TENNIS Close Call For Title- Holder R. Hewitt

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29853, 20 June 1962, Page 5

TENNIS Close Call For TitleHolder R. Hewitt

LONDON, June 19. Stanley Matthews, the 16-year-old British junior champion, came within two shots of beating the title-holder, R Hewitt (Australia), in the first round of the London lawn tennis championships at Queen's Club yesterday. Matthews won the first set 6-4, and led 5-4 in the second. He reached 30-15 and it might have been 40-15 if a Hewitt drive had been called out instead of in. It was close enough for dispute. Hewitt, obviously the better and more experienced player, finally robbed Matthews decisively of his hour of glory and won 4-6, 7-5, 6-1. If Hewit.t had a close call it was the opposite for his fellow Australian R. Laver, who is likely to be named No. 1 Wimbledon seed tomorrow. The left-handed Laver was at his most fluent against the

(N.Z.P A-Reuter—Copyright)

French Davis Cup player Jean Noel Grinda. and reeled off the games almost monotonously for a 6-1. 6-0 win. R. Emerson (Australia), also had little trouble defeating C. Fernandes (Brazil) in straight sets 6-3, 6-4, but J. Newcombe found the American, J. Douglas, too good and lost 2-6, 6-4. 6-4.

New Zealand’s three representatives had a mixed day. M. Otway beat the Argentine. E. Soriano. 8-10. 6-3. 6-2. but J. McDonald lost to M. Mulligan (Australia), 1-6, 6-2, 6-4.

Miss E. Terry was outclassed in the first set by a South African, Mrs Gordon Forbes, but she fought every inch of the way in a marathon second set, before losing 6-1, 13-11.