World's Most Colourful Lawn Tennis Player

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28480, 9 January 1958, Page 11

World's Most Colourful Lawn Tennis Player

'T’HERE has been much comment x lately among tennis writers about the adverse effect of the serve-and-volley type of game upon the attendance at big matches. It has been said that all the top players have a similar type of game, and the pattern of play in championships never varies. There are few players left who have styles ol distinct individuality, and one oi the last is the Ecuadorian professional, Francisco Segura, who will play in Christchurch on January 16. The 37-year-old Segura evokes amusement from the moment he walks on to the court. Pigeon-toed and only sft 51n in height, he contrasts vividly in build with his

rnena tacnara uonzaies, me world champion. His other oddities include an incessant muttering to himself while the match is in progress. A bad shot earns instant self-condemnation, either English or his own language.

Unique

Segura is unique also in that he has become a champion after turning professional. Most players have to win honours among the amateurs before attracting the eye of the promoters, but Jack Harris immediately realised the brown-skinned player’s crowdpleasing ability when he witnessed Segura’s play in 1947. A win over the Australian Dinny Pails in an English tournament was Segura’s only accomplishment of note at this stage.

He was an immediate success with his speed on the court and

his two-handed shots. Segura’s speed is unexpected for a pigeontoed player, and his two-handed forehand has been described by Kramer as “the greatest single stroke ever developed.” His twOhanded style of course means that he has to move even faster to the ball than do more orthodox players. As a student at Miami University, Segura won the United States inter-collegiate title on three occasions, in 1942, 1943 and 1944. He was twice ranked third in the United States between 1942 and 1947. Upon turning professional, he found his game improving out of sight with the constant tournament play, and he was acclaimed

the greatest player in the world in 1950, when he beat Kramer in 50 minutes. The score was 6-2, 6-2, 6-0.

In 1953 Segura was the centre of an international incident when the professional was refused entrance into South Africa on account of his Indian blood. The other members of the professional team, Kramer, Frank Sedgman and Ken McGregor, refused to tour without the Ecuadorian', and the proposed visit to South Africa was cancelled. “The Times” praised the decision, saying "The players have only money to lose. South Africa has lost face and respect.”

Segura’s latest success was in the sponsored professional tournament in Sydney last February. Seeded third, he beat R. Hartwig in five sets in the first round, then surprised by beating Gonzales in

a marathon match. This match, which did not conclude until the early hours of the morning on the flood-lit White City courts, • brought him against Sedgman in ’ the final. , Sedgman, who had beaten Ken > Rosewall, was favoured to win the . title, but Segura outplayed him in t three sets, to Win 7-5, 6-0, 6-4. . Down 1-5 in the first Set, he won 11 games in a row, to take that set and the second, in spite of a . half-hour interruption by rain. His s return of service was superb, and . the Australian was dazzled in . losing the second set in only 12 . minutes. j His speed on the court and deft volleying also make Segura a good t doubles player. With Tony Trabert, . he finished second in the doubles j section of this tournament, to Rosewall and Hartwig.