On the Courts

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 22, 26 January 1924, Page 18

On the Courts

LEADING PLAYERS

NEW ZEALAND'S BEST TEN

SIMS HEADS THE LIST WITH ANDBEWS SECOND.

COMING EVENTS.

Auckland Championships, at Auckland—JanuKawakawa Club Championships, at Kawakawa.—January 26 anil 23, 1984. Hawkes JJay -Championships, at- Waipawa- - January 29, 30, and. SI, 10*4 Hastings Club Championships, at Hastings— I'etiruary 2, i, and 5 1924 Hawkes Bay Club Championships, at NapierCanterbury Championships, at Christchurch— Otago Championships, at Dunedin—Easter.

(By*" HtJKA.")

George Aitken, of Canterbury, was given eighth place amongst New Zealand s best ten players by "Huka," who was under the impression" that Aitken ran Bartleet to a 5-set match in the New Zealand championship singles. The score sheet* show that the figures given Were incorrect, and Bartleet won 6-2, 6-3, 7-5. The following is "Huka's" classification of the first ten players :— 1 Sims. 2.Andrews, 3 Bartleet, 4 Ollivier 5. L. France, 6 Wallace, 7 D. France, 8 Eobaon, 9 Aitken, 10 Smyth. Seay the ydWg Canterbury player, has not been included for the simple reason thab he is not yet strong enough to see a .o-set match out. Wilding beat him in a_ 5-set go purely on staying powers, and then lattorson put Wilding's light out quite easily, 6-1, 7-5,: 6-2. S imS) & in the next round of the New Zealand singles •beat Patterson 6-0, 6-1, 6-3. Accordingly, Seay, Wilding, and Patterson are dropped for the time being. Seay accounted for Griffiths and Clark, of Auckland, m the match Canterbury v. Auckland, 6-2, 6-3, and 6-2, 6,2 respectively, and possibly could have won another set from either of them at about the same score. Yet that would not lead one to include the young player in the I™ °f, ]Sew Zealand. Aitken can still be included as ninth man, even though his play has gone off somewhat of late years. In his match with Barteet he scored 89 points to the winner's 116, and there'were ten Advantage games m the match, of which Bartleet Nvon Beven and Aitken -three. In the tirsfc set, which Bartleet won at 6-2 Aitken had "advantage in," but lost the game. Then in a following game he led 40-15, but lost that game, Zd yet in another game was 40-30, only 'to lose that also. In the second set he had advantage in" -for two games, and-waa 4Q-15 m another, and yet lost them. In the last set he led 40-30 in a game that he also lost. On the face of it, Aitken appears harder to beat than many think, and. if he settled down to get into first-class • form as well as- conditon he would still be a very dangerous player. With a shade of luck he might have led 5-3 in the hrst set, taken the second at 6-3, and forced Bartleet to a longer advantage set than 7-5 m the third set. Owing to Peach (New Sonth Walesfbeating 'Age, the latter can hardly be compared on his singles play, but he played so finely in the final of the doubles that he will be worth watching in future matches. Why he did not get a place in the Auckland team against Canterbury is a mystery, as he would, from all accounts, ■beat Griffiths or Clark quite comfortably. It is contended in some quarters that he was officially picked, and that it was not his fault that he did not play. So many rumours are going around that the correct side of the story would be welcomed by all well-wishers of the sport. It would appear that an injustice has been done to Page, and the Auckland Association should clear the matter up. Greenwood is. another P tyer J t en°ugh' has not been seen of, and although he ran Len France to a 5-set match the Wellington player was a very sick man, and really should not have been playing. Smyth, to many,.appears to be over-rated, and more especially so now that Andrews has beaten him fairly easily at the Taranaki and Palmerston North tournaments ; but that does not count, as Andrews would in all probability have done the same to better players than Smyth. The latter has a lot to learn yet, but he is a powerful young fellow, and if he studies the game and gets into better condition he will have to be reckoned with next season. He would do t well to follow in the footsteps of Ales Wallace, who is quietness itself when playing, his matches. The right temperament for match tennis is a very big asset to players, and can be cultivated in many cases.

DOMINION CHAMPIONSHIPS.

Before closing down on the 1923. New Zealand Championships, the match between Sims and Andrews is well worth looking into: One can readily admit that Sims very nigh lost Ms chance of bein<' 1923 champion at the hands of Andrews, but that is no reason for the latter's friends immediately proclaiming Andrews the 1924 champion. There is time enough for this young player, and his admirers might easily spoil his chances by proclaiming him. too soon. At present "Huka" believes that Sims, and" Bartleet are his .superiors, and Ollivier, if, in good health and condition" "would also beat him. Dr. Laurenson, if in his true form,_ would also accomit for Andrewsexperience would be the greatest factor with Bartleet, Olliyier, and Laurenson. On Andrew's New Zealand championship performances he would rank second player in New Zealand, but the writer cannot place him above fourth at present. His future performances may help him to a higher-position, and it is well to wait for those. Sims took the first set fronvAndrows at 6-3, scoring 35 points to 25. Sims last one service game and Andrews two, Andrews made it "set all" by taking the second set at 6-4 scoring 34 points to V 27. Andrews lost two service games and Sims three. Andrews led two sets' to one, by winning the third set at 6-3, scoring 30 points to 25, the service gamei lost were the same as in the second set. The fourth set was the most severe, and when Andraws led at 5-2, he had scored 25 ooints to 20. Sims in taking the next five games in succession rattled up 21 points to 11. Sims scored 41 points to 36 in the next, and lost three service games to. Andrews's four. In the decidin" set which Sims won at 6-4, the winner scored 37 points to 34, and lost two 'service games to three. Sims won 26 games to 24, 165 points to 159, and lost 12 service games to the 13 lost by Andrews. This gives a clear indication o"f how close the match really was, but Andrews will have to improve if he looks to go t« closo of better next year. Thut mutch •improved Sims, and he played better

tennis against Bartleet and Ollivier in: consequence. The New Zealand cham--pion did not start to get into form soon enough last year, and he would do well to keep in good condition right through this year. ' Tennis players appear to think that they can neglect condition during the_ off season, and then rush it when tennis season opens. It is a- mistake. A player who wishes to keep at the top must keep fit, not necessarily training hard, but not allowing himself to get soft and completely out oi condition. To rush the training for the New Zealand championships takes too much strength away, and one cannot expect to strike form if not in the best of health and. condition. It is. better for players to be just -a sliade under the pink of condition, rather than overtrained and stale -at the beginning of the championships, especially now that the best players are "seeded," as they can strike top- form and condition after a round or- two. Of course they may be caught by a young and imporvinff player, who goes to the meeting well trained. . '.

MISS MACFAKLANE'S DEFEAT. , It was a surprise to many when they heard of the defeat of Miss Macfarlano by Miss' M'Laren, of Otago, yet it was such a windy day that players had little chance of playiug first-class tennis. The Otago lady was the surer and the stronger on the day, and in the first set Bcored'J 38 points to 27. The second set was Miss: I M'Laren's at 7-5, and she scored £0 points to 46. Some good judges helieve that the Aucklander is not' playing as well as she did last year, whereas others contend that she is still the best player in New Zealand". "Huka's" contention is that Miss Spiers (Canterbury), who won the Singles Championship of New Zealand, must remain the premier lady player of' the Dominion until beaten. The Wellington championships should show if Miss. Macfarlane's* game has gone off or not. but i! she strikes last year's form she should win. Possibly her confidence has boeii shaken, and she may find-Mrs.- Melody hard to beat. The score sheets of the match between" Mrs. Melody and Miss M'Laren show what W peculiar game was played by both players. . In the first ' set tfiere was only one player in it. Mrs. Melody won the first and second game* ■at 'game-30'.' and "game-15." Then Miss MLaren.won- a love game. Mrs. Melody followed with two love games, and I two games at "game-15," winning the ■ set, 6-1, and scoring 24 points to 9. Quite a reversal followed in the second set, as Miss M'Laren captured it at 6-1, scoring 28 pointo to 14. The Otago player 'won a, love game to start with, making it 2-lovs after an advantage game. Then Mrs. Melody took her only game at "game-30." Miss M'Laron 'took 1 four games in a row—the scoring being ' game-30,'' "game-love, an advantage, game, and "game-30." In the final set Mrs; Melody started well with "game- : oo,' but her opponent captured the next I two, at "gamti-15" and a love game. Mrs. Melody evened with a love game for 2ull, but was led 4 games to 2 by the 'southern player taking both games at "game-30." The play still fluctuated, as Mrs. • Melody won the seventh game at "game-30," and made it 4-al-Lwith the next game, which she won at "game-15." Again a change came with a love game to Miss M'Laren, and-she clinched the set at 6-4 and match by 2 sets to 1, with a "game-30" win. In this set the I winner scored 29 points to 23 S and for the. match.won 13 games to 11, and 66 ! points to'6l. It would almost appear i as if these two players. understand one i another's play to a nicety, and it all de- ' Rends upon who gets the- attack first, j Mi6s M'Lnr-en is improving with experi- j eiice, and as she has a strong constitu-tion-will be hard: to bent at the next New Zealand meeting; but there are several ladies who can beat her at present.

MIRAMAR GROUNDS.

Now that the holidays are over, fresh efforts are necessary by all tennis enthusiasts to find life members for the Miramar Tennis Grounds. A certain amount of money is necessary before a start can be made, and as the "rass courts must be prepared before the end 01 February, all the committees of tiie tennis clubs in Wellington, must make a very big effort from now on. There is no use Reaving the job to one or two, as that only courts failure, whereas a united effort will soon see the whole scheme successfully launched. With the grounds in full working order by the fi £ y?ar i(; is quite PossiMe that Hie New Zealand championships may be played at Miramar; at any rate evei'ytiung should be in splendid order by December, 19_25, and Wellington would then have a- clamv second to none for the National Meeting.

CHAMPION OF MEXICO CITY. Vincent Richards is the new champion of Mexico City. Richards met Manuel Alonso, the Spanish player, iv the final and there was a strenuous fight ri<rht through the whole five sets. Alonso had the^ advantage almost throughout, but Richards kept on making great efforts when behind, and evened the sets just when defeat was staring him in the face. Leading 2 sets to 1, the score- being 6-0 7-9, 6-3, in favour of Alonso when the ten minutes' interval wae taken, it was generally believed that- tho Spaniard would win. Richards, after the interval was right on his ganie, and made.it 2 sets all'with a win at 6-1. When Alonso led 5-3, 40-15, in the ninth game of the last set, the 3500 were roused .to frenzy. Richard's made his, effort, and after great excitement made it 5-all, but Alonso came back at him, and was^once more match point at 7-6, and 40-15; only to be again baffled by a magnificent recovery on the part of Richards. The latter played the last three games so much affected by the altitude and the hard match that he was scarcely conscious of what he was doing, and in the last g^rne he twisted his ankle so severely that a small bone was broken, and he could scarcely limp about the court. Yet he hung on grimly, and finally wrung a victory from Alonso, who fought With splendid and unabated courage clear to the end. As the tide of battle ebbed and flowed, the gallery, more than onehalf of it composed -of Spanish-speaking people, sat, or stood, tense and restrained, applauding impartially, and at the right times,-and at the finish gave Richards an ovation that emanated from the sheer sporting^ instinct that possessed them. Richards won by 3 sets-to 2, the score being 0-6, 9-7, 3-6, 6-1, 9-7. When Alonso led 7-6 and 40-15, he had Richards well beaten, but the latter daringly made a last effort, and rushed the net to intercept Alonso's drive—seemingly a hopeless undertaking, he made a desperate lungo, got his racquet on to the ball, and brought off a back-hand- volley that was . astounding. That stroke was the turning point for Richards. His effort to get to the net was nothing more than a nock or nothing venture, and it came oft', saving the game, ">c act, a«d the match.