American Girl Will Be Title Favourite

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32032, 5 July 1969, Page 15

American Girl Will Be Title Favourite

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

LONDON.

The American, Mrs B. J. King, today will attempt to win her fourth successive Wimbledon women’s singles title when she meets Mrs A. Jones (Britain) on the centre court. The two girk, who belong to the same professional tennis group, know each other’s play so well that it will be a battle of wits.

Although Mrs Jones is Britain’s most consistent player, .with eight semifinal appearances behind her—and a victory over the top-seeded Mrs M. Court, of Australia, on Wednesday, the odds are heavily against the 30-year-old left-hander.

The magnitude of her task Is shown by the fact that Mrs King has not lost a singles match at Wimbledon since the 1965 semi-final, when she was beaten by Mrs Court. The bouncing, bespectacled American was seeded only number two this year because her early season form did not measure up to that of Mrs Court. But in Wimbledon's inspiring surroundings, Mrs King rarely fails to reach her peak and she seems certain to celebrate America’s Independence Day with another triumph. Mrs Jones, in her only previous singles final at Wimbledon, in 1967, met Mrs King then and was beaten, 6-3, 6-4. As on that occasion, Mrs King will have to contend with a wildly patriotic crowd willing Mrs Jones to become Britain’s first title-holder since Miss A. Mortimer won in 1961, at the age of 29. The winner will get $3215, twice the prize money at the first open Wimbledon a year ago.

Yesterday, the defending champion, R. A. Laver, qualified to meet his fellow Australian, J. D. Newcombe, in the men’s singles final when he beat A. R. Ashe (United States), 2-6, 6-2, 9-7, 64). Newcombe, seeded six, upset the seedings in the other semi-final by defeating A. D. Roche, the No. 2, 3-6, 6-1, 14-12, 64. Laver, the hottest favourite

in the history of Wimbledon, dropped the first set to Ashe, hut then punished the American in a brilliant display. He whipped through the fourth set, winning it, 6-0, in 14 minutes, and conceding only two points oh service. Ashe, the United States open champion, had electrified the 14,000 crowd when he showed them how well he can play in snatching the first set, 6-2 in 22 minutes, breaking Laver’s service three times.

The match was played at a furious pace, both players hitting freely and powerfully. Laver got back into his stride, breaking the American’s serve in the sixth and eighth games, to take the second set, 6-2, to level one set-all.

In the see-saw struggle in the third, Laver went to a 2-0 lead, with a break in the second game, but the American took Laver’s service to 15 in the seventh and then squared the set at 44.

Games went with service until Ashe put a volley into the net to give Laver the set, 9-7, and the lead. Fourteen minutes later the match was all over.

The 25-year-o>d Roche was not at his best against Newcombe. He was. more mobile round the coilrt but his overhead smashing against Newcombe’s frequent lobs was poor. His service also gave him some trouble—be double faulted 11 times.