LAWN TENNIS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 1, 2 January 1937, Page 15

LAWN TENNIS

CHAMPIONSHIP, PLAY

WELLINGTONIANS TO THE FORE

(By Telegraph.) (Special to the "Eveninfl Post.") TIMARU, January 1. Wellington players were eminently successful 4in the preliminary rounds of the New Zealand tennis championshops, five of the eight men's singles quarter-finalists, two of the women's final eight, and many of the winning doubles competitors being Wellington representatives. The absence of overseas visitors has made the contests exceptionally interesting to the players, who have fought all the harder for knowing that the crown of victory may this year be within their reach. All the New' Zealand titles will be decided among and won by New Zealanders.

There have been many close contests and the standard of play, with the keener competition, is exceptionally high. There is great speculation here as to who will be the men's singles finalists. All five Wellingtonians have been playing exceptionally well but the abnormal conditions as the result of rain on the excellent spring turf make a forecast hazardous. MLss Dulcie Nicholls (Wellington) is driving magnificently and is the favourite for the women's singles title. Rain interfered with play, and the matches were not resumed until 3.30 p.m. today. The courts dried rapidly, however, and although the low bounce interfered with players using the Western grip and the heavy turf favoured the spin experts, many excellent gam'es were seen. Charters showed fine form in his victory, 6-4, 6-1, 64, over Brown. He drove beautifully on the forehand and came to the net to volley confidently. Brown made the mistake of not attacking Charters's backhand. Coombe showed considerable improvement in technique as a result of his trip to Australia, and defeated Cant confidently in straight sets, placing well with varying length drives and smashing magnificently. Coombe lacked confidence in the earlier match against Penfold and lost the first set to love, but there was a great battle in the third set.

Roussell did not appear to be trying hard against Latham until the final love set. He drove and smashed beautifully. He also was not confident in his earlier match, and dropped a set to Dyer. Roussell combined very well with Miss I. Poole in the mixed doubles and with R. Ferkins won the men's doubles match with ease.

Ferkins played his best tennis for years, beating Taylor 6-3, 6-0, 6-1. He was volleying very well Gunn, but his play as a whole was not spectacular. Gunn fought hard and drove well on the forehand, placing accurately.

Barnett had a big advantage over lan Macarthur because of the effect of his high spin on the heavy turf. Macarthur drove well to the corners and made Barnett run back and forward, but he generally ended by netting or outing his drives. Bedford had to fight very hard in the early part of his game against Edwards (Hutt Valley), who showed excellent form. Bedford, after dropping the first set, gradually took control and won by the superiority of his volleying. He had little difficulty later against Dymond, winning 6-3, 6-2. 6-4. Dymond double-faulted frequently. Sturt was brilliant with his drop shots just over the net against Gunn. Angas was too experienced- for Corich, although the contest produced some attractive play. , ... A great doubles battle resulted between Angas and Seay and the Lewis brothers. Every point was fought out, and the rallies were long and frequently applauded, The Lewis brothers were brilliant overhead, and excellent in combination. Miss Howe, by reliable stroking, fought her way into the quarter-final of the women's singles. . . Coombe and Miss Nicholls had little opposition from Fea and Miss Smyth. Miss Nicholls's passing drives and Coombe's overhead play bringing victory, 6-0, 64. , Dyer and Mrs. Melody went down after a hard fight to Seay and Miss T Poolg The big upset was the defeat of the seeded pair. Charters and Miss N. Beverley, by Beatson and Mrs. Beatson. Unfamiliar conditions and excellent combination by their opponents caused their defeat.

MEN'S SINGLES. Second Round. E. A. Roussoll beat K. W. Dyer. 6-4, 8-6, 5-7, ""d. C. Coombe beat C. V. Penfold, 0-6. 6-2. 12-10, 6-1. „ . . »■>•?', .1. C. Charters beat R. H. Lewis, 6-3, i-o, 4 "ll. A.'Barnott beat R. G. Pattinson, 8-6, 2-6, N. F. Bedford boat N. V. Edwards, 7-9, 6-2, C T." McArthur beat D. Livingstone, 6-4, 3-6,' 3-6. 6-4, 8-6. . ; ,T. W. Gunn beat E. A. Pearce. 6-4, (.--. 6-1. H. Dymond beat G. C. Reid, 5-7. 6-1, i-t>. 6-4. Third Round. R. McL. Perkins beat R. J. Taylor, 6-3, 6-0, li Awras beat I. .T. Corich, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5. J. C. Charters beat A. D. Brown, 6-4, 6-1, E. A. Rousscll beat A. D. I*thatn, 6-3, 4-6. 6-3. 6-0. H. A. Barnett beat C. T. McArthur, b-4, N. G.'sturt beat J. W. Gunn, 6-3. 6-4. 6-4. P. C. Coombe beat A. R. Cant, 6-3. 6-6, 6-4. N. F. Bedford beat H. Dymond, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. WOMEN'S SINGLES. Second Round. Miss D. Nicholls beat Miss J. Eaton, 6-0, 6-2. Miss T. Poole won by default from Miss D. Deegan. Miss M. Beverley beat Miss I. Poole, 6-3, 6-3. Miss N. Beverley beat Miss M. Hardic, 6-0, 6-3. Miss N. G. Bishop beat Miss G. Gould, 6-0, 6-2. Miss J. E. Ramsay beat Miss R. M. Drake, Miss M. How beat Miss M. Wake, 6-1, 6-4. .MEN'S DOUBLES. First Round. D. Clow and J. Leng beat M. J. Souter and B. E. Souter, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3. A. B.Cant and H. A. Barnett boat Martin and B. O'Connor by default. C. An&as and I. A. Seay beat J. D. and R. H. Lewis, 6-1, 0-7, 4-6, 6-1. N. G. Sturt and J. W. Gunn beat D. Livlngl stone and J. Roach, 8-6, 6-1, 7-5. 1 Second Round. R. McL. Perkins and E. A. Roussoll beat P. J. Lewis and I. Mathleson. 6-3, 6-2, 6-3. D. CJow and J. Leng beat J. W. Arnold and J. Mercer. 12-10, 8-6, 6-2. A. D. Latham and A. E. Sandral heat I. J. Corich and T. Rhodes-Williams, 6-2, 6-4. 3-6, 2-6, 7-5. WOMEN'S DOUBLES. First Round. Mrs. Beatson and Miss Gould beat Mrs. Melody and Mrs. Latham, 6-4, 6-3. Misses Bishop and Wake beat. Misses Jones and Murray, 6-J, 6-1. Misses T. and 1. Poole beat Misses Eaton and ratchett. 6-1. 6-0. Second Round. Misses K. and M. Beverley beat Misses Anderson and Bardie, 6-2, 6-2. MIXED DOUBLES. First Bound. D. C. Coombe and Miss D, Nlrholls beat W. R. Fea and Miss K. A. Smythe, 6-0, 6-1. J. C. Charters and Miss N. Beverlev beat L. McDonald and Miss J. Eaton, 6-0, 6-1. G. A. Pcarco and Miss N. Flemlnc beat R. McCollum and Miss A. J. Wilson, 10-8, 6-8. 6-2. R. G. Pattinson and Miss S. Anderson beat B. Boyd and Miss D. Shirtcliffe, 6-2, 10-8. Second Round. A. R. Cant and Miss B. Gould won hv default from K. A. Pearce and MJss D. Miller. C. G. Beatson and Mrs. Beatson beat J. C. Charters and Mles N. Beverley, 0-6, 6-1, 6-2.