JUNIOR TENNIS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 18, 22 January 1940, Page 14

JUNIOR TENNIS

CHAMPIONSHIPS CONCLUDED

MCKENZIE WINS THREE .„■' TITLES

Brilliantly fine weather prevailed on Saturday afternoon at Miramar for the finals of the national junior lawn tennis championship and a good gallery of interested spectators saw some good play in the five finals, boys' and girls' singles, and boys', girls', and mixed doubles.. K. McKenzie (Wellington) won with ease the boys' singles title, and, partnered by A. Johns, won the boys' doubles and then with Miss D. Klsoni completed his bag with the mixed doubles title. He is undoubtedly the outstanding junior player in the country at present, and with good coaching and: good competitive play he is likely to develop into a capable senior player. The girls' singles title was won by Miss K. Hodges (Auckland), who defeated Miss E. Attwood (Levin),-8-6, 2-6, 6-1. It was. a hard tussle all the time, practically all the games going to deuce and both girls showed outstandingly good form. Miss Hodges won because of her better courtcraft, and because her strokes .were more varied and better produced. All the doubles matches were productive of good play, though in each case the winning pair led an easy victory. In the girls' doubles, Mieses P. Hodges and J. Wilson gave an excellent exhibition, driving hard, fast, and low, and with good length; their volleying and work at. the net was very effective. They defeated Misses D. Elsom and E. Gilmour, 6-2, 6-1. McKenzio and Miss Elsom had an unexpectedly easy win. in the mixed doubles over Johns and Miss Hodges, '6-2, 6-1. McKenzie and Johns In the boys' doubles made no match of it against A. Brown and N. Wallace (both of Auckland) beating them 6-0, 6-1. The trophies were presented by Mr. A. G. Henderson, president of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association. He remarked on the number of very promising young players seen in action during the tournament, y and he was confident that with good coaching and- a maintenance of progress the future of New Zealand tennis would be quite safe. Details were:— \ Boys' Singles.—R. McKenzie (Wellington) beat A. Johns (Palmerston North), 6-0, 6-3. Girls' Singles.—^Miss Rosemary Hodges (Auckland) beat Miss Evelyn Attwood (Levin), 8-6. 2-6. 6-4. ; .■ >; Girls' Doubles.—Misses R. Hodges and J. Wilson (Wellington) ' beat Misses D. Elsom (Canterbury) and E. Gilmour (Wellington), 6-2. e-i;- ... •■■■•--•■•.•. .;•...••. v ■■..-.-.• Boys' Doubles. —R. McKenzie and A. Jolins beat A. Brown rind N. Wallace (Auckland), 6-0, 6-1. Mixed Doubles. —McKenzie and Jliss Elsom beat Johns and Miss Hodges, 6-2, 6-1. Boys' Plate.—D. Dillon (Southland) beat D. Kelly (Auckland), 0-8. j