JUNIOR TENNIS

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 158, 1 April 1937, Page 5

JUNIOR TENNIS

Play hi New Zealand Championships

FOUR EVENTS DECIDED With the exception of the mixed doubles, which will be played to-day, commencing at 10 o'clock, all the events in the New Zealand junior lawn tennis championships were completed on . the Wellington Lawn Tennis Association’s courts at Miramar. Although not so strong as yesterday, a most disconcerting northerly wind was again in evidence. The prizes were presented to the winners by Mr. G. Henderson, chairman of the management committee of the New Zealand Lawn 'Tennis Association. S. Painter (Wellington) beat G. O. Gair (Wairarapa) in the final of the boys’ singles because, with a greater versatility of stroke production than Gair, and an ability to volley and smash, he was also steadier. Gair had a fine forehand drive, played with little back swing, and a well-controlled backhand. But he had not the same courtcraft as Painter, and was made to run fast about the court —sliding was often his method of progression—and so was unable to get properly set for his strokes. Gair, when he took the net, which was usually when he was made to come in to a short one, was nearly always passed by Painter’s return. When Painter took the net Gair always attempted to drive past him cross-court; never did he attempt the drive straight down the line. The result was Painter expected the stroke and so was always in position to intercept the ball and volley for a winner. His smashing, too, won him many points. . , , , - There were many fairly long and interesting rallies, with both boys on the backline. More often it was Gair who made the mistake. But although Playing a losing game, Gair fought pluckily and was by no means disgraced. Painter showed throughout the tournament that he is easily the best junior in New Zealand. He did not lose a set in any of his singles matches. Girls’ Singles. Only dogged determination and a refusal to admit defeat, plus a rare steadiness, enabled Joan Forrester (Wellington) to beat K. Armstrong (Canterbury) in the final of the girls’ singles. Miss Armstrong had actually the strokes, but in the end she lacked Miss Forrester’s steadiness, particularly on the backhand. , , The match was a good one, a close one, and brimful of interest. Allowing for the wind the girls played extraordinarily well. Miss Armstrong had a rattlin„ forehand drive cross-court, which often left Miss Forrester standing, and she also had an excellent volley. Miss Forrester, like Miss' Armstrong, showed she was not afraid to go for her shots, and gainst the wind, kept a good length, the ball falling close to Miss Armstrong s feet so that she was not able to make an effective stroke. There were long rallies with both players showing courage in going for the side-lines. It was a game of which both players, loser as well as victor, have a right to be proud. The plav showed the extent of Miss l<or Tester’s improvement this season. Boys’ Doubles.

Actually it was the . steadiness of Painter which enabled him and Ins Partner H. D. Gyles, to win the boys doubles when they outplayed Donkin and Matson. The losers were on the defensive nearly all the # time. Gyles, although he made numerous mistakes in smashing and volleying, and double faulted in service, also won valuable points by the speed of his attack. The steadiness of Painter allowed Gyles to take the risks. Donkin was the harder hitter for the losers, while Watson played the backhand stroke with two hands, and was more reliable with it than with his forehand. Girls’ Doubles.

The girls’ doubles final was deservedly won by Misses Marr and Wade, of Auckland, who beat the Wellington pair, Misses N. Marshall and M. Meier, after three close sets. ... Miss Wade, who showed in her service that she is making a valiant attempt to eliminate her footfaults referred to previously in reports of the tournament, Pmyed with remarkable steadiness from the baseline. And, in the third set she won point after point at the net with short sharply-angled volleys. Miss Marr also gave her good support, but was inclined to overhit with the wind behind her, and was not consistent in volleying or overhead. But the side did better the more she remained on the backline in the third set, and Miss Wade took the net. Miss Wade showed the wisdom of keeping right close to the net, and not remaining about the service line as so many do. For the losers Miss Marshall played ?.n exdellent driving game from the baseline. In that department, whether on the backhand or the forehand, she scarcely made a mistake. .... . • Miss Meier was excellent in returning service, but she was not a great success at the net, failing in voHeving and smashing many times after her partner had made the opening by maintaining a long rally against both opponents. She made the mistake, too, of frequently taking a ball which she ought to have left to her partner. From the baseline she was very steady. , ~ To the credit of all four players there was no pat-ball tennis. All hit hard without being rash, and numerous exciting rallies were seen. Following are the results: — BOAS’ SINGLES. Fourth round: S. Painter beat O. Satchel], 6-0, 6-1: O. M. Bold beat N. W. Gordon, 5-6, 6-1, 6-1. Semi-finals: Painter beat S. Watson, 6-1, 6-1; G. O. Gair beat O. M. Bold, 6-3, Final: S. Painter beat G. O. Gair, 6-1, 6-2. , GIRLS’ SINGLES. Fourth round: K. McNeill beat S. Ussber, 6-4, 6-4; K. Armstrong beat B. Warren, 6-0, 6-5. Semi-finals: K. Armstrong beat K. McNeill, 6-2,- 6-0; J. Forrester beat D. Marr, 2-6, 6-1, 6-4. Final; J. Forrester beat K. Armstrong, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4. BOYS’ DOUBLES. Semi-finals: Donkin and Watson beat Robertson and Dunn, 6-2, 6-5; Gyles and Painter beat Laidlaw and Moffatt, 6-3, 6-0. Final: Gyles and Paiuter beat Donkin and Watson, 6-0, 6-3. GIRLS’ DOUBLES. Third round: McCaskey and Lambourne beat Karanti and Archibald, 5-4, retired; Marshall and Meier beat Marsh and Warren, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2; Marr and Wade beat Sexton and Ussher, 6-4, 6-0; Monkman and Olphert beat Quilter and Quilter. 3-6. 6-3. 6-4. Semi-finals: Marshall and Meier beat McCaskey and Lambourne, 6-1, 6-4; Marr and Wade beat Monkman and Olphert, 3-6. 6-3,’6-1. Final: Marr and Wade beat Marshall and Meier, 6-4, 5-6, 6-4.