TIE BREAKER’S FIRST USE IN CHCH Disputed tennis scoring for India match

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32476, 10 December 1970, Page 30

TIE BREAKER’S FIRST USE IN CHCH Disputed tennis scoring for India match

(By our tennis reporter)

The fascinating but controversial tie-break system in tennis scoring may have its first use in Christchurch when New Zealand plays India in the fourth match of the Fresh-up international series at Wilding Park today.

The tie-break, designed to stop marathon sets that disrupt programmes, will also be used in the Canterbury championships later this season, but it had a shaky beginning.

When first used publicly, at the Philadelphia open in February, the International Players’ Association and later the United States Lawn Tennis Association, for condoning the use, drew the wrath of the International Lawn Tennis Federation. However, the system has become accepted and was used successfully 'in the United States open. Today, O. Parun will play J. Mukerjea in the first singles, at 1 p.m., then B. E. Fairlie will meet P. Lail, and

later the doubles will be played. All will be the best of three sets, and the programme is to be completed by 7 p.m.

Nine-point game

If in any set the game score becomes 6-6, a ninepoint tie-break game will be played. If it is the turn of player A ■ to serve the thirteenth game, he serves the first and second points, left and right court; then player B serves points three and four. Players then change sides and player A serves points five and six, and player B serves points seven and

eight. If neither has earned five points, player B serves point nine, with the choice of either left or right court. The set is recorded as seven games to six.

The first tie-break games in New Zealand tennis were played last Sunday at Stanley Street, Auckland, when Fairlie was involved in two, in beating Lail, 7-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-7, 6-1. There was another at Napier on Tuesday evening when Lail defeated Parun, 6-7, 7-5, 6-4. In American tournaments they are signalled by the raising of a red flag at the court involved, and spectators flock there for the brief excitement.

Although the court will be used for the first time this season, the centre court at Wilding Park should be very fast after the recent dry weather and in spite of heavy watering. It has been carefully nurtured by the groundsman, Mr R. Avery. Both the New Zealand and Indian teams will arrive about noon today, after their third encounter at Wanganui last evening, and will lunch at Wilding Park before play.

Later, the Indians will stay the night with the president of the local Indian association, Mr B. Vallabh. Through the association, an Indian flag has been obtained to fly at the park. Mr P. Angland, the present holder of the Kramer Trophy for the best umpire at the national championships, will umpire a singles and the doubles. The other singles will be .controlled by Mr D. Macdonald, a former holder of the trophy.