LAWN TENNIS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 1, 2 January 1915, Page 10

LAWN TENNIS

(By "Huka.") THE NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIPS Splendid weather was experienced for the opening day of the New Zealand Championships at Dunedin, and although some of the best players have not gone South, nevertheless, the quality is such that all the events will be most interesting and exciting. In the Ladies' Singles, at the time of writing Miss Hughes (the champion of Wellington) has shown her form by easily beating Miss Jackson, of Otago, and the Taranaki champion player, Miss Brewster, also easily accounted for another Otago player in Miss Black. Miss Gray, the present champion, has not enjoyed the best of health lately, and it is possible that she may scratch in the Singles, but every endeavour will be made to persuade her to play. MEN'S SINGLES. "Huka" expected Warne Pearse to beat Wilding, but expected to see the Canterbury player run the Temuka champion into a four-set go at least. Pearse galloped all over Wilding. The winner bids well to springing a surprise. Wilkie and Bray had a very even fight, and the latter, who earned distinction by beating Ollivier not so long ago, looked a winner when he led by two sets to one. Wilkie fought him all the way, took the fourth set 7-5, and going on won the final 6-3. It was a good victory. OJlivier settled Nicholson quickly. Wallace, of Taranaki, had a shake-up when Borrows, the veteran, took the first set' 6-1. The Taranaki player had to go all out for the second set, winning it 11-9, but Borrows was then done, and went down 6-1, 6-3. S. N Brown, of Otago, lost two sets quickly to Dickie, j of Taranaki, the score being 6-0, 6-2 ; then the Otago player pleased his supporters by opening out and capturing two sets, 7-5 and 8-6. It was now two sets all, but Dickie was not to be denied and took the final, 6-3. Jennings beat Seay very easily. The loser was expected to shake up his opponent, as he had been showing good form, but Jennings ran all over him Wallace and Dickie were fortunate in not dropping on Ollivier, Pearse, Goss, or Jennings in the opening round, as, judging by the run Borrows and Brown gave them, it would appear as though they were snort of practice. THE COMBINED. Miss Crawford and ,R. Brown, of Otago, very nearly brought off the first surprise. They took the first set 8-6 from Miss Baird, of Hawkes ' Bay, and W. Goss, of Canterbury, and the latter pair just squeezed home, 8-6, in the second set. The final was a good fight, but Goss knew too much, and pulled the match out of the fire at 6-4. WELLINGTON TOURNAMENT. The tennis courts t at Day's Bay have been rushed daring the holidays, as the competitors at the Metropolitan Meeting, which started on Thursday, were eager for a trial on grass. Some good form has been shown, especially by the ladies. Looking at the handicaps — one would be rash to attempt to pick winners, but in the ladies singles Miss Batham (owing 12), Mrs.. Wagg (owing 4), and Miss Bennett (scratch) are giving away some great starts. A win by any of these players would be a great performance Misses Hannah (rec. 14) and Rigg (rec. 18) look well in. In the ladies doubles Mrs. Goldie and Miss Williams have a great load ' in "owe 20" to carry, and Misses Batham and Seed will have to be right on top of form to win from "owe 10," yet in both cases it is possible for a good performance. Mrs. Grady and Misß Hannah, with rec. 8, are nicely placed. The former lady has been showing splendid form of late. The Misses Stevens (owe 4) are a good combination, but have two big starts to give. Mrs. Wagg and Miss Speedy are fairly placed, receiving 2. In the men's singles Roufc looks to have a gift with 18 points — possibly it is a mistake and should be B—still8 — still handicappers generally have a good ( reason for all they do, but Rout, if in good form, must have a great chance. Salmond and Wilson — the latter have come up from. Christchurch to play — are carryr ing a load with "owe 20" in the men's doubles, and will hardly be likely to break through. Henderson and Clayton are not bad with "rec. 18." Misse3 Rigg and Morison, with twenty have a good chance in the combined, as have Mrs. Wagg and Martin— (the latter is from Palmerston North) — on the 8 mark. The back markers, Miss Batham and Buddie (scratch), Miss Davis and Reeves (owe 4), and Mrs. Goldie and Butcher (owe 10), will find their burden heavy when meeting limit pairs. Mrs. Bell and Clarke, on the receive 12 mark, should come well through. The tournament has filled well, some three hundred entries having been received, and it will take all the three days to get the events off. The contests in the championships promise to be more than interesting, and some of the colts will push Swanston, Salmond, Wilson, and Co. very hard. The ladies' singles is a very open event, several having an equal chance. The public schools' players have two events on the programme, and the contests between the budding expert* will be watched with interest.