CHAMPIONSHIP TENNIS

Evening Star, Issue 19443, 29 December 1926, Page 3

CHAMPIONSHIP TENNIS

HEW ZEALAND TOURNEY OPENS [Sfeciai, to the ‘ Star.’] : AUCKLAND, December 18. Most of the players made familiar by recent tournaments are again competitors at the New Zealand lawn tennis championships, which opened at tho Stanley street courts to-day. The notable absentee is G. Ollivier, who has not come to Auckland to defend his singles title. Although bright sunshine ruled throughout tho day, the courts had not fully recovered from the thorough soaking experienced during the preceding week, and sawdust had to be spread on the baselines of all courts before play proceeded. The continuance of the sunshine, however, quickly dried the courts.

On tho opening day it is mainly a case of sorting out strong players, and general predictions were • not upset, although one or two surprises wove effected. The most astonishing ,was the defeat of Ivan Seay, of Canterbury, by C. E. Malfroy, the present boy champion, 6-4,- o-6, 6-4, 6-3. Malfroy had to work hard for victory, but Ins general play was so sound that the success was well earned. Doth players stayed back, long rallies marking the match. Seay put more sting into his shots, ■ but drove out trequeutly, whereas his younger opponent was steadiness personified. Malfroy came occasionally to the net to chop short Seay’s drives, and he scored some clever placements. Overhead his work was rather weak, and.Seay fed him on high lobs, which were more often than not smashed into tho net. There was little difference between the players, and the keenly-contested duel was lollowed with great interest. Peacock, who represented New Zealand in the Davis Cup contest in 1921, had to yield to Norman Sturt, a promising young Auckland player, by whom he was defeated in three straight sets. Peacock found the treacherous nature of tiie court against him, and his more slightly-built opponent profited thereby. Frank Peach had to lower his colors to A. C. Johns (Auckland), but this result was not unexpected, as Peach has passed his heyday, and nowadays shines more in doubles than in singles.

North and Norman Peach are the two Australians who promise to go nearest toward capturing the singles title, although close followers of the game are. not perturbed, considering that New Zealand has a string of players who will keep the flag Hying. Andrews, whose chances are thought to be the brightest, had only one match to-day, beating Cliff Dickie, the Taranaki veteran, in straight sets. Andrews was hardly seen at his best, but Dickie is a dogged lighter. Don Franco, who was runner-up to Ollivier last year, had an exceptionally hard fight against L. T. Pickmerc (Whangarei). Franco was pushed to vantage to win the first sot, and waseasily beaten in the second. Pickmoro came into the net and cut short France’s drives with dazzling placements. France came into the net in the third set, and won at 8-0 after a great recovery from 2-5. The Whangarei player gained a similar lend in the next set. Again Franco made a good recovery, bnt.it was too late, and Pickmere evened the sets at 2 all. France went ahead in the decisive set, but Pickmere did not give in without a struggle. It was a great battle ol placements, both players earning applause for brilliant work at the net. Bartleet met. a formidable opponent in Knott. Indeed, some declare Mint Knott had his man beaten, but could not press home the advantage. However, Bartleet slowed clown his game after losing the second sot, allowing his opponent to beat himself by errors. Had Knott played similar tactics lie might have effected one of the surprises of the tournament. Ferkins, who came into prominence, by winning the hoys’ championship in 1923 and 1924, fell a somewhat easy victim to N. R. C. Wilson. The latter was right on his game, and played with greater power and accuracy. His placements were delightful to watch. The principal interest to-morrow will centre in the meeting of North and France, Bartleet and Fitzgerald, Wilson and Peach, ami Andrews and Lampo. Results: — MFN’S SINGLES. —First Round,— A. G. Wallace (Wavcrloy) heat T. F. Clark (Auckland), 0-2, 4-0, 0-3, 6-1. W. Pearse (Tcmuka) beat E. Colthart (Raotihi), 6-3, 0-3, 0-4, N. Smith (Rotorua) beat A. E. B. Richardson (Auckland), 6-0, 6-2, 6-4, A. C. Johns (Auckland) beat F. Peach (New South Wales), 6-2, 8-6, 7N, G. Sturt (Auckland) beat J. C. Peacock (Wellington), 6-1, 6-3, 6-2. S. J. Robinson (Auckland) beat R. V. Bundle (Wellington), 6-1, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1. V. R. Johns (Auckland) won from W. Haig (Te Araroa) by default. P. Haegc (Victoria) beat H. Briusden (Auckland), 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. C. E. Malfroy (Wellington) beat 1, A. Seny (Christchurch), 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. W. J. Melody (Wellington) beat W. G. Watkins (Auckland), 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. W. H. Entwistlo (Auckland) beat A. E. M'Cracken (Hamilton), 6-4, 6-2, 9-7. J. M'Causland (New South Wales) beat E. M. Ohlson (Auckland), 6-2, 6-2, 6-1. A. W. Sims (Auckland) beat S. W. Field (Canterbury), 6-1, 6-1, G-0. J. G. Charters (Whangarei) heat R. H. M’Leod (Auckland), 6-2, 6-1, 3-6, 6-1. R. Browning (Canterbury) beat C. C. Chalmers (Auckland), 6-4, 7-5, 3-6, 8C. Brewster (Now South Wales) heat S. Lamb (Auckland), 4-6, 7-5, 1-6, 6-4, 6-2. E. L. Bartleet (Auckland) heat F. R. Chisholm (Dunedin), 6-2, 6-0, 6-2. L. G. Knott (Auckland) won from H. R. Tawhiri (Te Araroa) by default. A. K. Turner (Auckland) beat W. S. Somerville (Canterbury), 5-7, 6-2, 7-9, 6-1, 8-6. J. Fitzgerald (Now South Wales) beat N. M. Louisson (Auckland), 6-2, 6-1, 6-0. N R. C. Wilson (Wellington) bent A. H. M‘Donald (Auckland), 6-2, 6-2, 6-3. R. M‘L. Perkins (Wellington) bent J. A. F. Watson (Auckland), 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. E. W. Wright (Mntnmatn) bent R. H. Tait (Christchurch), 0-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-0. N. Peach (New South Wales) won from E. Bell (Pirongia) by default. —Second Round.— D. G. France (Wellington) beat L. T. Pickmere (Whangarei), 7-5, 1-6, 8-6, 5- 6-4. Dr A. North (New South Wales) beat H. M. A. Jamor (Masterton), 6-2, 6-0, 6E. D. Andrews (Palmerston North) beat C. J. Dickie (Waverley), 6-2, 6-2, 6-2. M. L. Lampe ' (Wanganui) heat E, W. Griffiths (Auckland), 6-1, 6-0, 6-1. Wallace beat Pearse, 6-3, 6-1, 2-6, 6-4. Smith beat A. E. Johns, 7-5, 7-5, 6-1. Sturt beat Robinson, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4. Haege beat V. R. Johns, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. Malfroy heat Melody, 6-4, 6-3, 6-1. M'Causland beat Entwislle, 6-1, 7-5, Sims beat Charters, 6-1, 6-2, 6-1. Brewster beat Browning, 6-4,'6-1, 4-6, 6-4. Bartleet beat Knott, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Fitzgerald beat Turner, 6-1, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4. Wilson beat Perkins, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2. N. Poach beat Wright, 6-1, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.

LADIES’ SINGLES. —First Hound.— Miss B. Knight (Auckland) beat Mrs A. Arneil (Whangarei), 7-5, 7-5. Miss M. Myers (Wanganui) beat Miss E. J. Bowell (Auckland), 6-1, 6-3. Miss M. Lowry (Hastings) beat Miss A. Francis (Auckland), 4-6, 6-2, 6-2. Miss J. Watson (New South Wales) boat Miss E. Miller (Auckland), 6-3, 6-3 Mr- W. J. Melody (Wellington) beat Misi Mrcfarlane, 6-3, 6-3. Miss M. Stevens (Whangarei) won from Miss N. Colbeck (Auckland) by default. Miss B. Witherow (Auckland) beat Miss E. Hale (Takitimu), 5-7, 6-4, 6-2. —Second Round.— Miss N. Spiers (Christchurch) beat Miss M. Napier (Auckland), 6-1, 0-2. Miss J. E. Ramsay (Auckland) beat Miss W. MTherson (Taumarunui), 6-8,

7-5, 7-5. Miss A. Howie (Wellington) beat Miss N. Colebrook (Auckland), 8-6, 0-1. Miss N. Lloyd (Now South Wales) beat Miss K. Hei (Takitimu), 6-3, 7-5. MEN’S DOUBLES. —First Round.— E. L. Bartleet and H. Robson (Auckland) won from H. R. Tawhiri and W. Haig (Te Araroa) by default. A. G. Wallace and C. J. Dickie (Waverley) bent F. B. M‘Kay and 0. G. Peters (New South Wales), 6-U. 6-1, 6-4. M. L. Lainpe (Wanganui) and D. G. France (Wellington) beat R. V. Bundle (Wellington) and N. Smith (Rotorua), 6-0, 6-1, 6-3.

LADIES’ DOUBLES. ■—First Round.— Misses N. Lloyd and J. Watson (New South Wales) heat Mrs Scott-Watson (Auckland) and Mrs Arneil (Whangarei), 6-1, 6-3. Miss M. Lowry (Hastings) and Miss M. Macfnrlane (Auckland) boat Mrs D. M. Robson (Auckland) and Miss M. Stevens (Whangarei), 6-3, 6-3. Mrs W. J. Melody (Wellington) and Miss AI. Speirs (Christchurch) beat Misses A. Francis and 0. Maxwell (Auckland), 6-1, 6-2.