Anne Hobbs looks set to win women’s singles

Press, 14 December 1985, Page 80

Anne Hobbs looks set to win women’s singles

PA Auckland Anne Hobbs, of England, has emerged as the favourite to collect the first prize of $17,000 in the women’s singles at the international tennis tournament at Stanley Street, Auckland.

Hobbs, whose world ranking has unproved from 78 to 51 in the last fortnight, will first have to overcome the popular American, AnnaMaria Fernandez. Fernandez, ranked No. 19 in the world in 1980, is also playing well. Her serve-and-volley game in the $lOO,OOO Nutri-Metics event has surprised Hobbs. “She does not usually play that type of game, but it is working for her,” said Hobbs. Hobbs, aged 25, who has represented Britain in Wightman Cup and Federation Cup teams, is also a doubles specialist. She will be partnering Candy Reynolds (United States) in the Countrywide doubles against New Zealand’s Bel-

inda Cordwell and Julie Richardson in the semifinals today. The other singles semifinal is between Louise Field (Australia), aged 18, and Beth Norton (United States). Field, a trainee at the Australian Institute of Sport, yesterday knocked out the third seed Lea Antonoplis (United States) 7-5, 60 in 76 minutes. The Connecticut-based Beth Norton, aged 28, ended the dream run of 16-year-old Stephanie Faulkner (Australia), winning 6-7 (7-9), 6-4, 6-4. The loss did not upset the Brisbane girl. “I played well,” she admitted and was happy at gaining at least 17 Women’s Tennis Association

computer points. Cordwell and Richardson, third seeds in the doubles, won through to the semifinals with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Jackie Masters (Australia) and Michelle Parun (New Zealand). The top seeds, Reynolds and Hobbs, beat Michelle Jaggard and Vicki Marler (Australia), 6-3, 6-2; Caryn Copeland and Fernandez, the American fourth seeds i beat the Australians, Col- i leen Carney and Rebecca 1 Bryant, 7-5, 6-7 (2-7), 7-5; ■: and Adriana Villagran ( (Argentina) partnered Anto- 1 noplis to a 6-7 (6-8), 6-2, 6-2 ( win over two Americans, , Norton and Mary Dailey. ; Results: ! Singles ] Quarter-finals: Beth Norton '

(United States) beat Stephanie Faulkner (Australia) 6-7 (7-9), 6-4, 6-4; Louise Field (Australia) beat Lea Antonoplis (United States) 7-5, 6-0. Doubles Quarter-finals: Candy Reynolds (United States) and Anne Hobbs (Britain) beat Michelle Jaggard and Vicki Marler (Australia), 6-3, 6-2; Belinda Cordwell and Julie Richardson (New Zealand) beat Jacki Masters (Australia) and Michele Parun (New Zealand), 6-4, 6-4; Caryn Copeland and Anna-Maria Fernandez (United States) beat Rebecca Bryant and Colleen Carney (Australia) 7-5, 6-7 (2-7), 7-5; Adriana Villagran (Argentina) and Lea Antonoplis (United States) beat Mary Dailey and Beth Norton (United States) 67 (6-8), 6-2, 6-2.