SAD DAY FOR N.Z. GAME

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31269, 16 January 1967, Page 3

SAD DAY FOR N.Z. GAME

(From Out Own Reporter > WELLINGTON. Yesterday was in some ways a sad one for New Zealand tennis. First, a negative player rather than a positive one won the national women’s singles, then the main hope for men’s tennis in the future was beaten so comfortably by a visitor that it had to be conceded he had some time to go yet before he makes an impression on world senior tennis. Appearances in tennis are often deceptive. From the performances of the 18-year-old, B. E. Fairlie, earlier in the tournament, and especially in his semi-final, it was thought that he would set the 23-year-old Englishman, M. Cox, a difficult task in the final at Central Park yesterday.

In the event, any difficulties that Fairlie caused ended at 5-5 in the first set of three which altogether took only 55 minutes 25 for the first and 15 for each of the others. Cox won, 7-5, 6-0, 6-1, and on the basis of yesterday’s play his ambition to make a name on the world circuit over the next two years should be realised. Cox played a brand of tennis that he had rarely shown earlier in this tournament or on his way to the North Island and Wellington titles as well. After the middle of the first set he was almost flawless and he gave one of the best displays in a New Zealand final for some years. Making Errors Even in his semi-final with the Wellingtonian R. N. Hawkes on Saturday, Cox. who won. 6-3, 6-3, 6-2, was making errors which suggested he could be vulnerable. Hawke's usual good anticipation and court coverage a- he struggled to return everything meant that Cox did not have quite the easy progress that the score suggested. At the same time, Fairlie gave a magnificent display to beat the other visiting Englishman, G. Stilwell, 6-2, 6-2, 6-4. The life seemed to have gone out of Stilwell’s game completely. He returned Fairlie’s formidable service to net a great deal and he moved too slowly. In Peak Form Fairlie, on the other hand, was in peak form with the winning mental attitude that he was developed ahead of other young New Zealand players and his soundness of shot in every department. However, he had no chance of matching Cox in the final. A left-hander, Cox has curly fair hair, strong legs and a slightly stooping walk. His tennis equipment includes a sharply curving service, swift, whipping ground strokes that are often the mark of a left-hander, a punched volley and a clever tactical ability.

When he broke service in the first game there seemed to be evidence of what was to come. The returns were much quicker and much more accurate than those Stilwell was sending up the previous day.

But Fairlie showed that he was not yet owerawed when he broke back in the next game and they were even to 5-5. At this stage Cox reached a peak that he kept for the rest of the mat ’i. He broke service for 6-5 on Fairlie’s mistakes and on his own brilliant passing shots. As he served out the set he had a replay ordered on one ace but produced another sizzler to finish it off. Cut Errors

Cox cut his errors almost completely throughout the second set in which he allowed Fairlie no games and few points and succeeded in hitting the young New Zealander right off his game. With Cox completely in control, winning points with a dipping return of service,

Fairlie just could not get back into it. This immaculate tennis continued into the third set until Fairlie took his first game for 12 games to be down 1-4 in the third. It was his last successful effort. Cox was down 1540 on his own service but he took it and Fairlie ended the match with a double fault. For the whole match he served seven of these to Cox’s two and he served four aces to Cox’s two. Dreary Play

The slight, neat Aucklander, Miss B. Vercoe, became the new national women’s champion when she beat Mrs E. Mitchell, of Northland, 6-4, 5-7, 8-6. If Cox’s fine play at least made the men’s final interesting even though it was one-sided, the women’s final had little to rescue it from dreariness. After two years as sixth ranked New Zealand woman in 1960 and 1961, Mrs Mitchell, then Miss E. Green, rose to third in 1962. second in 1963 and third in 1964 and 1965. She did not play last season. Miss Vercoe entered the list in 1965 at ninth and was sixth at the end of last season.

For the tournament Mrs Mitchell was seeded first, Miss Vercoe fifth, but Miss Vercoe won, 6-4, 57, 8-6. Miss Vercoe, aged 20, is a returner and a retriever. Although many of her shots are awkwardly produced and cross the net with plenty of air to spare, the qualities which characterise her game, determination, tenacity and I anticipation enable her to win matches.

The pity of it at this tournament has been that the players who show a modicum of attacking ability are not able to beat her. Their attack is not strong enough. Needed were a Miss J. Davidson or a Mrs R. Davey. Mrs Mitchell, a left-hander, attempts to attack and she plays some fine shots while doing this, but she could not win enough with them. Effort Too Much To gain a point from Miss Vercoe only a winner with the widest of angle would succeed, and the effort proved too much for Mrs Mitchell to sustain. Mr s Mitchell was also frequently passed by shots which, it seemed, she could have got to and almost certainly would have in her earlier days. The whole affair took two hours and 10 minutes. Mrs Mitchell had her chances, one especially when she held game point for 5-3 in the final set on Miss Vercoe’s service, but she could not get on top of the relentless returning. In Saturday’s semi-finals, Miss Vercoe beat another gallant retriever, Mrs M. Headifen, of Wellington, 6-3, 0-6, 6-4. Miss Fleming played some flowing drives, especially from her backhand, and looked for a time as if she had a chance.

Hall Doors Broken.—The glass in double swing doors and in a window beside them was broken early yesterday morning at the entrance to the South Brighton Community Centre Hall in Beatty street during a dance. The entrance was later boarded up.