LAWN TENNIS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 10, 12 January 1929, Page 20

LAWN TENNIS

BY "HUKA- ; - NATIONAL CHAMPIONS AUCKLAND VICTORIES CANTERBURY A GOOD SECOND The New Zealand/championships,. owing to bad weather in the earlystages, took eight days to complete, and considering the rain and 1 the wet courts the management was fortunate in being able to finish the tournament by 3rd, January. Mr. D. Murray Kean and his tournament committeej' comprising Mrs. H. L. Bobson, Messrs. A. Goidie, E. B. I Hardy, F. J. Ohlson, CD. Warren, and D. G. Maefarlane, .the assistant manager, had a hard time, but all worked with a will and carried out Mr. Kean's well-laid plans- successfully. The courts, under the .conditions, were naturally very, slow, but. few false'bounds were observed. ; The. damp conditions did not-suit players who like a highbounding ball; but they. :were ideal for those players who specialise in the cut ! and the slice. Len France 'especially ■should havo been in Ms element..,. Taking the tournament'as a whole, there were.no surprises from the younger genl eration that count mjich for the future of the sport, except'perhaps / in ; the men's singles. A. C. Stedman certain--ly did beat M. L. Lampe, but the latter is now a long way past his best. In the latter stages of his match against Laurenson, when possibly the Matamata player was tiring, Stedman almost got the upper hand, .but ;the: older player 'a. experiencepulled:iim.through. The | ■ only young: playerHo'-really. show; championship standard.was C. >3E..:Malfroy, and he. might, hayo.ydone- : niuch;:better had he been in the.'i'be'stv of, condition and form. '.TMt::;iC':npt: :^o V say that Malfrpy had iiot' iprepared I'fov/thQ contest, but as::he",had:been'bn:the sick list early in the tennis,season, it could hardly be expected ;that:)he;.would be at Ms very 1 best, so far;as.strength, condition, and form :were:concerned. Of all the performers, he. : stands vout. alone as the future' New -Zealand -champion, provided that he .-trains .:and;;,,'builds up his;:strength.. -He .has -.the strokes and the tennis brain,', and;,all that- is really required is very careful,training'for the next-two years, when. he. should be fully -60i per cent, a ,better.:p}ayer .than he is .to-day., :; -;,.:.,:-'^-;;t:iA:r:'^K-n- : .. , ■ V'-AS- for the.ladies/, the;' general allround" forni shown; do v es-,not speak too. well for: the futurel';.'Nbne; of,the.young players from, say, 18;to,20 y ;who played 'in-: '■ the- ..ladies'-.■ championship singles showed any signs, of;becoming champion ■players of the Australian, class, and that isvwhat.shouldibe' aimed'for./ ; The real trouble is^that/puri'Sadies^clo^not; get. enough practice. :witli!V;the men^of the champion class^ ; :and{until' they :do: get regular practice *Jagaiiist;: such "players they cannot' be ..eipected: to. come' out of- their present grooved Even taking the semi-finalists, Mrs. Adams, Misses Maefarlane, Speirs,' and Tracy, it can •beisaid that-the ; , of. >.play is not high.: enough -to <.haye : .thp, ; .slightest chance against the ■: Australian ladies; Mrs. Adams and, Miss Tracy do volley a little, but the other two cannot hope to improve as singles players when they consistently remain on the base line.' None of the -ladies have a smash, like , the late Miss -Annie Gray or, Mrs. Stur-, mair (nee Miss Nancy 'Curtis),,, In fact, our present best lady" players are not; in the sanfe class as New Zealand's best ladies who journeyed to Sydney twenty years ag0.... None have the ' drives of Misses Nuimeley, Powdrell, or- Trayers, nor the volleying, and courtcraft: of Misses Gray and Ruby Wellwood. For. all that, there, is.no reason to be' downhearted, as better things may be expected of. tho younger generation', as was shown in the'girls' singles, .but something must be done to bring tho best out iv these players,' and the first and only thing that counts is that the,young players should be <; well coached. ■ Out of the 30, boys and 20 girls who played ill "the junior singles there are almost certain to be a few champions.' If all the really good and promising juniors were properly looked after by each association, there should be fully 60 entries for each'of the junior events. The New Zealand Association would be. well advised to ask each association to nominate four or more of its best junior players for each of the junior New Zea- ■; land championship events next season.

Men's Singles. .....''. In the third, round none,, of the matches were in doubt after the players settled down. Stedinan. had too much pace and activity for 1 Lanrpe, and Malt'roy, after taking the edge off. RhodesWilliams in the first set, had command. In the fourth round Bartleot knew toomuch for Arigas, the Canterbury ■ colt, though the latter certainly tried gamely, but in instances had "bellows to mend" after futile gallops to get shots, which it would have been wiser to let go. Bartleet worked for position all the; time, and seldom, if ever, went in to the net on the wrong shot or too early. Laurenson can cover the court possibly better than any. other player in New Zealand, and is really dangerous when returning a shot that he has perhaps had to gallop for from the far side of the court. The unexpected and dazzling return more often than ;not beat the young and inexperienced colt, and that is just what happened to Stedinan. Had the latter taken the fourth set, which i I went to 8-6, taost of the. pace would have gone from the doctor's gallops in the fifth set, provided • Stedman could have kept up-his hard driving. Stedman's time may yet come ir he profits by the experience he'.shoiild'have gained in his defeats. . Malfroy had Sturt all the way, and his" great asset was his accuracy. Sturt lias not shown the improvement he promised •. a. few years back. France was too suro for Glanville, who in his endeavours to win was forced out of his usual steadiness, but the Canterbury player not accurate enough in his aggressiveness, and France benefited'by his constant stream of mistakes. Bartleet won/ against Laurenson in ■, the semi-final almost in the same manner as;lie did. last, year when the second set ran to' 8-6, and iri the third set this year ho took command. Malfroy and France, had. a good tough fight, ■'but France's chops did not trouble the colt, and after the latter took the third set 8:6 the match' was over. ■ The final was not the sensational finish/that the 1927 one was between Ollivier and'Bartleet, yet sufficient waj shown by Malfroy. this year to incline one to believe that it is only a' matter of a very little time when the Wellington colt will have the measure of. Bartleet. Malfroy is about seven years younger than the 1928 champion, and youth as well as vigour count a great deal'when a strenuous match has to bo foughfout. Last season Malfroy ran Bartleet to fiyo . sets, ■as compared

with 5 four sets this year, but last year the total gaineA.for-..th.e..flye_fiets...wpre... 26. to 20; whereas this year the tally for the;foui-.sets-in games w.as 25 to 21. Although it may not always be reliable to depend upon the tally of .games .as, a guide, yet in this instance there is,,not thei slightest doubt -that Bartleet was being pushed all the way, even up to the-last rally,- and " with' just :"a:;B]ia'de of "luck the second or third sets might have been Malfrdy's." "BaTtleet was going, the stronger of the two in ..the: fourth set, his condition standing the test better.-than/aid .Malfroy-'s. When tho Wellington player led 5-3 in the third set lie. lost.his chance by slowing down, which was a" fatal mistake. His only chance, was .to', win quickly in tliatthird set by speeding:.up his.game. The experience "should ■'be valuable to him in the future.- : Bartleet deserved I,his victory—he has been, tapping ' the::door for some time, aftci his re.\vard lias not arrived before! its'Utini'e.'' Congratulations to the. 1928 and may the victory be an, extra spur, to train seriously for the time when lie has to defend his title.' •'

Ladies' Singles. --.■■-•<■ Nothing sensational occurred in Jhe second round iof--the "ladies''single's, although few expected-.Miss : . Myers.; (Wanganui) to; beat.. Miss .Wake .(Christchurch). ■ These two-players are of an even strength,-,iu)d one' -might win to-day and the:other to-morrow. The Wanganui-lady;proved >her win was no fluke by J giving Mrs. Adams: a severe" shake up in .the third round. In fact, the j Wellington player.was, fortunate to win the first set, .as Miss ,'Myers! had : a commanding lead' of 5-2, 40-love, and was three times within one point,;of set. 1 Miss. Adams is seen at. her best when fighting ■ what <. appears to.- be: a forlorn hope, - and it:.-was a - great achievement to take that first set by winning five games in Miss Myers stuc,k to her opponent all the way in the second set',- and; Mrs. Adams .deserved her win at 7:5 because •■ of her pluck in going for winners at. critical stages. Misses . Maefarlarie, . Speirs, and Tracy advanced to the semi-finals with very little opposition. There is no doubt that Miss Macfarlane's game has improved with -her'visit .to England, and she proved it by defeating Mrs. Adams, who was playing well,- 9-7, 6-4. Miss Speirs,. after she settleddown to her game, was too superior to Miss Tracy, who does not appear to be playing' as well.as she did two years ago. Miss Maefarlane has at last won the championship, .and' she .thoroughly deserves it, as she'has been a keen tryer with not the best of luck, for several years- past. ..Last year she had hard luck in the semi-final against Miss Speirs, the latter being .permit-' ted to .take continued" rests whenever Miss Maefarlane had her run. to-;..a standstill.' • This year the Aueklander opened strongly and captured the first set at 6-1. .Miss Speirs evened-, by taking the second set, but continual plugging id Miss Maefarlane's back hand really, lost . her chances, ;as the Aueklander's strokes from that quarterimproved as the match advanced. Miss Speirs did not show the strategy expected of a champion, player, and when opportunities offered for a Mil she did not display the';aggressiveness of the really, strong player. '. Miss \ Maefarlane was content to .attack from, thebaseline, and doing so proved not only too strong, but, also ...too : accurate .for the Canterbury player.-,. -. : ' ■; ' Men's Doubles..,. „: -:.:,., , There was' nothing' to write ; home about in the ' men'.'s '.doubles .until the semi-finals'; but :., Grifliths ,.' and 1 Mackintosh, shook ■ Bartie.et and.:iiaur.enson lip in .the second round, as did''Johns .and Morrison in ■the.-i.third. ipun'd.' ; : -, The; holders are .inclined ..to slothfulness at times, but it'was notieed-.they. could, speed up when necessary. ■ Charters and Steajnan kept-theni'mpving*in the early, sets 6£ 'the. semi-final,: but they rpniped home.. ik' th.e.;;thjrd. and 'fourth. sets, when speed was'n*eeessary;td 'clinch a win.' " ■ in;^)io,;tb^h'alf;Eri«ic6* and Angas "had-"" a "go'-as-yqu-please. .until' ■Sturfc- and Malfrby 'tackled them, but the latter pair have not the Knott and Sturt ;-combinatibnj and .that is. just where - they failed to" clinch .a win. Prance and Angas, a'<new% combination, did -very "well to'p'ut up a 5-set-'fight against such-fa :proy.ed"' Soubles 'pair as Bartleet' and; 'Laurenson,' but after- all combination does' count, arid in' this match was the winning factor. Both Bartleet "and Laurenson .have won the doubles three times, but : only twice together. Laurenson won in 1922 with Ollivier, and':Baftleetf."in 1923 with"A. L. Kobspn;.' ' Laurensph,..' considering' the little good practice".lie'gets, has performed particularly v well at "the , tour-, nament, and ho ..was. the star player in the doubles, smashing with great pace, while his driving was also-deadly.: Bartleet had his opponents ■ guessing with his swerving services, but Prance and Angas held ■ their -own- Svhen .V at close quarters..- With four sets" gone the games .wore Bartleet and.! Laurenson 20 to their, opponents 19. .'.' The final set was a goPd go, but tho,,win-, nors had the upper hand, though it would' have taken but little .for -them to" have lost control had Angas. or Prance been able to speed up just. a shade'more. ' ";"' "■ -: . " "■ '■

Ladies' Doubles.. , -.• „ ' in "the licebnd round of .] the. ladies' doubles Misses Nicholls and Howe played a very safe gam.o,, ; and;- had their opponents, Misses. Speirs and Wake, in trouble. . It ".Was" a' case of .who would, break dpwix Jirst, and sometimes the 'rallies appeared to^be going on for ever, .^'The .Canterbury.-, pair eventually; won,.after ..three sets, the score in games:being Id-all. , It- would have served the winners.right had they lost, as by slowing down their game they played right' into- the hands'" of; their opponents. , : Nothing .of ac-, count happened until,.Mrs.-. Adams and Miss Tracy:. met :the.. Misses Macfarlane.in; the somi-final of the lower half.; The Auckland pair' did not team well in the first set, which 1 went to the holders easily. The fight was then on, and as. Miss Marjorie Macfarlane improved inethe second set the score was evened with an adyantage,,set,. i but.;the holders were too. aggressive in the third set and won fairly easily. Miss Speirs and ..-.Wake played their usual, game, against Mts. Melody, and Miss Myers, and had a good win., '. . The final.was a very even, contest between Mrs. Adams and Miss-T,raey, the hold* era, and Misses Speirs- ; and Wake. The latter pair just won 6-4, 2-6, 8-6, and the "score-in' games ".was even,. 16-all. Miss. Wake was undoubtedly-a'stronger partner thaii Miss Speirs had last season: " 'All played well, but Miss Speirs was the . most accurate, and- .that' told its.talc." ■_■ ■'-.-. \' . ■', '.' ..';■-■;,■"■■. i Mixed Doubles. ..''-"; ;''.'■,;•:" .'';",' -, The surprise of the -mixed; doubles was the defeat of Mrs. Adams -and' France in the third round by Miss Myers and Lanipe (Wanganui).- ':---Miss Myers played .like. one...inspiredj and 1 was, largely,'-responsible- : for the ,win. Miss Speirs; and : Angas-. were, .-shaken- up by, Miss.-Andrews: and .EerkiJis .in ;the second roundj-and'also,by--Miss Rau<;ay and Morrison in the third-roundj both matches running to-three setsi'"'. They improved' in: the ; semi-final "-'and'-beat Miss Myers .and^Lampe afier; 'a -dose first; set. -In,the.final ;they 'met '., Miss 'FracyV and ..Malfroy,' .who ,had v 'had!' an" I easy passage so. far,.;- iliss'Speirs" and Angas won 6-4, 7-5, >'V.ply .because, they did- not make.'so many.: mistakes by .wild hitting as:'didvtheir 1 opponents; ■ ■ :..'. \