PLAY AT AUCKLAND

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 24, 29 January 1935, Page 5

PLAY AT AUCKLAND

FIVE FINALS DECIDED

ROL'SSELL'S BIG J'TUIIT

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, January 2S. The semi-finals and some of the finals i of the Kew Zealand Lawn Tennis championships were decided today. Conditions were ideal, and as there was only a light breeze the dust 'nuisance which developed early in the tournament along the baselines ot the parched courts was practically non-existent. No New Zealanders. have reached the final of the men's championship singles, which will be decided between the Wimbledon and United States champion, Il'. J. Perry, and the young Victorian player, A.- A. Kay. Today in' the semi-linals Perry defeated E. A. lioussell in straight sets, although the youn^ Wellington player fought pluckily every inch of the way, while Kay eliminated the • Aucklandcr, N. G. Sturt, also in. straight sets. ■In the.women's singles .Miss Marjoric Jlacfai-lane (Aucklundj reached the final with a victory over another Aucklaudei", Miss B. Knight, and she will' meet Miss D. Nitiholls, of, Wellington, who is ranked i\ro ; 1 in.New Zealand.' Kay and the other young Victorian, 11. W. 15win,; prevailed ovcU* L. G. Knott (Australia) and Sturt (Auckland) but not until their opponents had taken a set at G-2. and Perry and JJ. G. Fiance (.Wellington) gained a straight-set victory over A. K. Turner and A. C. Johns (Auckland). The final between Perry and France and the Victorian pair should provide the best exhibition of the ' touruamUv'n. W. J. Melody (Wellington) and Miss S. WUittukcr, the Australian player, accounted for Miss Knight and Mrs. K. I J. Adams (Wellington) and will play Miss Xieholls and Miss N. Beverley (Matamata) in the final of the women's doubles. By defeating"TCwin and Mis- Beverley, Sturt and Miss Macfarlane gained the honour of meeting Perry and Miss Whittaker in the final of the combined doubles. This final proved to be the most exciting o] the tournament, and kept a large crowd of spectators on tenterhooks. Throughout the second.set, which the Aueklanders finally won at 7-5, they showed the .gallery glimpses of the real Perry; who covered the court with amazing rapidity. In the final set the visitors did riot allow Sturt and Miss Macfarlane to take another game, and won the match, 6-0, 5-7. 0-0. By a confidence, the victorious pairs in the finals of both the boys' and girls' doubles provided the finalists in the corresponding singles eveuts. R. G. PattinKon (West Coast) defeated C. F. Penfold (Canterbury), with whom he won the doubles title on Saturday,'and Miss M.Beverley (Matamata)/ sister of the Auckland champion, won the girls' singles title with a straight-set victory over Miss P. Cooke, of Auckland, her successful partner in the doubles event. Partnered by Miss R. Barry (Canterbury) and -Miss M. Dickie respectively. Penfold and Pattinson were again opposed to each other in the final of the junior combined doubles, which Penfold and Miss Barry won without much trouble. FORMIDABLE AUSTRALIAN. In the first; semi-final of the men's singles both Kay and Sturt started steadily and neither seemed (willing to force the pace. Backline play characterised the first set, with even honours to 4-all. Kay played with greater accuracy, and, taking Sturt's service, went on and won the set, 0-4. The second set was similar to tho first, with deep-court drives predorainatinij. Sturt made occasional excursions' to the not, ill some o£ which ho was- successful.' Kay, ..however,..passed him with great accuracy towards the end of the set, aud the Aucklandcr deemed it better policy to stay out,, but;|pst the set at 6-4. The third set opened .quietly. Start's dviv.es were now slower,vand higher across the net, allowing., ,Kay rto execute profitable volleys."---Uninspiring play ; followed, in which .Kay'.--'forged -ahead and took the setj 6-2,. and''the match. Sturt on the whole showed good form, and his inability to take a. set from Kay only goes to prove the: worth -of. the Australian, who iiaa-not: lost a set yet and should put up a; good exhibition against Perry in the final. '-v.' In the other semi-final Perry met Roussell ("Wellington) in an exhibition that was keenly anticipated on account, of tha great improvement of the latter and his fine progress . through the tournament. Koussell was not perturbed by the mannerisms or brilliant shots of his opponent, and by plugging along slowly evened the score; at 2-all. Threei carefully-directed sider line 'drives beat; Koussell, but he came to the net and won a third game. Perry again attacked, and Roussell, playing better than ever, put up a great fight, going under at 6-4, In the. second set the Wellington player anticipated nicely, retrieving many well-placed drives, and making many ■ good shots from the net. His. loosely-strung racket seemed to give him an additional finesse in many drop shots. ."■; Perry at 4-2 concentrated deeply on the game and made; few errors. He gave.his opponent little chance with loose balls. With ■the utmost care he took; the set at 0-2. The final set saw Perry again plajMngvwith the same dashing style, and after leading 4-2 he went on \and won the match at 0-2.' Roussell played "extremely well against . such formidable opposition, and kept the ball in. play with regularity due to anticipation rattier than to agility, while Perry found him his hardest opponent of the singles so far. • .;■ ■^.■,I.v.:1: .\ .- .■ V STRENUOUS WOMEN'S SINGLES. Only: one match was played in ' thei women's singles, Miss Nicholls already having won her way to the filial in this contest; • Miss; Macfarlane had to go all out to defeat Miss Knight in three sets, all of which were strenuous. These are old rivals, and seldom has a better match between them been staged. The semi-finals of the men's doubles produced one good match full of bright interchanges, smashing, volleying, and all that is expected of top-grade doubles. Ewin and Kay (Australia) romped ahead and led 5-0, Sturt and Knott eventually taking the sixth .game but losing,the set at 6-1. The score was little indication of the fast work that occurred. The losers reversed the decision in the second set and combined admirably at the net. Knott got back many fine smashes, and Sturt :>oth served and volleyed well. In the third set Sturt just failed to get right in, and working with renewed vigour the Australians won at 6-2. The players came back refreshed after the interval, and many clashos occurred from inside the service line. Kay served well and made the ball kick high. An interchange of lobs was an interlude, but this form of attack had to be perfect to defeat the smashing capabilities of all four players. A good match ended at 6-4 in the fourth set in favour of Australia. In the other semi-final Perry and France met Johns and Turner, tho former combination being.too good for the. local men./ Play in the combined doubles semi-final was continued in the morning, when Sturt nnd Miss Macfarlane easily accounted for Ewin and Miss Beverley in straight sets. I'jWin and. Mips Beverley were not combining particularly wrll, and Miss Beverley was not encouraged much by her partner. Errors- led Ewin to lose the first set, 4-6. Combining with true artistry. Sturt and his partner played astonishingly well and led 4-2 and 5-2. Sturt winning his service to love. Here over-drives' by F.wiri and two beautiful interceptions by Sturt gave the Aueklanders the match. A BRIGHT MATCH. The final of the combined doubles proved one of tho brightest attractions of the tournament. Perry and Miss. Whittaker won the title by defeating the Auckland champions Sturt and Mies Macfarlane. Perry dominated the net and gave a brilliant exhibition of overhead smashing and interceptions. The Auckland pair could not stand the pace, and though the last, set was more even than the score would indicate, Perry and Miss Whittaker became the 1035 champions. 'Mr*. Melody and Miss Whittaker entered .the final of the women's doubles by defeating. Miss Knight and Mm Adams. By hpr failure to read the advertised time ■of'thp match Misf Knight caused an unfortunate delay in starting this match,

which was timed to begin at 10 a.m. 4 and actually commenced after ■ .'11.30. iMrs, Melody and Miss Wliittaker both sut»;essfully avoided Miss Knight at the netuind directed their attack at Mrs. Adams, fading 4-1 and 3-2, and after a splendid-rJinth game won at 6-3. In the second set Sirs. Adams played very steadily and withs'kopd a battery attack, and. aided by Jliss Knight's,net play, won the set. 13ieir opponents ran to a lead of 5-0 in the next, but after dropping three games pn the next and the match. Detailed scores are as follows: — Men's Singles. ;1 Semi-finals.—F. J. Perry (England)' Heat A. Koussell (Wellington), 6-4, 6-2,-t*2; ; A. A. Kay (Victoria) beat N. G. btyxA . (Auckland), 6-4, 0-4, 6-2. . Men's Doubles. ■■ Semi-finals-.-A.'A. Kay and A. W. E'.tin. . (Victoria) beat L. G. Knott (Australia.) . and N. G. Sturt (Auckland),. 0-1, 4-6, (*2, 1 0-4; F. J. Perry. (England) and D. f». 1 Franco (Wellington) beat A. K. Tuitwr and V. C. Johns (Auckland), G-4, 0-2, 6>l. : Women's Singles., Semi-final.—Miss Mavjo'rie Macfarlane ■ (Auckland) beat. Miss B. Knight (Amik-. land), 0-4, 2-6, 64. ' • ; ' Women's Doubles. ; Semi-final.—Mrs. W. J. Melody1 (W('l- . lington) and Miss S. " Whiltaker (Australia) beat Miss B. Knight (Aueklar^l) ■jnd Mrs. R. P. Adams. (Wellington), tt-3, 3-6, 0-3. ' _ ' ' /■:■':■ ■ Combined Doubles. ■ ' . Semi-fiiial.—N". G.'Sturt and Miss M.jriorie Macfarlane (Auckland)' beat P... IV. Kwin . (Australia) and Miss. .N.. Bcvcrljt-y (Matamata), 6-4, 0-2. '• ' ■ . • ; •'■'..■ Final.—F. J. Perry (England) and Miss S. Whitlaker (Australia) beat N. G.. St.prt and Miss ilarjorie Macfarlane (Auckland), G-0, 5-7,-0-0. ■.'■■. Boys' Singles. Final.—R. G. Pattinson (AVest Coaft) beat C. V.. Penfold (Canterbury), 6-2, 0»4. Girls' Singles. Final.—Miss M. Beverley. (Matamata*! beat Miss P. Cooke (Auckland), 0-4, 0-1; Girls' Doubles. ■ Final.—Miss P. Cooke (Auckland) njicl ■ Miss M. Bevevley (Matamata) boat Miss J. Burns (Wellington) and Miss R.'.'Baury (Canterbury), 6-3, 5-6, 6-3. Junior Combined Doubles. ' Semi-final.—C. F. Penfold and Miss E. Barry (Canterbury) beat W. Hooper (Mauawatu) and Miss J.'Burns'(Wellington), 6-5? 6-3. ■ Final.—C; F. Penfold and Miss R. Ba'rvy beat R. G. Pattinsou (West Coast) iiud Miss M, Dickie (Taranaki), 6-4, 0-4.