LAWN TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 104, 27 January 1930, Page 13

LAWN TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

WELLINGTON TOURNAMENT CONCLUDED

I. A. SEAY OUTCLASSES A. L FRANCE

MISS D. NICHOLLS TOO GOOD FOR .MRS. R. F. ADAMS

(By

“Forehand.”)

The only other place in New Zealand this season that has been ..as fortunate as Wellington in the matter of weather for the holding of a tennis tournament is Masterton. From the Wednesday morning, when the Wellington championships tournament started, to Saturday afternoon, when the finals of all the events were played, conditions were excellent. Even the northerly breeze, strong though at times it was, did not make for unpleasantness. For the finals it would have been impossible to better the weather. Players were able to concentrate on their strokes without fear that an annoying wind would ruin their best shots, for there was no wind. The courts, too, were perfect, and the linesmen, of whom there was a full complement, were efficient. Despite all these advantages the finals were disappointing because they were all so one sided—the winners in all cases (except the boys’ singles) completely outplaying th« losers. LIST OF CHAMPIONS The Wellington champions for the 1929-30 season are as follow:— Men’s Singles: I. A. Seay (Christchurch). Ladies’ Singles: Miss Dulcie Nicholls (Petone). Men’s Doubles: A. L. France (Wellington) and M. L. Lampe (Wanganui). Ladies’ Doubles: Miss Dulcie Nicholls (Petone) and Misa Doris Howe (Wellington). Mixed Doubles: A. E. Sandral (Wellington) and Mrs. Sturman (Petone).

A close macth between A. L. France and I. A. Seay was expected in tba final of the men’s singles, but the large gallery of spectators Was grievously disappointed. There was only one man in it, and that man was Seay. From first ' service to the last, except for a patch of forceful play from the.net by France in the second set, when lie was unlucky not to lead 5—4, Seay completely dominated the situation. He called a tune to which France found it impossible to dance to, and in the third set he gave up trying and literally threw games away without effort. When the two met in Wellington two seasons ago the conditions for piny were the same, the result of the match was the same, except that France sparkled better and won a set. On Saturday people could scracely believe they were seeing the France who had earned (and justly earned) a reputation for being the hardest fighter in New Zealand and a most worrying opponent. That cut drive "of his, his heavily cut service, and his drop shots (the few times they cleared the net) worried Seay not at all. Playing with the greatest confidence, serving with pace and beautiful,placement, swinging on to his forehand cleanly, and with tine concealment of direction until actual impact. of ball and racket, taking no risks on his backhand (which he played with slice), but never faltering, going to the net with judgment, anticipating well France’s attempts to pass him, and volleying at sharp angles or killing lobs, Seay made France look a novice for almost the whole match. Seay was never bustled. 4 He covered the court quickly, easily and without haste. He was almost invariably behind the ball, so that he could play it with the maximum chance of success. Nor did he try to win off every ball. He worked for his position astutely, patiently and wifh consummate skill, 'and then, when, the opening came, he drove the ball, hard to the open space. His method'” was simplicity itself, or so it seemed to the spectators. Ball after ball in the rally Seay would place in France’s backhand corner. Their pace and the fact that the angle at which they were driven made them bounce far beyond the sideline, compelled France to return the ball diagonally to Seay’s forehand (he is a left-hander). This gave Seay the opening he was working for. Straight and true would go the ball down the side-line as Seay drove hard on the forehand, and France could never get within yards of the ball. Right throughout the match France could not counter this method of attack. It left him helpless. The moment those raking drives commenced their bombardment of France’s backhand everyone knew, nnd France himself knew, what the end must be. Whenever France played a drop shot and the ball cleared the net Seay would run in and play carefully straight down the line in front of him (never cross court) and steadied himself to volley or smash any return if France got there. And so was France’s very strength turned against himself. France could neither volley nor smash (except at rnre intervals) nnd in th£ third set he might just ns well have been off the court fomll the good he was doing on' it. Tn every department of the game France had met his master. Miss D. Nicholls On Top.

For the third successive time (and the second this season) Miss Dulcie Nicholls has defeated Sirs. R. I*. Adams most decisively. The circumstances here and in Waugauui were precisely the same. In the match against Miss Myers at Wanganui Mrs. Adams played brilliant tennis, and then in the final game against Miss Nicholls she played a game of which the least said the better. Here in Wellington against Miss Marjorie Macfariane she again played brilliantly (better even than she did Jn the. North Island championships against Miss Myers). Then came her second meeting this season with Miss Nicholls, and its pathetic and inexplicable slump. To her credit Mrs. Adams fought, harder on baturday than , she did in the final at Wanganui. There, she seemed soon to lose heart and appeared to give up trying. Here she battled bravely to the end. but she made far too many errors on those balls for which she was iu perfect position to play. Many times she got lhe sideline with her forehand cross-court drive, but it carried neither the pace nor the angle she gave it wnen she played against Miss Macfarlane. Miss Nicholls, who was covering the court quickly and keeping a perfect court position (as indeed was Mrs. Adams) for a base-line game, had no difficulty m getting to the ball, and returning it with placements. Miss Nicholls, though I have seen her hit much harder, was driving harder than Mrs. Adams, placing much more accurately to the backline (when she went for depth), and varying both her pace and length with the greatest skill It was Mrs. Adams who had to do the most running about. Miss Nichoils also mixed with skill plain drives and cuts (on high balls), in a way that gave Airs. Adams great difficulty. Never did Mrs. Adams give the impression that she was playing with confidence, while Miss Nicholls had the appearance of one certain of her strength. Miss Nicholls hit almost as forcibly on her bankliand as her forehand, and with the same accuracy, while Airs. Adams’s backband let her down time and again. Even this might not have been quite so bad had she- not thrown away so many chances on the forehand bv what seemed careless bitting, but which might have been due to n certain nervousness. It is scarely true that Airs. Adams played only so well as she was allowed to for a h< ( « intle > 1 have said, so many errors that were not the result of any difficulty in Miss Nicholls’s shot, as in her own bad play. Miss Nicholls played with great cure and coneentration. hitting well yitbiri her atrengih rather than take a risk likely-to lead to mistakes. There many

times, however, when t>y working for position, she left Mrs. Adams standing with beautiful drives to the corners. Miss Nicholls had match point three times before she eventually clinched matters with a shot from the net that Mrs. Adams had no possible hope of getting. Men’s Doubles Final. The final of the men’s doubles between A. L. France-M. L. Lampe and J. Par-ker-T. S. Williams, was very one-sided. The latter pair, even when they got into good volleying positions, netted nearly every time, and were far from accurate in their driving and smashing. France and Lampe volleyed, smashed and lobbed well, while Lampe’s drives, which dipped quickly after clearing the net, won points which soon ran to games. Parker was the best server of the four. Superior Combination. Mrs. Sturman and Miss Lloyd had no chance against the better combination and much more accurate play of Misses D. Howe and D. Nicholls, who last year in the New Zealand championship were only beaten 10—8 in the third set in the semi-final by Misses M. Spiers and M. Wake, the ultimate winners of the event. The best player of the four was Miss Howe, whose overhead work and lobbing when at the backline were perfect. The forehand driving of Miss Nicholls cross-court was an important factor in giving Miss Howe the chance to smash to the big openings that ao frequently presented themselves, or at the feet of one or other of the opponents. If sent to the backline and forced on the defensive Miss Howe won point after point by lobs which fell within inches of the backline and were impossible of return. Nor could Miss Lloyd deal with Miss Howe's drives to her backhand. Mrs. Sturman and Miss Lloyd were never. comfortable at any stage, their mishits being legion. They netted far more than they outted. Miss Howe showed a weakness occasionally on her Tow volleys, but generally she had the best of the exchanges by reason of an ability to alter her direction with greater facility. : The Strategy of Sandral. A. E. Sandral was well supported by Mrs. Sturman when together they won the mixed doubles against Lampe and Miss Nicholls, neither of whom played as well as they did against A. L. France and Mrs. R. P. Adams in the semi-final. The cause of this falling off must be attributed to the skill of Sandral, who is one of the finest mixed doubles and doubles players in New Zealand. At the net Sandral volleyed at the sharpest angles, and placed his overheads rather than smashed them. He served ace after ace, too, as he hit hard and yet placed' the ball'just where he wanted it. Mrs. Sturman, while she volleyed steadily from the net, did her best work from the backline, where her accurate lobbing caused weak returns and paved the way for Sandral’s finishing touches. Miss Nicholls was caught very often at her feet through staying too far back from the net. - DETAILED RESULTS The following are the results of the finals: — Men’s Singles. I. A. Seay beat A. L. France, 6 —S, 6—l, 6—o. Ladies' Singles. Miss Dulcie Nicholls beat Mrs. R. P. Adams, 6—3, 6—l, thereby retaining her title. Men’s Doubles. A. L. France and M. L. Lampe beat 'J. Parker and T. S. Williams, 6—l, 6—2, 6—3. Ladies' Doubles. Misses D. Howe and D. Nicholls beat Mrs. Sturman and Miss N. Lloyd, 6—-2, 6—l. Mixed Doubles. A. E. Sandral and Mrs. Sturman beat M. L. Lampe and Miss D. Nicholls, 6—3, B GRADE CHAMPIONSHIPS. Men’s Singles.—Gardner beat West, 6—2, 6—3. Ladies’ Singles.—Miss Whisker beat Miss Davidson. 6—-2, 6—4. Men’s —W. Sykes and H. V. Clark beat A. Featonby and M. Sandlant, I—6. 6 —3, 6—4. Ladies’ Doubles.—Misses Paine and Whisker beat Misses Parker and Wood, 6—5, 6—5. Mixed Doubles. —Mason and Miss Dnncan beat Shaw and Miss Park. JUNIOR EVENTS. Boys’ Singles.—R. H. Carstens beat H. Davys. 3—6, 6—3, B—6. Davys led s—l in the third set. Girls’ Singles.—Miss M. Howe beat Miss D. King. , -c , Bovs’ Singles.—Morrison and Bedford boat Blandford and Davy, 6—5, 6—5. THE PLATE. Men’s A Grade. —Roussell beat Shaw, 6 Ladies’ A Grade.—Miss E. Brady beat Miss Paine, 6 —3, 6 —4. N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIPS OF IMPORTANCE TO PLAYERS. The programme of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Championships Tournament which will commence on the Wellington Association Grounds at Miramar this morning at 9.30 o’clock, contains a verv important notice for the benefit of players. The notice is as follows:—

“Players are entitled to a rest of 10 minutes in a match after the third set for men, and when women or juniors take part, after the second set, otherwise play shall be continuous from the first service until the match be completed. It is the duty of every umpire of a match to see that this rule is strictly adhered to. If in his opinion a player is too leisurely in taking up bis position or stops too long at the umpire s cnair when crossing over, or the players take a rest after a set other than at the time laid down by the rule quoted, it is the bounden duty of the umpire in the interests of true sportsmanship to issue a warning to the offender or offenders. It is the umpire’s duty also to see that the net is the correct height in the middle (three feet) and that the singles sticks are in position for a singles game.

WAIRARAPA TOURNAMENT CONCLUDED STEDMAN WINS MEN’S SINGLES MISS MYERS DEFEATS MISS WAKE Masterton, January 25. Perhaps the most successful of the Wairarapa lawn tennis-tournaments concluded this afternoon, after four days of higbclass tennis played under ideal conditions. Many of the matches were prolonged ones, several sets running to sixteen games and sometimes more, and when the last match of the daj- was completed—the final of the mixed doubles championship—dusk was not far away. In the afternoon especially the games were watched with great interest by some hundreds of spectators.

THE CHAMPIONS This year’s champions are:— . Men’s Singles.—A. Stedman (Auckland), runner-up, J. Charters ( Wliangarel). Men’s Doubles—Stedman and Charters, runners-up, Hodder and Wellwood (MasSingles.—Miss M. Myers (Wanganui); runner-up. Miss Wake (Canterbury). Ladles’ Doubles.—Mrs. W. J. Melody (Wellington) and Miss M. Myers; runnersup, Misses M. Wake and M. Andrew (CanttJllxed) Doubles.—J. Charters and Miss M. Wake; runners-up, Court (Auckland) and Miss M. Preedy (Wellington). Girls’ Singles.—Miss Graham (1 ’alilatua); runner-up, Miss S. Polson (MastertOßo.vs’ Singles.—B. Bunny (Masterton); runner-up, G. Home (Masterton). Disappointing Ladies’ Doubles. Misses Wake and Andrew were completely outgeneralled by Mrs. Melody and Miss Myers in the final of the ladles’ doubles. The first set the latter players took to love, Mrs. Melody’s cut drive paving the way for crisp volleys from the net by Miss Myers, while this player, also, brought off some tine passing shots. Miss Wake, appeared to be off form, particularly in the second set, and many of her drives found the not. Both the Canterbury players stayed on. the baseline and relied on their powers of placement to avoid net difficulties, but Mrs. Melody brought off som® short chop volleys that rendered this plan ineffective. The match ended when Miss Wake outed in an attempt to return a smash by Miss Myers. Stedman Superior to Charters. Although the final of the men’s singles was scheduled for live sets, as against tlie three in other sections, they were not necessary. At no time did Charters gain ftny advantage, and after tiie first set Stedman had things practically his own way. His "specialised” stroke, a terrific • forehand drive to cither corner, was too much for Charters, who, nevertheless, never lost a point before putting up a fight! for: it. When either eame in to the net it was usually to connect on sure winners, and ,for the main the game was baseline driving, with frequent spectacular rallies. There was no doubt as to who was superior, but Charters gave his opponent frequent openings by short drives, which were returned to the sidelines either as clean winners or as preparatory shots for winning volleys. Miss Myers Beals Miss Wake. In three sets Miss Myers proved too good for Miss Wake, though the result was in doubt until the final point was won. In the first few games Miss Wake .made several mistakes, and allowed Miss Myers to gain a lead of 4—o, when by dint of careful play she drew up to 3—4, and then 4-5, Miss Myers taking the Imai game. The second set saw Miss Wake score consistently, mainly with well-placed, skimming forehand drives, J', licl ‘ J] 1 , Mvers just failed to reach. I lie M an„anui player, too. fell away to some extent in one game she sent down three double faults and many of her drives were too short,’ and gave Miss Wake t ’ l ’ p “f t i for placements. It was n the hlrd set that the real battle took place Miss Waitook the first three games, and Miss Myers the next tf C f a "“o" r Jt r °MIVs S iimes in the final game was'Miss Myers at match point, before Miss Wake finally netted a volley. The Mixed Doubles. d v a ti'me wer^they’very far ahead for both their opponents showed >.oi ■ slderable skill in avoiding net They lobbed much more frequently than did Stedman ami Miss Gibson, wllli the result that each had a fair shine of attack. It was here that Miss 1 reedi did well in smashing and volleying the re ' ll ™ s of Court's service, but on the whole Cha tors and Miss Wake were the safer pan. Charters was nowhere as severe ns in ills previous-match, but made up f° r 111 ■ l,y Ids skill in driving to the server s bi ekhand nnd making opportunities lor loili.j placements. . A Hard right.

Melody and Mrs.-Melody fought hard for every point against Court and Miss 1 rec ? • but after winning the second set »-7 they won only three games In the third. inc mutch lasted two hours, and Court and Miss Preedy were the steadier pair Melony played variable tennis, nt times bringing Off really brilliant shots, but at others missing quite simple ones. The semi-final between Charters and Miss Wake and Stedman and Miss Gibson was characterised by exceptionally fine volleying. especially bn the part of Charters. High or low, he was equally sure, and his placements frequently left, his opponents standing. Miss Wake played a fine baseline game and kept the ball well out ot Stedman’s reach. She usually won driving duels, with Miss Gibson and was responsible for several fine “surprise” shots 1 , when She passed Stedman down the side-line. Hodt|er and Wellwood were outclassed in the final of the men’s doubles, against Charters and Stedman. The latter won, G—2, o—4. The Junior Events. The final of the girls’ singles between Miss Graham and Alisa Polson was an interesting match. Miss Graham, who celebrated her sixteenth birthday yesterday, thoroughly deserved her win. Bunny was too good for Horne in the final of the boys singles—-though he was extended in the second set. , No doubt as a result of their showing during the tournament both Miss Graham and Miss Polson are included as emergencies in the Wairarapa team to play Manawatu next week. DETAILED RESULTS Results pt' to-iluy’s mutches are us ful'oW‘ CHAMPIONSHII’ EVENTS. Girls’ Singles. Final: Miss N. Graham beat Miss S. Tolson. H—i, o—2. Boys’ Singles. Final: It. Buuny beat G. Horne, o—l, s—o, o—2. Men’s Singles. Final: Stedman beat Charter!, o—l. o—l, o—3. < Ladles’ Mingles. Final: Miss Myers beat Miss Wake, 6—l, I—6. 7—5.

Men's Doubles. Semi-final: Wcllwood and Hodder beat Thompson nnd Bunny, 6—3. 2—6. S—<l. Final: Stedniau and Charters beat Hodder and Wcllwood, 6—2. 6 —l. Ladies’ Doubles. Final: Mrs. Melody and Miss Myers beat Misses Andrew and Wake, (I—o, 6—2. Mixed Doubles. Third round: Hodder and Miss Bradley won by default from Matthews and Miss Carey; Stedman and Miss Gibson beat Martin and Miss llaggitt. 7—5, 6—l. Fourth round: Stedman and Miss Gibson beat Wardell and Miss N. Williams, 6—o, 6—2; Court and Miss Preedy beat Melody ami Mrs. Melody, B—ti. 7—o, 6—3; Wellwood and Miss Myers beat Hodder and Miss Bradley, B—6,8 —6, 6—2. Semi-final: Court and Miss Preedy beat Wellwoud ami Miss Myers. 10—8, o—4; Charters and Miss Wake beat Stedman and Miss Gibson, ll—2. (J—-1. Final: Charlers ami Miss Wake beat Court and Miss Preedy, 6—3. 7—5. HANDICAP EVENTS. Ladies’ Doubles. 'Third rouiid: Misses Gordon-Elliot and llutherford. beat Misses Carey and Matthews by default; Misses Cameron ami Preedy (ser.) beat, Misses Bradley and llaggitt (ser.),. Fourth round: Misses Donald and Donald (25) .beat Mesdames Booth and Groves (ser.). 30—14; Misses Jackson and Graham (15) beat Misses V. llutherford and Beetham (20), 50—41; Misses GordonElliot and llutherford (10) beat Misses Cameron and Preedy (scr.), 50 —33. Semi-final: Misses Webb and Wheeler (18) beat Misses Donald and Donald (25), 50—45; Misses Jackson and Graham (15) beat Misses Rutherford and GordonElliot (10), 50—12. Final: Misses Jackson ond Graham beat Misses Webb and Wheeler, 50 —41. Ladles’ Singles, A Grade. Second round: Miss llaggitt (10) beat Miss Holmwood (18), 50—37. Third round: Miss llaggitt beat Mrs. Steel by default. Fourth round: Miss Jackson .(22) beat Miss Haise (25), 50-42; Miss Hagg'.tt (10) beat .Miss Vile (20). 50—41. Semi-finals: Miss Longmore (25) beat Miss Groves (8), 51 —52: Miss Jackson (22) beat Miss llaggitt (10). 50—36. Final: Miss Jackson (22) beat Miss Longmore (25), 50—43. Men’s Singles, A Grade. Fourth round: McLeod (20) beat Mel* ody (15). 70—01: Barrer (15) beat Ross (6). 70—4'J: Miller (6) beat Morton (12). 70—59. Semi-finals: Miller (6) beat Penney (18), 70—65; Barrer (15) beat McLeod (20), 70-48, Final: Barrer beat Miller, 70—50. Mixed Doubles, B Grade. Final: Bunny and Miss M. Beetliain (scr.) beat Hewitt and Miss Strouts (15), 60—49. Men's Doubles, A Grade. Third round: Major ami Melody (12) beat Goodin and McLeod (15). 70—65. Semi-finals: Groves and Bartholomew (18) beat Major and Melody (12). 70 —08; ■Wheeler and Beere (scr.) beat Hodder ami Wellwood (scr.). 70—60. Final: Groves and Bartholomew (IS) beat Wheeler and Beere (scr.), 70—40. Mixed Doubles, A Grade. Third round: Tatham and Mrs. Tatham (18) beat Barrer and Mrs. Groves (10), (JO—46; Ross ami Mrs. Booth (10) beat 11. Beetham and Mrs. Beetham (25), 60—41; Court nnd Miss Preedy (12) beat McLeod and Miss Vile (22), 60—45; Miller and Mrs. Prior (15) beat Hardie and Miss Potter (22), 00—19: Ross and Mrs. Root (10) beat Reid and Miss Pragnell (10), 60—17; Melody ami Mrs. Michael beat Baird <Thd Miss Tatham by default; -Martin and Miss Hnggltt beat Mcßae nnd Miss Sellnr by default: Le Quesne and Miss llutherford beat Wellwood and Miss Myers by default, Fourth round: Hoss and Mrs. Booth (10) beat Tatham ami Mrs. Tatham (18), 60—47; Court and Miss Preedy (12) beat Longmore and Miss Bell (18). 00—54; Miller and Mrs. Prior (15) beat Le Quesne and Miss Rutherford 1'20). 60—37: Melody nnd Mrs. Michael (18) beat Martin and Miss Haggitt (12). 00—57. Semi-finals: Miller and Mrs. Prior (15) beat Ross and Mrs. Booth (10), 60—55; Melody and Mrs. Michael beat Court and Miss Preedy by default. Final: Miller and Mrs. Prior beat Melody and Mrs. Michael, 00—52. WAIRARAPA TEAM Masterton, January 25. The following team has been chosen to represent Walrarnpn in a match against SlanawatU, to be flayed in Palmerston North next Saturday:— Hodder, Wellwood, Welch (Masterton); Ross. Miller (Carterton); Swainson (Pahiatua) : Misses Bradley. M. Cameron, A. Pragnell, Mrs. K. Groves (Masterton). Mrs. Booth (Carterton): Miss IL Card (Featherston). Emergencies: Bunny (Carterton), F. SV. Martin (Masterton). Misses N. Graham (Paliiatua). S. Polson (Masterton).

New Zealand’s Official Ball for twenty years—Ayres' Championship Stitchless Tennis Ball. Why? Ayres’ last longer. Perfect in flight. Greater resiliency puts less strain on Ihe gut. British and best.—Advt. Uacqucls repaired and rcstrung. N.Z. Sports Service. Ltd. (McGirr Bros.). Burlington Arcade. —Advt. Re-Strings.—Watson's Tennis Service, 31 Hunter Street, are specialists. I atronised by international players.—Advt.