TENNIS VICTORIAN TITLES

Press, Volume C, Issue 29680, 25 November 1961, Page 5

TENNIS VICTORIAN TITLES

Draw Raised To 48 l N 2 .P A.-Reuter—Copyright) MELBOURNE, Nov. 24. The high standard of entries has forced the tournament committee for next month’s Victorian tennis titles, which immediately precede the Davis Cup, to increase the draw from 32 to 48 players. Features of the seedings are the elevation of N. Fraser to third above R. Hewitt in the men’s singles, and the selection of the American champion. Miss D. Hard, above the Australian titleholder. Miss M. Smith, in the women's singles. Laver was seeded number 1 and R Emerson number 2 of the Australians. The overseas seedings for the men’s-singles are:— N. Pietrangelli (Italy) 1, B. Jovanovic (Jugoslavia) 2, W. Bungert (Germany) 3. O. Sirola (Italy) 4, N. Pilic (Jugoslavia) 5, I. Buding (Germany) 6, P. Lal (India) 7. Mukerjea (India) 8. Seedings for the women’s singles: Miss D. Hard (US.A.) 1, Miss M. Smith (Australia) 2, Miss Y. Ramirez (Mexico) 3, Miss L. Turner 4, Miss J. Lehane 5. Mrs M. Reitano 6, Miss R. Ebbern 7, Miss M. Schacht 8, all of Australia. Men’s Doubles At Adelaide (N Z Press Assn.—Copyright! ADELAIDE. November 24. The Wimbledon champions. :N. Fraser and R. Emerson. ! easily beat R. Laver and J. Shepherd 6-4. 2-6. 6-1. 6-2 in ' the men’s doubles final of the South Australian tennis championships at Memorial drive ' today. Although Laver played well, the 20-year-old Shepherd was not up to required standard. Fraser and Emerson concentrated their efforts on breaking his service, and this was the deciding factor. The national woman champion, Miss M. Smith and the Queensland national junior champion. Miss R. Ebbern, won the women’s doubles final, beating Miss J. Lehane and Miss L. Turner, 5-7, 6-2. 6-3. Play was held in gusty conditions. The Englishman, R. Taylor, and Miss D. Hard, of the United States by beating R: Brendt and G. Toohey 6-1, 6-2 in a semi-final match today, go into the mixed doubles final.

Kramer’s Troupe In Sydney

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) SYDNEY, November 24. The eight members of J. Kramer’s professional tennis troupe, who will battle for £30.000 worth of prize money in the next three months, have arrived in Sydney. They are the Australians K. Rosewall. L. Hoad, A. Cooper and M. Anderson; the Americans E. Buchholz, B. Mackay and T. Trabert; and the Spanish player. A. Gimeno. Hoad said he would stay in Australia until next July for a rest. “I have had to drop out of a few tournaments in the last two years because of injury.” he said Rosewall will also stay on after the series to ‘'look around.” This is his first i visit to his home country for 20 months. The troupe’s first appearance will be a United States v. Australia match at Newcastle on Sunday.