HARD ROAD TO FINAL

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31077, 4 June 1966, Page 19

HARD ROAD TO FINAL

(N.Z. Press Association-Copyright)

PARIS.

The women’s singles in the French tennis championship today moves nearer to a return battle of the two greatest women players in the world—the tall’ athletic Miss M. Smith (Australia) and the graceful Miss M. E. Bueno (Brazil).

They have dominated tne major titles around the international circuit, sharing the laurels in Wimbledon and Forest Hills.

But both girls face strong

opposition today before they can reach another final.

Standing in the path of Miss Smith is the determined little Miss N. Richey (United States), who has beaten the Australian champion before. Miss Bueno probably faces an even tougher match against the left-handed Mrs A. Jones, of Britain, who recently won the Italian title.

On clay, Mrs Jones has a better chance to get to the Brazilian girl’s superb volleys and if she can force Miss Bueno on to the baseline she could win.

Chance For Double

A win for Miss Smith will put Australia into both the singles finals, with a strong chance to repeat the Australian double of last year when F. Stolle and Miss L. R. Turner were the French champions. A. Roche took his place in the final yesterday with a clear-cut win over the second ranked Frenchman, F. Jauffret.

The thousands of French fans who had come to cheer their hero had their hopes soaring in the first set when Roche dropped his opening serve. That was the only bright patch for the home crowd.

Roche sized up his opponent, found his target with his spinning serve and wideangled backhand, and demolished Jauffret, 6-3, 64, 64. Gulyas In Final

The man Roche will meet in the final is the 34-year-old I. Gulyas (Hungary), who outplayed C. Drysdale (South Africa) with his retrieving, his high trajectory lobs, and his line-hugging backhands. Gulyas won, 64, 2-6, 7-9, 6-2, 6-3, to become the first unseeded player for seven years to reach the final.

Other results were:— WOMEN’S DOUBLES

Semi-finals.—Misses J. Blackman and F. Toyne (Australia) beat Mrs Jones and Miss Heldman (U.S.), 7-5, 6-4; Miss Smith and Miss J. Tegart (Australia) heat Miss N. Bayion (Argentina) and Miss A. van Zyl (South Africa), 6-1, 6-4. MIXED DOUBLES Quarter-finals. —C. Graebner (U.S.) and Mrs Jones beat R. D. Ralston (U.S.) and Miss F. Durr (France), 6-2, 7-5; Roche and Miss Tegart beat Miss H. Schultze (Germany) and I. Tirlac (Rumania), 4-6, 6-2. 6-2; Miss H. Gburlay (Australia) and F Guzman (Ecuador) beat Miss J. Liefrig and D. Contet (France), 9-7, 6-8, 6-4.