TENNIS.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 11403, 2 January 1931, Page 3

TENNIS.

EVERY TITLE CHANGES HANDS

STEDMAN NEW'SINGLES CHAM- ■ ... ; PION :.• - 9

LADIES’. TITLE AGAIN TO MRS ’ DYKES .(

. (Press Associations CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 31, Tne New ZealandJawn tennis championships were' concluded at W ucung Park in glorious. weather before the biggest attendance- of. the. tournament. • . .1 ' The principal attraction was- tne final of the men’s championship singles between A., C. Stednian, ok Auckland, and H. A. Barnett-of-Canter-, bury. Stedman began- nei-vously, but quickly rallied..and, after being down 3-5 in the first set; shot ahead ...to. won the title witnout. much dilhoulty 7—5 G—l 6—3.. His" fierce forehand drive sizzled into, the ' corners ,with tremendous force and i gave Barnett little chance, though the...latter stuck it out . gamely to- the bitter end and often retrived marvellously. Stedman, who is only twenty-two years,ot age. is six: feet in height, arid is also ;nolder of the Auckland doubles championship with N. G. Sturt; and holder of the New Zealand .varsity singles title. He ‘is not as' nimble as or a* neat at the net; but is a far harder driver. In addition Re nas excellent court • temperament and keen lntuitlMrs H. M. Dykes, .now of Auckland, who won the ladies’ singles title as May -Spiers in 1923, 1925, .and 1927. was. again triumphant to-dav, dereatinw Miss Marjorie. MacFarlane, 6—l, in the final. -The first set was simply a; series of whirlwind attacks, something after the style of Steaman’s offensive. Mks Dykes is still the only woman player m New Zea. land to mix her game lake a man champion', using tne flat drive, slice volley.and smash in scintillating fashion. She was down I—s in the second set to-day and then won it despite her opponent’s well-judged driv- ■ The men’s doubles title went to J. A. Seav and C. Angas, of bury. They vanquished the -Francebrotners in three sets'in a match of sustained brilliance and sparkling volleying. The duel kept’the crowd at fever heat. It was the champagne of ■tennis. -This is the first time that Sea v, though he lias .long - been a leading player, _ has ever held the New Zealand title. . Keen . contests characterised tho mixed doubles championship through, out and Miss May Andrew and Seay, of . Canterbury, were frequently extended before they wo-n the final af-er a three set match with Mrs Thomson and Noel Wilson. Two of the. -sets went to twelve games. Miss Andrew was the holder of the ladies’ doubles title last year with Miss. Drake, and is the present-- Canterbury 'singles champion.- ... The girls’, singles championship uns won by Noeleen Bishop,- of Christchurch and the junior mixed doubles ehampionshin was won by Miss AL Howe and N. Davys, of Wellington. In the opinion, of good judges the standard of junior tennis lias never been higher in New Zealand. It was fine to see young players going for their shots with and skill. ■ Tho Anthony .'Wilding memorial cup. for tne association scoring the 'greatest number of points at the tournament, was won by Auok.and, with Canterbury second. As for tne standard of tennis in the senior events, it was not up to that of former year, maililv due to the absence of several leading men playei’s, but promising and improving competicors were present in abundance and the gaps due to the retirements should be filled In a year or two. At the •same time, it. should bo emphasised tnat Stedman is already a worthy successor to Bartleet, Olhvier and Andrews. The tournament was ably managed bv Dr- D. Murray Kean and his fellow officials , and everything went without a hitch. A feature of the tournament was that every title changed hands.

ADEN’S SINGLES —Final— Stedman (Auckland) beat Barnett 7—5, 6—l. 6—3. LADIES' SINGLES —Final— Mrs H..AI. Dykes (Auckland) n defeated Afiss Afarjorie AlacFariane, 6 9—7. AIEN’-S DOUBLES —Final — .• I. A. Seay and C. Angas (Canterburyil defeated D.. G. and A.. L. France., 6 —3, 6—3, 6—3. AIIXED DOUBLES —Semi-finals— Aliss Andrew and Seay defeated Airs Adams and D. France, 7—5, 4—6, g 4, * ■ • . Airs Thomson' and AVilson defeated Aliss AYake and Stedman, 6—2, 3—6, 11—9. —Final— Aliss Andrew and; Seay (Canterbury), bea-t Airs Thomson and AVilson 7 3-6, 7—5. GIRLS’ SINGLES —Final — Miss N. Bis nop (Christchurch) beat Afiss C. Lees' 6—2, 6—5. JUNIOR MIXED DOUBLES Final— Aliss Al. Howe and N. Davys (AVellingktbn) beat Aliss T. Poole and E. Kean. 6—l, 6 —5. TILDEN TO . RANKS: ... . . (U.P-A. by Elec. Tel Copyright) (Received • Dec. 31, 11 p.m.) NEAV YORK. Dec. 30. Til den has announced his immediate retirement ■ from the ranks of amateur tennis. He intends to take up cinema work presumably to make q series pf tennis talkies.-