TENNIS N.S.W. TEAM WIN ALL MATCHES FROM N.Z. ON FIRST DAY

Grey River Argus, 26 February 1949, Page 3

TENNIS N.S.W. TEAM WIN ALL MATCHES FROM N.Z. ON FIRST DAY

P.A. CHRISTCHURCH, Feb 25. A magnificent match between O. W. Sidwell, the Australian Davis Cup representative, and R. S. McKenzie, was the highlight of the first day’s play in the tennis match between New South Wales and New Zealand. McKenzie took Sidwell to 8-6 in the third set, but that was the nearest New Zealand came to winning the singles. In the doubles, however, it seemed that New Zealand’s second pair, O. M. Bold and J. A. Barry, were on the way to a surprise win over the top New South Wales pair, Sidwell and R. McCarthy, when rain interrupted play at 4.0 in the third set. New South Wales will begin tomorrow’s series of matches with a lead of five rubbers to none, with one unfinished.

It may be, doubted whether McKenzie has ever played better than he did against Sidwell. He matched the Australian in the speed and sc ring power of his first service; in his driving, and in his overhead play, but, well as he volleyed, at times, he was well beaten in this department. That was to be expected, for Sidwell is one of the best volleyers in the world to-day. At crises in the match —and there were times in the third set when McKenzie seemed to have a real chance of winning—Sidwell speeded up his service and his drives, which were invariably taken early on therise, and made for the net. When he g t his racket on to volley, even if that was achieved by an acrobatic lean at a fast and well-directed return, the ball was “buried” beyond x*ecctll McKenzie countered these bustling tactics with coolness and skill, winning points with accurate passing shots, and limiting Sidwell’s attack by going to the net himself at every opportunity. J. E. Robson, the New Zealand champion, started well, but he faded badly against the second New South Wales player, McCarthy. The match was played at a much slower pace than the other, both relying on placement angle and change of pace or length to win points outright, or to pave the way for a volleying coup In these exchanges, the men seemed well matched, until the third set when McCarthy finally mastered Robson’s volleying with his beauti-fully-controlled passing shots. In J. Matthews (New South Wales) the short O. M. Bold was matched aaginst one of the tallest players yet seen at Wilding Park, and his own steady tenacious game was not quite good enough to counter the powerful, aggressive play of the visitor. Matthews used his height well to serve and smash with gre<\t power, and his reach made his crisp volleying a potent weapon. D. Rocavert, the third for New South Wales, beat J. A. Barry comfortably. Barry’s game scarcely did him justice. He was seldom confident in handling the Australian’s powerful service, but he also made too many errors in driving exchanges, in which department the men wore more evenly matched. Matthews and Rocavert attacked relentlessly throughout the doubles match, in which they overwhelmed Robson and McKenzie Bold and Barry played like new mon, faking the first five games from Sidwell and McCarthy, winning the first set at. 6/3, and re-establishing their’ control in the third set. aftei' the Australians had tightened up their play to save the second. The retrieving of ithe New Zealanders was brilliant, prolonging and winning many rallies which seemed lost but they also volleyed deftly. Results witli the New South Wales players first: — Singles O. W. Sidwell beat R>. S. McKenz-e 4/6, 6/3. 8/6. R. McCarthy beat J. E Robson 3/6 6/4 6/1. D. Rocavert beat ,J A. Barry 6/2 6/3. J. Matthews beat O. M.' Bold 6/2 8/6. Doubles Sidwell and McCarthy v. Bold and Barry, 3/6 6/3 0/4 (unfinished). Rocavert and Matthews beat Robson and McKenzie 6/2 6/4.