LAWN TENNIS Canterbury’s First New Zealand Title Since 1952

Press, Volume C, Issue 29412, 14 January 1961, Page 4

LAWN TENNIS Canterbury’s First New Zealand Title Since 1952

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, January 13. For the first time since 1952 a Canterbury player has won a senior national tennis title. Miss J. Davidson, with Miss M. Johnston, of Wellington, today won the women’s doubles when the New Zealand tourney was continued in Wellington. The 1952 victory was by Miss I. Mac Gibbon in the women’s singles. The losing finalists were Miss R. Morrison and Mrs R. Ferkins (Auckland) and it was third time lucky for Miss Davidson against Miss Morrison in this event.

Last season Misses Davidson and Johnston were beaten in the final by Miss Morrison and Mrs H. Robson, and, in 1959. Miss Morrison and Miss S. Cox beat Miss Davidson and Mrs M. Rennie in the final.

Today’s final went In fits and starts and Misses Davidson and Johnston each had periods of good and bad play. When one was on. the other was off, but when both came on to their game together they were well on top. Miss Morrison was weak ,n return' of service but Mrs Ferkins (formerly Miss R. Dickson) was very sound in both volleying and smashing. The final of the men’s doubles, where L. A. Gerrard and B ,E. Woolf beat C. G. Judge and J. H. Lockington, was a poor match. Only for two short periods did the play approach national championship level. Judge tied with Gerrard for the title of best player on the court. Apart from very poor serving Judge played a good game. His serving difficulties were shared by the other three, and there were no less than 18 service breaks in 51 games. Lockington lost his service six times, Woolf five, 'judge four and Gerrard three.

Lockington had an unhappy match, and netted his backhand returns and volleys on innumerable occasions. Ger-

rard was steady, but Woolf was well below his best form altogether. Judge and Miss Davidson later entered the final of the mixed doubles. In a quarter final they defeated A. S. Burns and Mias L. Smith (Auckland). This match was started late on Wednesday evening, and when an appeal against the light was upheld. Burns and Miss Smith led 8-2. 1-0. Judge having lost his service three times. The Aucklanders won the first game played on the resumption this afternoon, then Ju<Jge and Miss Davidson took nine games in a row to lead 3-0 in the third set. Miss Smith held her service but Judge and Miss Davidson won out the winners at 6-1. In beating the top seeds and defending champions. Gerrard and Miss Morrison, in a semifinal Judge and Miss Davidson played wonderful tennis in the second and third sets. Excitement was intense when with the best tennis of the day, The Canterbury pair broke Miss Morrison’s serve to take a 4-3 lead in the third set. Miss Davidson then held her service, so did Gerrard, and Judge served at 5-4. He did not serve well, and was down 30-40. Sound play at the net by the Canterbury pair gave a match point, then Judge volleyed a clean winner off Gerrard’s return of service. In the final tomorrow Judge and Miss Davidson will meet

R. W Hawkes (Wellington) and Miss E. Terry (Waikato), third seeds meeting fourth. Hawkes and Miss Terry in their semi-final defeated L S. Crookenden and Miss A. Smith. The tetter pair had earlier eliminated the second seeds, Woolf and Miss Johnston. Results:— Women's Doubles Final.—Misses M. Johnston and J. Davidson beat Misses R. Mornson and R. Ferkins, 4-6. 6-4. 6-3. Men's Doubles Final.—L. A. Gerrard and B. F. Woolf beat C. G. Judge and J. G. Lockington. 6-4, 6-3, 5-7, 11-#. Mixed Doubles Semi-finals.— C. G. Judge and Miss J. Davidson beat L. A. Gerrard and Miss R. Morrison, t-6. 6-3 8-4; R. N. Hawkes and Miss E. Terry beat I. Crookenden and Miss A Smith. 4-6. 6-1, 9-7.