LAWN TENNIS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 79, 27 December 1928, Page 13

LAWN TENNIS

CHAMPIONSHIPS DELAYED BY RAIN CONTESTANTS’ PROSPECTS By Telegraph—From “Forehand.” 0 Auckland, December 26. Running true to past experiences, steady rain on Boxing Day has again caused a postponement of the commencement of the New Zealand lawn tennis championships. A week’s fine weather had made the courts hard and fast, and, although bare of grass in large patches, very true to play ou. Men's Singles. The men's singles are generally conceded to be very open. C. Angas, of Christchurch, possessed of a superb confidence, is greatly favoured, while Aucklanders pin their faith to E. L. Bartleet, who is said to be playing very well. For some retlson or other little account is being taken of A. L. France, whose defeat by C. E. Malfroy has been spoken of in most quarters as certain. That human stone wall, J.-T. Laurenson, of Waikato, is complaining of sore feet, and has stated that he may not chase the singles seriously, but reserve himself for the defence with Bartleet of the doubles title, which they won last year at Christchurch. Although A. C. Stedman is improving in his game he has not yet got the measure of Bartleet. N. G. Sturt has been playing very patchily of late, but I expect his real trial of strength will oome when he meets Malfroy in the fourth round. Should Malfroy beat Sturt he will meet A. L. France in the semifinals. I shall he extremely surprised if France does not win. The top half of the draw, containing ns it does E. L. Bartleet, C. Angas, J. T. Laurenson, is a most difficult one. Whoever of those three gets to the final I think will be beatert by France. The veteran M. L. Lampe is the weakest of the seeded players and he is the only one, I think, who may be beaten by other than a seeded player. Ladies’ Singles. In the ladies’ singles it is freely stated that Miss Marjorie Macfarlane is not taking the tournament with the same seriousness as heretofore, but for all that she is playing well, her driving and strength comparing favourably with previous years. Mrs. R. P. Adams is playing with her usual confidence. Miss M. Spiers, while perhaps feeling the strain of defending in Auckland a title which she regained last year in Christchurch under sensational circumstances, is playing with a superabundance of energy. Miss Wake is still her steady self. Miss M. Tracy appears to be infusing more life into her game than she has shown this season in Wellington, and Mrs. Melody is maintaining her form. A surprising improvement is showing in the play of Miss D. Nicholls, who, if she’ beats Mrs. Scott Watson as she has done on the last two occasions they met. should meet Miss Spiers in the third round. It has taken Miss D. Howe time to get used to grass, but she. is playing well, especially with Miss Nicholls in doubles. Miss J. E. Ramsay (Auckland), whom Miss Tracy meets in the first round, is still the steady chop stroke artist. Miss M. Andrew, of Christchurch, has gone back rather than forward, while Miss M. Gibson (Christchurch), her partner in the doubles, is playing very well, indeed. Miss M. Myers, of Wanganui. is playing with her usual dash, and cannot be trifled with even by the top flight. An interesting game should ensue between Mrs. Arneill (Whangarei) and Mrs. Shroff (Auckland), nee Miss M. Colebrook, one of Auckland’s most promising lady players. I see no reason to alter my view that Mrs. Adams will win the championship. Men’s Doubles. There can be no question but that the doubles are not taken seriously. There are too many scratch pairs comprising players who individually are brilliant singles players. Indeed, it may be said that of the best of the pairs, the titleholders, Bartleet and Laurenson, are about the only pair who know each other’s play from actual experience of partnership in doubles. Nevertheless it is uot improbable that Sturt and Malfroy may spring a surprise just as Sturt and Knott did two years ago. The Frapce-Angas combination will require some fitting in. Neither' will find the other easy to play with. The Lampe-Rhodes Williams combination I do not expect to go far. The draw for the doubles is too lopsided for an interesting final, the best-ones being in the top half. Ladies’ Doubles. I do not regard in the ladies’ doubles the Miss Spiers-Miss Wake combination as an over-strong one. With Miss D. Howe and Miss D. Nicholls playing as they are now they will be a formidable combination. They are combining excellently and have been playing their strokes well. Mrs. .Melody and Miss Myers will not be easy and are determined fighters. Mrs. Adams and Miss Tracy will be hard put to to hold their title. They will meet strong opposition in either the Misses M. and M. Macfarlane combination or Mrs. Scott-Watson and Mrs. Shroff combination. Combined Doubles. If the doubles are scratch pairs, the mixed are much more so. indeed they are very, mixed. The outstanding combinations will be Mrs. R. F. Adams and A. L. France, Mrs. Scott-Watson and N C. Stedman, Miss Marion Macfarlane and J. W. Lowrv, Miss M. Tracy and C. E. Malfroy. Miss D. Nicholls and N. G. Sturt. Miss M. Wake and D. Glanville, and Miss M. Spiers and C. Angas.