ENGLISH TENNIS TEAM

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 34, 3 November 1934, Page 9

ENGLISH TENNIS TEAM

Tour of New Zealand

INTERVIEW WITH HUGHES Dominion Special Service. Auckland, November 2. Members of the English lawn tennis team arrived in Auckland by the Mariposa to-day. They will play exhibition matches to-morrow afternoon and on Monday'afternoon, and will then visit Rotorua prior to playing in Wellington and Christchurch. Their New Zealand tour will be limited to two weeks, after which they will go on to Australia. The members of the English team are: C. P. Hughes (manager and captain) and F. J. Perry, and Misses D. Round, E. M. Dearman and N. M. Lyle. Also on the Mariposa were R. Menzel, and V. G. Kirby, respective champions of Czechoslovakia and South Africa. They went on by boat to Australia. Menzel was to have toured the Dominion, but, acting'upon medical advice, he continued on to Australia in order to further rest his ankle, which was severely injured in a competition in America a few w >eks ago. Perry is the only member of the English team to have visited,New Zealand previously. In company yvith Lee and Wilde, he toured the Dominion last season. • “I think the past year was probably the biggest in the history of lawn tennis in England.” said Hughes. “England retained possession of the Davis Cup aid its one defeat was in the Wightman Cup contest with‘America. During the past 12 months Perry has Stepped up from being almost the best player in the world to being undoubtedly ahead of others ” “W& are going to Australia with the idea of retaining the doubles title Perry and I won last year,” continued Hughes. “Perry has improved greatly since he was here last season. Miss Round, the ladles’ Wimbledon champion, has also shown a vast improvement during the past year. Unlike most girls, she plays as well at the net ns on the baseline. Misses Dearman and Lyle comprise the best ladies doubles team England has had for some years. Although comparatively new to international tennis, they Jumped into the limelight by winning their Wightman Cup match against America this year. . ~ “Wo have been looking forward our visit to New Zealand with great pleasure and we are sorry our programme has been curtailed to two weeks,” continued Hughes. “At the same time we are glad to be returning to Australia, where we had a very fine time last year. The inclusion of two Wimbledon champions makes our* a s'trong team, and, if they strike form, the members should take a fair share of honours.” '