GISBERT KEPT WAITING SPANIARD DROVE CROWD AWAY

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30982, 11 February 1966, Page 13

GISBERT KEPT WAITING SPANIARD DROVE CROWD AWAY

k V as a ” unfort . un ate finish to the first day ~e Leaf international tennis tournament at '' ilding Park last evening. One of the day s feature matches drove spectators away from the centre court instead of attracting them to it; but they were driven away to two much better matches.

The perpetrator was the 19-year-old Spaniard, J. Gisbert, the foil, the 17-year-old Canterbury junior, L. Legge. The causes began early in the day, the effects came much later. One of the morning’s most notable matches was that in which Legge, a young member of the Canterbury Slazenger Shield team, distinguished himself by beating a former Canterbury top man, who is ranked second at present W. THom. Stocky in build—a fine Rugby five-eighths—aggres-sive in play, Legge covered the court magnificently and forced Thom into errors. Legge won, 64, 2-6, 7-5. DOUBLES DEFEAT But that was only the start of Legge’s day and was probably one of the most pleasant parts of it. His next match was a three-set doubles when, partnered by I. D. Stanton, he lost to the formidable pairing of R. N. Hawkes (Wellington) and J. H. Lockington (Auckland), 5-7, 9-7, 1-6. The second-round singles between the handsome young

Spaniard, Gisbert, and Legge was timed to start on the centre court at 3.30 p.m. but it was nearing 5 p.m. before it began. As Legge rested, Gisbert, who had had no match for the day, became more and more disgruntled. He later said he had several times been given | a starting time. The match was played on the centre court, as scheduled, but was not the type that should be played often on a centre court. Gisbert did not try and he won in spite of that. In New Zealand he has lost only to the Australian, R. Emerson. CHASED LITTLE Obviously a talented player —his service and return of service and the occasional volley he deigned to produce proved that —Gisbert for most of the match played a few yards on each side of the middle of the baseline. He chased little, although he brightened up at times towards the end, and Legge, hurt and infuriated, suffered accordingly. He could do little right as Gisbert moved to his 64, 6-2 win. When the first set stood at 54 to Gisbert, there was an announcement over the loud speaker: “On court 3 we have B. Ft .‘lie and R. Clarke; on

court 4 we have J. Lockington and J. Mitchell.” There was a general movement from the centre court. The move was worth-while. It was late to be playing major singles—and in that Gisbert had a point, plus the matter of his long wait—but on these two courts there were four players striving for victory. YOUTH TRIUMPHED It was a triumph for youth and this season’s New Zealand Linton Cup team when Mitchell beat Lockington, seeded seventh, 3-6, 8-6, 6-3, and Fairlie defeated Clarke, seeded eighth, 6-3, 9-7. Mitchell had his troubles early but he gradually took control with his forceful drives and a general tightening up. Fairlie won a grand volleying, attacking match with Clarke because he served slightly the better and covered the court quickly on strong legs. Christchurch enthusiasts have been wanting to see Fairlie for some time; the experience was rewarding. He may have been a little lucky the contest did not go further because he got two serves on an unsighted delivery when he was down in the last game. Clarke did not complain.