Lawn Tennis TOURNEY AT AUCKLAND

Press, Volume C, Issue 29436, 11 February 1961, Page 11

Lawn Tennis TOURNEY AT AUCKLAND

Australians Dominant (Ml. Press Association) AUCKLAND. February 10. Australia dominated the semi-final day of the Auckland international lawn tennis tournament at Stanley street today. Two Australians remain in the men’s singles, two Australian pairs are left to contest the men’s doubles, and an Australian and an Australian pair have stakes in the finals of the women’s singles and doubles. Australia also must take a whole or part share in the mixed doubles. The final between M. Hussey and Miss J. Lehane, both Australians, and E. D. White, of Auckland, and Miss Leslie Turner, of Australia, was stopped tonight when light failed with the score even at a set-all. The final of the men’s singles tomorrow between R. S. Emerson and R. A. Diver will be a continuation of a long-standing battle between the pair for major honours. So far this season they stand at one all, Laver gaining preference over Emerson in the Davis Cup challenge round, while the latter gained his revenge for this with victory in the Australian championships.

Miss Ruia Morrison, the New* Zealand champion, will meet Miss Jan Lehane in the women’s final. Neither Emerson nor Laver had easy roads to the final in today's semi-finals. Although the scores show his victory was comfortable enough Emerson had to fight every inch of the way against L. A. Gerrard, and Laver only beat his fellow countryman, R. Hewitt, by producing his brilliant beet in the fourth and fifth sets after trailing two sets to one. Results Men's Singles.—Semi-finals: R. A. Laver (Australia) beat R. Hewitt (Australia). 4-6. 2-6. 6-0. 6-4, 6-1; R. S. Emerson (Australia) beat L. A. Gerrard (Auckland). 6-2 4-6. 6-1. 6-3.

Women's Singles.—Semi-finals: Miss J. Lehane (Australia) beat Miss P. O’Carroll (Northland). 6-1, 6-0; Miss R. M. Morrison beat Miss E. Green (Auckland). 6-3. 5-7. 6-2. Men’s Doubles. Semi-finals: Emerson and J. Pearce (Australia) beat Gerrard and I. Crookenden (Waikato). 6-2, 6-2. 6-3; Laver and Hewitt beat C. G. Judge (Canterbury) and J. H. Lockington (Auckland). 6-8. 6-2. 6-2. 7-5.

Women's Doubles.—Semi-finals: Misses Lehane and Turner beat Misses Green and J. Glenie (Auckland), 6-1. 6-1; Miss Morrison and Mrs H. Robson (Auckland) beat Misses J. Davidson (Canterbury) and L. Adams (Auckland), 6-4, 6-1.

Mixed Doubles —Semi-finals: M. Hussey (Australian Universities) and Miss Lehane beat R. N. Hawkes (Wellington) and Mias E. Terry (Waikato). 6-1. 6-1; E. D. White (Auckland) and Miss Turner beat A. S. Burns (Auckland) and Mrs Robson, 3-6. 6-3. 6-4.