HEARTENING SHOWING AT STOCKHOLM

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31362, 6 May 1967, Page 11

HEARTENING SHOWING AT STOCKHOLM

rpHE New Zealand table "*■ tennis representatives performed with great credit at the world championships in Stockholm and fully justified the sending of an official team. Since a New Zealand team attended the world championships at Peking in 1961 only private entries from New Zealand have participated. The women’s team performed exceedingly well to be ranked No. 16 in the world and, amid extremely tough competition, the New Zealand men’s team was ranked No. 25. The most outstanding performance by a New Zealander in die championship was M. L. Dunn’s remarkable effort in reaching the final 16 in the men's singles. Dunn was beaten in the sixth round in straight sets by a Hungarian after having played many five-set matches to stay in the singles. Although beaten in the second , round of the men’s singles event, A. R. Tomlinson showed good form to reach the semi-finals of the men’s consolation singles.

He lost to a Cambodian in straight sets. The reigning New Zealand singles champion, B. A. Foster, had byes in the first two rounds of the singles but was beaten In a five-set match by an East German in the third round. None of the women lasted long in the individual events but the effort in the Marcel Corbilllon Cup teams event was very heartening. Second in its section, the team beat the United States 3-1 and Norway 3-0 but was well beaten by the eventual winners, Japan, 3-0. The first two from each section went on to decide the placings. The highly regarded Jugoslavian team beat New Zealand 3-0,. but Australia was lucky to win 3-2 as was France. With a little more luck the women could have achieved a considerably higher ranking. As was expected, Mrs N. Traill was the leading woman. She won many important singles and helped Misses C. E. Johnston and D. L. Wade in the doubles. Both of these latter players tried hard but appeared out of their depth, especially

Miss Wade. It was a pity Mrs N. Houlihan was not available because she represented New Zealand in Peking in 1961 and her experience would have been invaluable. Before the championships New Zealand had a successful tour of' the United Kingdom. The team beat the premier English county, Yorkshire, twice, and won four of the five Scottish open championship events. The younger members of the team, T. J. O’Carroll, H. J. Waterhouse, and the 15-year-old Miss Y. M. Fogarty showed good improvement in the United Kingdom, particularly Miss Fogarty, who added several junior titles to her achievements. Her aggressive style was well suited to the type of game played at international level. These results are most heartening for the future, and the policy of sending an official team to the world championships should be continued. Only regular overseas trips and visitors to this country can hope to raise the standard here and encourage more players into the game.