Gerrard Now Back To His Top Form

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30337, 13 January 1964, Page 12

Gerrard Now Back To His Top Form

(New Zealand Press Association) WANGANUI, January 12. L. Gerrard, of Auckland, returned to top form on Saturday and took a step closer to his goal of becoming the first player to win the New Zealand singles title five times, when he swept a former national champion, J. Robson, off the court in retaining his North Island title Gerrard came from behind in the first set to win eight games in a row to take the match in straight sets, 7-5, 6-0.

Miss E. Terry (Waikato) also indicated she will be a strong contender for the women’s title at WeUington, when she took the women’s singles title after a titanic struggle with Miss E. Green (North Shore). In a three-set match lasting two hours and 30 games, Miss Terry fought back twice in the vital set.

It was the first major tournament victory for Miss Terry, who has twice won the New Zealand junior title.

Aucklanders featured in all five senior championship finals, and all of the junior finals with the exception of the boys’ singles. Seeded players won all titles. There were no major upsets in the finals, although the defeat of the No. 1 seeded pair, J. Robson and A. Burns, in straight sets by the No. 2 seeds, J. Souter and R. Clarke (Wellington) was a minor surprise. The women’s doubles went to seeded form with the top seeds, Misses Green and J. Davidson defeating the No. 3 seeds, Misses A. and J. Glenie (Auckland) in straight sets. Rain prevented the completion of the final of the mixed doubles between Gerrard and Miss Terry, and Soutre and Miss Davidson, and the match was completed at Wellington today when Gerrard and Miss Terry won the title fairly easily. Results:— Men’s Singles Final: L. A. Gerrard (Auckland) beat J. E. Robson (Auckland). 7-5. 6-0. Men's Doubles Final: J. B. Souter and R. G. Clarke (Wellington) beat J. E. Robson and A. S. Burns (Auckland), 6-3, 6-4. Women’s Singles Final: Miss S. Terry (Waikato) beat Miss E. Green (North Shore), 6-4, 2-6, 8-6. Women’s Doubles Final: Misses J. Davidson (Canterbury) and E. Green (North Shore) beat Misses A. and J. Glenie (Auckland), 7-5, 6-2. Mixed Doubles Semi-finals: L. A. Gerrard and Miss E. Terry beat K. O'Carroll and Miss P. O'Carroll (Northland), 6-3, 6-0; J. B. Souter and

Miss J. Davidson beat R. G. Clarke and Miss E. Green, 6-3, 6-1. Final: Gerrard and Miss Terry beat Souter and Miss Davidson, 6-4, 7-9. 6-3. Boys’ Singles Final: N. McAffer (Wellington) beat A. Brooks (Canterbury), 6-1, 6-2. Boys’ Doubles Semi-finals: A. Brooks (Canterbury) and D. W. Scott (Auckland) beat B. Dibley and R. Potter (Auckland), 6-2, 6-2; G. Eliott (Wellington) and D. Cassidy (North Shore) beat B. J. Tietjens and P. Shorter (Auckland). 6-8. 6-3, 6-2. Final: Eliott and Cassidy beat Brooks and Scott, 6-2, 11-9. Girls’ Singles Final: Miss B. Vercoe (Auckland) beat Miss D. Kerr-Taylor (Auckland), 6-1, 8-1. Girls’ Doubles Final: Misses B. Vercoe and C. Fleming (Auckland) beat Misses L. Farrell (Hawke's Bay) and M. Kent (Wellington), 8-6. 6-2.