Parun champion for the third time

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33426, 7 January 1974, Page 18

Parun champion for the third time

Xrr Zealand Press Association’ WELLINGTON. Inexperience, as well as O. Parun, beat the young R. .1 Simpson (North Shore) in the men's singles final of the Bl’ national tennis championships yesterday.

Simpson, aged 19. went down to the lop seed. 6-7, 1-6. 1-6, and I he victory gave Parun his third Nev Zealand singles title. The match was really a case of who made the fewer, errors, especially on vital] points, and in that depart-' ment Parun shaded his: youthful rival. Parun admitted afterwards; that, it was a close match | which might have gone either way. BREAK HE WANTED “I was really lucky to get that first set and I think that, made all the difference.” he I said. “Russell had played] quite well during the set and' if he had taken it, then I ! would have been in trouble.”] Both players were upset by a gusting northerly wind; which persisted for the en-i tire match and ruined it as' a spectacle for the crowd of' 700. “The wind was shocking,” Parun said. “I can remember playing in conditions worse; than that only once, in. Madrid last year. It was so

hard to serve, and the wind also made volleying difficult.” Parun said that Simpson had improved beyond all expectations in the last year and was far and away the best prospect in the country. During the first set, games went with service until 6-all, with Simpson appearing the stronger. At 3-2, he had four break points on Parun's serve, but Parun played the tight points well to get himself out o f trouble. Then, in the 12-point tiebreaker, Parun rushed to a 5-0 lead. Simpson broke back

Ito 4-5, but Simpson nn»oc [an easy smash and Parur [took the tie-breaker 7-5. SERVING PROBLEMS The second set produce patchy tennis. Parun broke Ito 4-3. Simpson returned the compliment to 4-4. but Simp I son was immediately ii [trouble again when he doubl. [faulted twice during th< ninth game. His inconsisteir serving was a bad feature o! his game. Simpson had his chanceagain in the third set but was unable to raise his gann on the crucial points

The women’s final was (walk-over for Mrs R. Hun [(Canterbury). when he [opponent, Miss M. Pryd ] (Wellington), defaulted. Mis [Pryde had fallen heavily oi (her right knee during [mixed doubles semi-final oi ■ Saturday. I Results of other final 1 were:

Men’s doubles—W Brown (United States) and R. N Hawkes Wellington) beat O. Panin and H Fickentscher (West Germans'. 6-1. 7-6. 6-2.

Women’s doubles.—’. Phillip(Canterbury) and •' Bryan (United States) beat J. Connor and B. Vercoe (Auckland), 7-.>. 1-6, 7-5.

Mixed doubles—Hawkes and Miss Connor beat W. and K Bryan. 6-3, 3-6. 6-4.