Quarter-final dispute highlights tennis open

Press, 11 January 1986, Page 3

Quarter-final dispute highlights tennis open

A dispute between two quarter-finalists, Greg Hansford, of Auckland, and Phillip Seeman, of Canterbury, was a “feature” of the second day’s play at the Skellerup All Start Canterbury Open tennis championships at Wilding Park yesterday.

The audience at No. 11 court endured the argument for nearly five minutes before the pair decided to get back to playing tennis. Hansford, a 6-1 first set winner, was leading comfortably in the second when the incident occurred.

A close rally resulted in Seeman winning the point, drawing a muttered response from Hansford. This irked Seeman who strode to the net demanding a repeat of what had been said.

The two argued for some two minutes before Seeman clambered over the net to continue the row. The pair sought a tournament official who arrived to smooth over the problem. The atmosphere for the rest of the game was icy, but nevertheless produced some fine tennis. A more determined See-

man extended his opponent a few times before finally

succumbing 6-1, 6-3. Hansford now faces the top Canterbury player, Stephen Harley, in the semifinals. Harley was in a determined frame of mind in beating fellow Cantabrian, Rhett Mason 6-2, 6-2.

On an adjacent court, the young Aucklander, Brett Steven, was involved in a tight struggle with John Honeywell (Canterbury). The tall Honeywell, a surprise first round victor over Michael Mooney (Canterbury), gave Steven some trouble before going down 6-4, 6-4.

Both players enjoyed several good rallies but it was Steven’s serve and volley game that won him the match. Serving deep on most occasions, he gave Honeywell little opportunity to get in a decent return. His net game was far superior to Honeywell’s and, after establishing an early service break in each set, he was content to let the match go with serve. Mark Maiden (Auckland) outlasted a determined Brett Hibbert (Canterbury) to take the remaining semifinal spot, 6-4, 2-6, 7-5. The women’s competition

was notable for the first appearance of the top seed, Belinda Cordwell.

She beat the young Canterbury player, Rachel Wilson, 6-1, 6-2, to confirm hex current form. Wilson, however, played well above her usual form and managed to take three games from the world-ranked Wellingtonian. Ruth Seeman, of Nelson, booked her passage through to the semi-finals with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Linda Stewart, of Auckland, while the second seed, Michelle Parun (Wellington), accounted for Judith Phillips (Canterbury) 6-2, 6-2.

Canterbury’s remaining hopes rested with Robyn Hunt but she went down to Edith Tatana (Auckland) 1-6, 6-3, 6-3. It was the hard hitting Tatana’s second victory of the day over a Canterbury opponent. Earlier she had beaten Shirley Haig 6-2, 6-4. Results.—

Men’s open singles.— First round: B. Steven (Auckland) beat T. Mooney (Canterbury) 62, 6-3; J. Honeywell (Canterbury) beat M. Mooney (Canterbury) 6-1, 6-7, 7-6; M. Malden (Auckland) beat A. Chapman (Canterbury) 6-2, 6-3; B. Hib-

bert (Canterbury) beat L. Defenbach (Australia) 6-3, 6-2; P. Seeman (Canterbury) beat S. Cargo (Auckland) 6-7, 6-2, 6-4: G. Hansford (Auckland) beat N. Berwick (Queensland) 6-3, 6-4; R. Mason (Canterbury) beat M. Ridge (Auckland) 6-2, 6-1; S. Harley (Canterbury) beat D. Wilson (Nelson) 6-4, 6-7, 6-3. Quarter finals: Harley beat Mason 6-2, 6-2; Hansford beat Seeman 6-1, 6-3; Steven beat Honeywell 6-4, 6-4; Maiden beat Hibbert 6-4, 2-6, 7-5.

Harley will play Hansford and Steven will meet Maiden in the semi-finals today.

Women’s open singles.— First round: R. Wilson (Canterbury) beat K. Cox (Australia) 6-1, 6-2; L. Stewart (Auckland) beat N. Roberts (N.S.W.) 6-0, 62; R. Seeman (Nelson) beat A. Smith (N.S.W.) 6-1, 6-3; E. Tatana (Auckland) beat S. Haig (Canterbury) 6-2, 6-4; R. Hunt (Canterbury) beat K. Gay N.S.W.) 7-5, 6-2; J. Phillips (Canterbury) beat P. Osbourne (Western Bay of Plenty) 6-3, 61; M. Parun (Wellington) beat P. Lewthwaite (Canterbury) 62, 6-0.

Second round: B. Cordwell (Wellington) beat Wilson 6-1, 62; Seeman beat Stewart 6-4, 62; Parun beat Phillips 6-2, 6-2; Tatana beat Hunt 1-6,6-3,6-3. Cordwell will play Seeman and Parun will play Tatana in the seemi-finals. L-