Pairing Has Been Unsettled One

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30482, 2 July 1964, Page 16

Pairing Has Been Unsettled One

The win of L. A. Gerrard and I. S. Crookenden over C. R. McKinley and R. D. Ralston is one of the finest doubles victories by a New Zealand pair.

McKinley and Ralston are the United States title-holders, they are ranked first and second respectively in America and they won their doubles when the Davis Cup was regained from Australia last December.

McKinley and Ralston have not yet been able to get past the fourth round at Wimbledon. In 1962 they lost to the Jugoslavs, B. Jovanovic and N. Pilic, and last year to the Russians, T. Lejus and S. Lihkachev.

Irregular Pairing

However, that detracts little from the New Zealand success. The pairing of the 25-year-old Gerrard with the 20-year-old Crookenden has been an irregular one. Gerrard and M. A. Otway worked up a good combination for New Zealand before Otway moved to England.

When Crookenden, then 17, was selected for the 1961 Davis’Cup team, Gerrard and Otway still played the cup doubles but Gerrard and Crookenden paired for Wimbledon. They lost in the first round to Ralston and R. Osuna (Mexico), who went on to win the title. Gerrard and Crookenden won the 1962 New Zealand championship at Wilding Park but Gerrard was not available for the 1962 cup tour, so Crookenden and J. B. Souter paired overseas.

Partnership Split

In 1963 the national title was held by Gerrard and Crookenden but, in their wisdom, the authorities split the pair for matches against the English team, Crookenden with R. G. Clark, Gerrard and J. E. Robson. The latter pair played the Davis Cup doubles against the Philippines in. April and won. Last September Crookenden went to the United States to study and Gerrard and Crookenden did not pair again until the Nottingham tournament a month ago. They were beaten in the final.