after Rosewall had been beaten 8-6, 10-8, by his fellow Australian, Lewis Hoad, in the final of the men’s singles championship at the Queen’s Club, London, lawn tennis championships today, says a special correspondent of the Australian Associated Press. Perry said that the chief danger to Rose wall at Wimbledon would be to run into somebody who could "blast him off the court." "But it is a five-set affair at Wimbledon,” said Perry, “and I cannot see anyone playing concentrated, high-power tennis of such a calibre for three sets.” Rosewall, holder of the Australian and French singles titles, Is seeded number one for Wimbledon, and Hoad is seeded sixth. Although Rosewall was the favourite to win the Queen’s Club title, Hoad’s win was no surprise to those who had watched his progress in the tournament, which he completed without dropping a set. Before the final Hoad had played five matches and had lost 22 games, and Rosewall had played in only four matches and had dropped one set and lost 27 games. From the outset of tHe final Hoad was on the attack. He stormed the net at every opportunity and bustled Rosewall into errors, particularly on his backhand.

’ Hoad’s Great Speed Hoad, who showed outstanding speed arounql the court, moved into the net behind a chopped backhand shot which had Rosewall on the defensive. Rosewall immediately switched his shots to Hoad’s forehand, but it made little difference, as Hoad continued to hurry Rosewall Into errors.

With Hoad leading 9-8, Rosewall at 30all on his service double-faulted and Hoad clinched the match with a sharplyangled volley. Rex Hartwig was the dominating figure in the men’s doubles final, in which he and Mervyn Rose were beaten in three sets by the Belgian Davis Cup pair, Philippe Washer and Jacky Brichant. Hartwig’s return of service, short crosscourt backhand, and overhead work were excellent. Rose, on the other hand, was the weakest player on the court and could do nothing right. The Australian pair won* the first set, 6-1, after only 20 minutes. In the second set Rose dropped his service at 4-alI after two double faults and two pitifully weak shots into the net. Washer held his service, and the Belgians took the set at 6-4.

In the final set Hartwig carried Rose. Instead of trying to steady, Rose attempted to hit spectacular winners, most of which missed. At 5-4 Hartwig dropped his service after Rose had netted two smashes, but the Australians pulled up to 6-aIl when Hartwig again dropped his service and Brichant' held his service for the match.

The mixed doubles title was divided between Ken Rosewall and Miss Maureen Connolly and Rex Hartwig and Miss Dorothy Knode. The semi-finals were not played until late in the evening, and Hartwig had already played three matches during the day.

1953 WIMBLEDON TOURNAMENT

« DROBNY* AGAINST THE AUSTRALIANS” (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON, June 20. The Australian Associated Press says Britain’s tennis critics see the Wimbledon championship of 1953 as "Drobny against the Australians.” "Reynolds News” says Frank Sedgman favours Drobny “if he can control his nerves.” But it points out that Drobny’s main rivals will be “people who have no nerves—Australians. And young Australians at that.” The writer sees as other possibilities Gardnar Mulloy “at the coy age,” Vic Seixas, who has been trained harder than a boxer, and “tap-happy” Art Larsen. Susan Noel, writing in the “Sunday Times,” picks Seixas, “who has yet to enjoy the great success which his fine and ‘powerful game deserves.” She says the American has to meet and beat Hoad, and either Rose or Larsen, to reach the final. "But if he fails. Rosewall, in spite of his defeat by Hoad at Queen’s, will add the third major world title to his successes in Australia and in the "Sunday Despatch,” thinks that if Rosewall and Hoad should meet in the Wimbledon final Hoad would repeat his Queen’s Club success. “But he has not the temperament to get through to the final. As he showed at Queen s, he can be too easily put off by a doubtful decision or a slice of luck running against him."