FRANCE WINS

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 16, 20 January 1928, Page 13

FRANCE WINS

FIVE MATCHES TO LOVE SPARKLING TENNIS A CREDITABLE STAND The visiting French tennis team at Miramar yesterday defeated the New Zealanders in the three remaining matches of the series of five, thus carrying all the honours of victory. The stands were crowded, the weather more perfect, if possible, than it was on Wednesday, and the spectators were treated to an exhibition of sparkling tennis. The interest was more keenly maintained than on the first day, for the New Zealanders, playing creditably and at times brilliantly, de- ■ clined to be dominated by their more experienced opponents, and took the initiative to a degree that opened the game up interestingly, giving occasional thrills to the onlookers. New Zealand did not win a set. The matches resulted as follows:— J. Borotra (France) beat G. Ollivier (N.Z.), 6-2, 6-4, 6-3. J. Brugnon (France) beat E. L. Bartleet (N.Z.), 7-5, 6-2, 6-1. J. Borotra and C. Boussus (France) beat N. G. Sturt and L. G. Knott (N.Z.), 9-7, 7-5, 6-1. In the singles matches, each of which was concluded in three sets, the visitors appeared to take no chances of the play being prolonged unnecessarily, as both Borotra and Brugnon were subsequently to meet ig the doubles two fresh New Zealanders who so far had not participated in the tournament. By a last-moment arrangement, however, the colt Boussus played in the doubles in place of Brugnon. Whether influenced by the desire to reserve themselves or not, both Borotra and Brugnon were more on their mettle than on the previous day, and it is fair to say that to some extent the forcing tactics of their opponents extended them. All three Frenchmen showed tendencies on Wednesday to foot-fault, but the umpires apparently closed their eyes to it; yesterday they enforced the rule, penalising several times. BOROTRA TOO HARD A NUT. Ollivier, in his match against the senior member of the visiting team, worked with greater heart and less nervousness than he displayed when pitted against Brugnon, and in the opening stages played more strategically and with finer judgment than in that match. If he had continued in the form which he struck in the first half of the opening set, he would have made Borotra work for his points throughout, but in the seventh game he became erratic, and thereafter allowed himself to be outpaced and outplaced. While on the whole he rose superior to his previous form, he never properly struck his championship game and was obliged to acknowledge defeat chiefly on slowness of stroking and foot-work. That is not to say that he did not place Borotra at times in difficult positions, and completely beat him to points. Now and again he sprang into the breach with dash and spirit, and though not always able to finish the effort, he made many points on initiative and attack. He punished Borotra's backhand severely, and then suddenly whipped one in to forehand—approved tactics based on the idea of effecting surprise. But Borotra was too stroke-sure for him. At the death, in the final set, Ollivier came to light with sting in his returns which one would have liked to see him use earlier. Borotra was steady. He played with much the same flourishing style as he did against Bartleet. He did not rise to great heights in the first set. Progressively, though, he sped the game up until in the second he displayed wonderful speed and agility at the net, on two occasions literally flying across the centre of the court to cut short drives which threatened to pass. His anticipation was a revelation. One gained the impression, as has already been hinted, that he was holding plenty in reserve. This was impressively demonstrated whenever he badly needed a point to finalise. Ollivier did not ejjend him to the same degree as Bartleet. FINE TENNIS. The other remarkable Frenchman, Brugnon, in some features of his play against Bartleet was in better fettle than on Wednesday. He played fine tennis of his typical unorthodox style, and Bartleet was often worried with complexities. The pair were fairly well stroke-matched at first, the crowd being entertained with interesting and keenly contested rallies for court dominance. This eventually came Brugnon's way, and in the seventh game he adopted net tactics and fought hard with his heavy artillery, putting Bartleet well out of position. Brugnon did not use his deadly backhand cut drive to the same effect as on Wednesday, and repeatedly was seen running around balls which he should have returned with that punishing and puzzling stroke. In the third set he | established complete net mastery. He finished brilliantly, driving deep and hard to maintain the defensive, and applying the coup de grace with conclusive smashes. Bartleet stood up to him gamely, and refused to show any sign of admitting defeat, though the Frenchman plainly had too much court-craft for him. '■ He set out with less confidence, forcefulness, and accuracy than he did against Borotra, and took a good quarter of an hour to settle down to play. Even then he fell below the form he showed on the previous day, netting and outing shots in which he was then to be feared. As before, he played the heady game, retrieving frequently by anticipating his opponent's movements and shots. He again showed himself a fighter, with plenty of punch behind his drives, and a determination to get there if possible. Perhaps it is this very point which is most admirable in his play on an uphill grade; his spirit said "Give it a go." Even with five games against him in the last set, he made Brugnon work all over the court, eventually succeeding in stopping the rot, though only for one game. EXCITING DOUBLES. The New Zealand doubles champions, Sturt and Knott, admirably held up their end against Borotra and Boussus. They appeared nervous on taking the court, especially Knott, who made many mistakes, serving double-faults and hitting low into the net, a failing which he never corrected. The Aucklanders are at their best in the mid-court game, and they employed it to good advantage, speeding the play up to a pitch of intense excitement in fast and hard-hitting rallies, with the Frenchmen also up to the net. Boussus made errors frequently, appearing to be worried by Borotra looking around at him while he was serving. He was not as deadly either overhead or in cross-court work as in the exhibition matcn", but he was useful in short work, and close volleying, and with that death-dealing overhead smash. The Frenchmen were obliped to take Knott and Sturt very seriously, and it is creditable to the Aucklanders that they extended the visitors to two 'vantage sets. In the second they were within set point, but Sturt slipped and Borotra made sure of the necessary points to equalise. However dully Knott may have fared in opening, he flashed into brilliance on occasions, volleying and driving across court with great style, to Borotra's discomfiture. Sturt played the steadier game, and was to be reckoned with both in driving and in the short stuff. He quickly changed skying tactics when he found how unerringly the boy Boussus crashed the ball out of reach. The New Zealanders made a game fight, and earned deserving laurels. Borotra and Boussus were too strong for them at the net towards the end. All the matches were played in the most admirable sporting spirit. At the end the Frenchmen were loudly cheered, and in response Borotra and his comrades gave "Four for the New Zealand team, whom we soon hope to meet in France." BOROTRA v. OLLIVIER. Both Borotra and Ollivier dropped their opening services, but then Borotra won his on placements, and Ollivier went through with his to love. Borotra inXhe fifth took to the net and assumed the offensive and the lead, increasing his aclvan-

tage to i-2 when Ollivier lofted the ball over the backline. Ollivier played stroke for stroke up to this point, but then was forced into repeated errors, and Borotra made his fifth game "on his top-spin service and the set by breaking through Ollivier's attack for the third time. Franco 6-2. In the second set Borotra gave the impression' of holding his hand. Whereas in the first he had been causing Ollivier to run, at the start of the second his strokes lacked the same force, and he played directly at his opponent. Ollivier forced him in a long rally in the first game, exploiting the side lines to good effect, but he lost points through tossing the ball lightly over the net for Borotrn to finish with the smash. At 2-1 Ollivier was serving when a line umpire declared an out. Borotra appealed, declaring it was a line ball, but the umpire repeated his decision. '"Oh, give it a let/ said the Frenchman. Ollivier said it was out. The umpire did not change his ruling, whereupon Borotra sportingly dashed the next ball into the net, yielding Ollivier the game with the next stroke. Borotra and Ollivier each gained a game, making the score 4-2, and the visitor then exerted himself and took the set chiefly 'in net volleys. Fiance 6-4. Three all was called in the third sot, and then Borotra went in to kill. Ollivier twice had fine openings, but failed to finalise. Borotra punished the New /ealander severely at the net. Ollivier at last got him running from side to side of the court. The Frenchman was too nippy, however, and got back into position every time, making his points. In the final game Ollivier returned to the attack witli sting, and force—too late. France 6-3. 4s game, set, and match were called Borotra leapt over the net and warmly shook the New Zealand champion by the hand. BRUGNON v. BARTLEET. After the good account Bartleet gave of himself against Borotra, it might have been expected that he would be more evenly matched against Brugnon. But he did not strike the same patch of form, while on the other hand the Frenchman was in better fettle than on Wednesday. Bartleet took the first game on his service, after showing weaknesses in volleying and driving. He improved in the third game, and Brugnon equalled to 2 all. Anticipating well, Bartleet then forced the pace and some fine recoveries were seen on both sides, the major points going to New Zealand. 3-2. Brugnon closed to the net and drew up, and then quickly took the Aucklander's service. Bartleet replied by taking the next two games. Brugnon made strong efforts to clinch the set, and actually reached match point Then he netted. Five all was called, and the visitor made the set after breaking through Bartleet's service. 7-5.-Again Bartleet opened the set account, but Brugnon took the lead after one all and then ran to 3-1. Fine volleying exchanges characterised the succeeding games, and Brugnon did not have things all his own way by any means. His superior experience and better generalship were worrying to Bartleet. In the seventh game the Aucklander forced Brugnon on to the defensive, but failed to connect effectively with the ball on running to the net. In the last game he tried to keep Brugnon away from the net. The game went to France on errors. France 6-2. Brugnon played fine tennis towards the end, and Bartleet was often at sea. Holding command at the net, and returning out of reach everything that came in hitting distance, Brugnon rapidly ran up a 5-0 lead. It was then that the young New Zealander's pluck and doggedness came once more to the surface Three times deuce was called, and he took the sixth game with flying colours. Brugnon then ran in and finished the matcn. Prance 6-1. BOROTRA A^D BOUSSUS v. STURT Those who had anticipated that the New Zealand pair in the doubles would endeavour to give back all that they received were well rewarded for their confidence and had good reason to enjoy the final match. The local, players appeared nervous in the opening exchanges Stmt lost his service and Borotra won his desp°te two double faults and his failure to connect with a hot short-driven return from Sturt, Boussus settling things with powerful smashes. Knott in turn lost his service due to his own errors, and thus France had three games in. Boussus then had trouble with the sun m hu eyes, and some sparkling play ensued in which ttoe was clean hitting on both sides. Boussus gave the game away on nets. Borotia fame to light with some.terrific smashes when Sturt again took the balls, and the credit for New Zealand retr.evxng a ond game was due chiefly to Knott,^who was now playing with more confidence and nfee sting in his deliveries. France equalled on Borotra\ service, the Frenchman at one stage causing Knott to jump with surprise as he smacked the ball unex npetPdlv in his direction. Knott won through on his service, establishing a lead for New Zealand with «.. Boussus equalised and Sturt then failed in service. Then was seen a wonderful exchange o£ hot finally put the ball ouU, and New Zealand more having sun trouble, and lost to love made service errors and Boussus lorcea of the second trt on Sturt's attack, with four points to one. Boussus figured prominently in some terrific exchanges, at last glancing the ball neatly along the net to take the game. In the next Knott was surprised by Borotra and obliged to run back to return a fast-travelling ball. He was too late. "Take a quicker jump, Borotra advised him with a cheery laugh, as though exhorting him to adopt the Basque's bounding tactics. The New Zealand boys continued to work well together, and went to 5-3. Sturt then dropped his service. Boussus played further brilliant strokes at the net, and Sturt returned some of his volleys with wonderful accuracy. At set point Sturt slipped, Borotra sighing his relict. me Frenchmen made it five all, finally combining too well for Sturt and Knott. 7-». The last set was more or less a procession of games to the visitors, although the New Zealanders drew tost blood. Sparkling rallies were witnessed in the second game. Both Sturt and Knott went to pieces in serving, and they got no further games. France 6-1.