LAWN TENNIS L. W. GERRARD’S SUCCESS

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28131, 21 November 1956, Page 23

LAWN TENNIS L. W. GERRARD’S SUCCESS

INVITATION TO JOIN HOPMAN’S SQUAD N.Z. CAPTAIN REVIEWS AUSTRALIAN TOUR “The Press” Special Service AUCKLAND. November 20. L. W. Gerrard, a leading Auckland Junior lawn tennis player, has accepted an invitation to join a squad of young players with Mr H. C. Hopman. the celebrated Davis Cup captain, is taking to the forthcoming South Australian and Victorian championships. Mr Hopman was so impressed with Gerrards play in the New South Wales championships last week, during which he defeated the outstanding Australian junior. R. Laver, that he arranged billeting and entries for Gerrard. This signal tribute to New Zealand Juniors has caused J. F. Robson, the captain of the New Zealand team of which Gerrard has been a member, to believe that if young New Zealanders were given the chance to take part in more tournaments upon their graduation into senior ranks they would attain a standard as high as leading Australian players. Robson and A. S. Burns, of the New Zealand team, arrived in Auckland yesterday in advance of the main party, which is expected at 6.30 this morning.

The touring party experienced difficulty with loam surfaces and lights in the early part of the tour and this accounted for many of the early defeats. Robson said. Night tennis had achieved great popularity in Australia and nearly every club had at least one court lit. At Peak For Tourney All the players took time to settle down and it was not until the New South Wales tournament that the New Zealand men reached peak form. The New Zealand women never really displayed their best tennis and for this reason did not meet with great success. Organisation of tournaments in Australia was first class. Robson said. During the New South Wales tournament each court was enclosed with canvas, an innovation which could be well practised at major tournaments in New Zealand. Another feature was the electric scoreboard with which each court is equipned. Members of the team fglt that the tour could have been longer. Robson said. The players were just benefiting from tournament experience at the end of the New So”th Wales championships. While little immediate difference in the play of the members of the team would be noted, the tournament experience should stand all in good stead for the New Zealand circuit.

N.Z. TEAM’S TOUR OF AUSTRALIA ROBSON AND BURNS BACK IN AUCKLAND (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, November 19. New Zealand tennis players, if given the opportunity to take part in more tournaments soon after their entry to senior ranks, would attain a standard as high as Australian plavers. This is the opinion of J. E. Robson, the captain of the New Zealand tennis team which has just completed a tour of Australia. Robson and A. S. Burns arrived in Auckland today. The main party is expected tomorrow. Robson said the touring party expert-

enced difficulty with the loam surfaces and lights in the early part of the tour. All the players took time to settle down, and it was not until the New South Wales tournament that the New Zealand men reached peak form. The New Zealand women. however, never really plaved their best tennis, and for this reason did not meet with great success on the tour. The organisation of tournaments in Australia was first class. Members of the team felt that the tour could have been longer, as players were just benefiting from tournament experience at the end of the New South Wales championP. G. NICHOLLS TO PLAY AT WIMBLEDON (New Zeaia-nti Press Association) WELLINGTON. Nov. 20. p G Nicholls, ranking Wellington and national tennis player, was nominated ]a«t night by the management committee of the New' Zealand Lawn Tennis Association for the 1937 Wimbledon championships Nicholls will leave New Zealand in January for an extended tennis tour overseas.