CHAMPIONSHIP TENNIS PROSPECTS

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 96, 17 January 1933, Page 13

CHAMPIONSHIP TENNIS PROSPECTS

Wellington’s Decisive Win in Trophy Games

MALFROY’S CLAIM TO SINGLES TITLE

(By

“Vantage.”)

To-day a start will be made with what promises to be the best-contested New Zealand championship tennis tournament that has been held for many years. In fact, it is difficult to think of any previous occasion on which so many really talented players have assembled to compete together. The only notable absentees from the men’s singles event are I'l. L. Bartleet, of Auckland, who won tbe title in 1928, and I, A. Seay, of Christchurch. Seay, however, will play in the doubles.

In the men’s singles there is an embarrassing number of players, all capable at their best of producing form good enough to win the title. In the top quarter of the draw, A. C. Stedman will have to dispute with H, A. Barnett, the right to enter the semi-finals. Stedman should win. The next section should see a contest between D. G, France and C, E, Malfroy, and this should be a splendid struggle with Malfroy as the more likely to emerge the victor.

Angas should come through the semifinals without much difficulty. Ilis hardest opponent looks like being N. G, Sturt, hut he should beat Sturt without very much trouble, , W, G. Robertson, and then either N. R. C. Wilson or T. Jthodes-Williflilis. are likely to be E. D. Andrews’s chief obstacles in the early rounds. It seems unlikely, however, that any of these will stop him, ... That leaves the most likely semifinalists as Stedman, Jlalfroy, Angus, and Andrews. Malfroy has three times in the last week or two shown that he has the measure of Stedman, and there can be no reason to suppose that he will not heat him again, He seems an almost certain finalist, and always provided of course that he does not strike D. G. France in the fourth round in one of those rare, brilliant moods, in which he is quite capable of beating any player in New Zealand in straight sets. The Angas-Androws match should be a great go, and unless Andrews is in better physical condition than he was in during the Christmas tourney, Angas should beat him by the same methods which Malfroy used during their last encounter —that Is by rushing the net and entrenching himself there at every opportunity, Angus is a fine, volleyer, second only to Malfroy in New Zealand, and there is no reason why he should not use such tactics with success. Of cout-se if A”dr | ''i’ s cou,fl s ,’’? w nn V thing of the form which won hnn such renown at Wimbledon, there would be no question as to the result, but he shows at present few signs of reproducing that form, and so it looks vety much as though Angas will be the other finalist. If the final is fought out between Angas and Malfroy. it should bo a match worth going fur to see, Both players are in good form, and so far as strokes are concerned, they are well-matched. Probablv tbe added experience Malfroy has gained during his stnv abroad would be cnoiiffh to turn thf* tid? of victory in bis favour, and should everything happen as jt seems at least very possible that it Will, there should be no one to grudge Malfroy bis first New Zealand singles title.

Women’s Singles. . . , The draw for the women s singles event has provided Sirs', H. M. Dykes and Miss M. Mncfarlane with fairly _ clear runs through to the semi-finals. Miss M. r M like will meet, some opposition from Miss D. Howe, who is playini* very steadily ..y present, and Misis D. Nicholls will find dil-

Acuity in passing Miss B. Knight. . Miss Knight’s only hope will be to win quickly; if the match goes to three sets she is not likely tq stand UP to Jliss Nicholls. If Miss Nicholls gets safely past Miss Knight she should enter the final easily enough by beating Miss Wake. Mrs. Dykes should be able to repeat her Nunneley Casket victory over Aliss Macfarlane, So it seems likely that Miss Nicholls and Mrs. Dykes will fight out yet another final, and It would be a rash business prophesying the result.

Trophy Matches. Wellington fails good reason to be proud of its teams’ successes in t|ie Wilding Shield and Nunneley Casket matches against Auckland, Most people expected Wellington to win the men's event, but few could have anticipated quite so sweeping a victory. Even the two matches lost —both the H. C Rowlands, Aucßlnnd’s last-minute selection for fourth place—were surprise. Certainly no one expected N. R. O. Wilson to be defeated, and in so convincing a manner. The success of the women’s team is Still more gratifying. Mrs. 11. M. Dykes was expected to beat Miss Knight, ami Miss Macfarlane and she did so, though, she came very near to losing to Miss Knight, who played fine tennis on both days, Miss I). Howe did all anil more than was expected of her in running Miss Macfarlane so close, and in taking a set from Miss Knight. , Chief congratulations must go to Miss Whyte, wlio went through the two days without losing a match, and to Sirs. D, G, France, who overwhelmed Mrs. Napier op the first day, and Ably supported Miss Wliyte in the doubles. Their win against siicii a fine pair as Mi»S Maefarlnne aiid Miss Knight ip the doubles, and Miss Whyte’s win against Miss J. Ramsay, were two particularly good efforts, University Citib Note. The chief item of interest in the club s affairs is the playing of the chib championships. As may be expected the entries in the men's singles were the heaviest, reaching a total of thirty-eight. Ferkins, McCarthy and Gosnell are in different sections, and barring accidents should reach the semi-finals. McCarthy wdl then meet Gosnell in the lower half. The top semi-final will probably be between Ferkins, and the survivor of Flank, Geaney and Black. In the men’s doubles Black and M ebb, last year’s winners, have fought their way to the semi-finals. They will meet the winner of Ferkins and. Gosnell v. Donovan and Davys. In the lower half the semi-finals will probably he between Roussell and White and the winnei- of Mason and Nanfaervis v, Plank and Wliitcombe. Among those still unbeaten .in the women's singles are Miss M. Briggs and Miss S. Phillips in the top half, and Mu'S T. Gill and Miss C. Longmore in the lower. As Miss' M, Line has defaulted her match Miss Longmore lias an excellent opportunity of annexing the title. Misses Line and Longmore, the New Zealand University champions,, should have little difficulty in winning the women T s doubles. The combined doubles will provide some interesting games in the later stages, particularly that between Miss Longmore and J, McCarthy and Mips Dine and Gosneil. It is' pleasing to be able to record'the fact that interest continues to be maintained in the men's ladder, particularly on the lower rungs. Higher up. M hiteom.be, by defeating Webl) in ft classification hiatch. went on to the ladder above him. and also won fourth place in the senior team. Webb has since challenged and defeated Blandford, and .is now in third place, and ahead of Wliitcombe.