SPECTACULAR TENNIS

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 3 November 1933, Page 7

SPECTACULAR TENNIS

VISIT OF ENGLISH STARS MATCHES AT NEW PLYMOUTH PERRY’S AMAZING DRIVE'S. LEE MOST CONSISTENT. (Special to “The Star.”) NEW PLYMOUTH, Nov. 2. , Interesting tennis by champions was witnessed when the English touring team, comprising H. G. Lee (captain), F. J. Perry and F. D. H. Wilde, together witlx the New Zealander, C. E. Mai (toy, played exhibition matches at the Ne\v Plymouth Lawn Tennis Club s courts yesterday afternoon. Only occasionally was "form of international standard displayed, but. there were some stinging exchanges, particularly in the doubles play, which roused the 800 spectators to a high pitch of enthusiasm. The star of the English side, Perry, conqueror of the present Wimbledon champion, Jack Crawford, , and of Ins American predecessor, Ellsworth Vines, covered "tlie court/ "\vitli an effortless ease and performed with pace and precision which was a revelation to most of those present. The captain, Harold Lee, proved himself a thorough workman, not at all inclined to be epeetucular, but very accurate and reliable. The “baby” of the side, Frank Wilde, had his moments. At times m the doubles match his play rose to brilliant heights and liis service, time after time, completely aced liis opponents or forced them into erroi s l . Taranaki knows the New Zealander, Malfroy, as a better player than his yesterday’s performances might lead one to believe. Somehow Malfroy never seemed to strike form. Though he played well at times, for the most part he was erratic, his backhand frequently letting him down. However, in the doubles he distinguished himself by making some marvellous recoveries. RESULTS OF MATCHES.

Three matches, two singles and a. doubles, were played, the results being as follow: „ „ „ . Wilde defeated Malfroy, 6—3, 6 —4. Perry defeated Lee, 6—4, 4 —6. 6 2. Perry and AYilde defeated Ivee and Malfroy, I—6, 6—l, 6 —4, 6 —4. The singles were played to three advantage sets and the doubles to five. Despite recent heavy rain the court on which the matches were played was in fair condition, though inclined to be slow. After some use it became slippery and the players sometimes' had difficulty in retaining their foothold. Several points were lost in this way. Generally, however, the court played well, and at the conclusion of the afternoon showed surprisingly little effect of the heavy early season play. The spectators came from all parts of Taranaki and comfortably filled the special stands which were erected around the court.

Perry, of course, was the main attraction and there was quite a hubbub of excitement when the man the Americans have termed. ‘The dark terror of the courts” came on for his match with Lee. Perry looked' every inch a champion, and the grace and ease with which he performed his task confirmed first opinion. Perry’s great pace on the court was revealed by the way in which he was able to run around shots to return them with a forehand drive, whereas -almost any other player would have been forced to have used his backhand. GREAT VITALITY SHOWN.

It was shown, too, in its effect upon his opponent, for Lee, in their singles, was a tired man before the beads of perspiration had scarcely commenced to trickle down Perry’s forehead. Perry’s cross-court drives were amazing. Time after time he sent almost impossible returns skimming across the net for winning points. He was sound in every department and seemed possessed of an uncanny sense of anticipation. At any rate, wherever the ball was there was Perry. The unhurried way in which he went about his tasks, his superb volleying and the driving pace of his game were all the hall-marks of a champion. Lee, third player on the English ranking list, was probably the day’s most consistent performer. His wonderfully accurate placement was the main feature of his play. Often he returned what seemed to be _ winning shots, while in the sharp rallies which distinguished the doubles play he was always to the fore. Wilde showed up well in his singles match with Malfroy. Frequently he played the New Zealander completely out of position before sending home point-winning shots. In this he was assisted by Malfroy, who failed to keep good length on his shots and so allowed Wilde to get in close to the net, where he was absolutely unbeatable. In the doubles, tod, though he opened shakily. Wilde soon distinguished himself. His overhead work was .one of the main features of the match, while the accurate placement and speed of his service made it more effective than that of any of the others.

MALFROY ILL AT EASE. Malfroy never appeared really _at ease and failed to produce anything like his true form. His doubles 1 play, however, was an improvement on his singles, and here lie made some brilliant recoveries. Inaccuracy was Malfroy’s principal trouble. In the speed at which he played he lost nothing in comparison with his opponents. His backhand was very weak, and concentrated play upon it quickly brought about his downfall. Altogether, even if the. players did not set themselves out to accomplish great things, they succeeded admirably in giving spectators an idea of the standards demanded in international tennis and of the pace at which the game is played. The first match was that between Wilde and Malfroy, won by the former in straight sets. 6—3, 6 —4. Wilde opened the serving, but- both players were erratic a,t tjhe commoncement and hit over the hack-line. However,

lack of adequate length on Malfroy’s shots allowed Wilde to get closer to the net, where he dominated play and took the opening game, 69 —15. It was early aparent- that the court was somewhat deadened bv recent rain, hut that did not prevent Wilde from keeping Malfrov on the run. In the third game of the opening iset the Englishman struck a patch of hitting! into the net. and he lost his own service. He made no mistakes later, however, and took the next two names without strenuous opposition. Freaeently he caught Malfroy out of position and, hv varying the pace of hist shots, kent the New Zealander on the move the whole time. Malfroy. on the other hand, lacked sting and. although he carried the games to 5 —3, did not look b'l.-o winninor the set. WTT HE FORCING PAGE.

Wilde was forcing the match all the way. and, although, he struck a bad patch late in the .set, he was able

to win the deciding; game after being j djbwu 30—50, and with it tjie set 6 —3. , .. ~, ~ [ The sun was shining brightly, the-! air was close and muggy, and both men were soon perspiring freely. Alai- jfroy was evidently determined to win i the' second set, for he opened strong,-, ly and bv virtue of ail excellent ser-. vice, took the first game of the set. j Wilde came again, and, by his aggrossive tactics and miore accurate , play, equalised' the games. Malfroy carried the games* to 2 —l, hut Wilde won the next, Malfroy hitting each service either into the net or out ot the court. The fifth game, went in Like manner, Mlajffoy plaiy£ngi very wildly. But now the New Zealander retrieved himself and made a splendid recovery, fighting his way to a lead of four games tov-tnree. He* was unable to cope with Wilde, however, who played better than ever to. win the next two games and, with them, the ,set and match. Twice ne lert Malfroy .standing by suddenly changing the direction of shots. In the filial stages, however, the New Zealander made a gallant stand There were .some good rallies m the last game, which went to deuce before-Mal-froy poked an easy one into the net to lose tlie match, 6—3, 6—4. perry opened his match with Lee, which he won after a three-set tussle, 6—4. 4—G, 6—2, with a “Isereamin<T’ service which Lee found difficult. to"cope with. However, Tie fought hard: every inch of the wav. never letting up for an instant. In the first- eight •mines each man won his service, makuin the games 4—4. ' LEE’S GOOD RETURNS. Perry’s powerful wrist would send the ball across court or down the side line at an express ra.te, but more often than not Lee would be there to re turn it, sometimes with interest. Leo was playing very solidly and making Perry battle hard for every point. Sometimes, however, Perry’s wonderful volleviiip- would catch him out of position.' There were few long rallies, but play was always full of interest. Perry made no mistakes, with the two final games of the opening set, \vh*ch he won 6 —4. ,1,1 Now the courts, after the hard play, were beginning to get somewhat slippery, and this proved disconcerting to the players and often upsbt their calculations. However, as a recompense, the sun had clouded over and the an was cooler. Lee, although a set down, was more consistent than his opponent. He forged ahead by winning Perry’s service and took the games to 43; but the champion of America managed to equalise, 4 —4. However, Lee took the next game and, after a oToat struggle the set, 6- —4. In the last game three deuces were contested after Lee had almost thrown the game a-wav by killing out of court. Perrv made no mistake in the deciding' .set. Heiie Lee occasionally varied his service, hut the change disconcerted Perry not at all. He had no trouble in' taking the games to 5 I. PERRY IS MASTER.-

Lee won the ficxt and, still fighting magnificently, carried his- service ic the last game to 40—15. But Perry, smashing and drivincr beautifully, both forehand and backhand, crept up to deuce. Then Lee, disappointingly, •served twio double fault®, and the match went to his opponent 6 —4, 4 G. 6 — 2. Perrv mid Wil'V were forced to 'fight hard for their doubles victory over Lee and Malfroy. the match going to four keenly contested .sets before a decision was reached, I—6, 6—l, 6—4. Throughout the match was very even, but the more forceful tactics of the Perrv-Wilde combination finally carried the day. A bright ex-

* it change characterised the opening of the. match. Perry finally* putting ..the ball out of bounds. Malfroy took;"the opening .service, and Ins side won the game. Due chiefly., t 0,., some ~ winning shots down the side-line by the former, Lee and Malfrov took the second game, and then the third after Lee had served two ,aces. Perry and Wilde could not get going. atLall,'.And- tneir opponents carried the games l tO' 5yT-. Lee was playing very accurately, while Malfroy was making .some excellent returns. They had no difficulty in taking the first -set G—lt... . .. .4 The positions were-exactly; reversed in the second set, when Perry and Wilde dominated play throughout. Wilde’s game hafl Vakrly improved. He wias serving particularly v*ell, and from here on his service was one : of the deciding factors in the game. His overhead work was brilliant and never by any mischance did a ball get past him. Lee took'his side’s only game. ‘ ‘ABSOLUTELY UNBEATABLE.’’*

For the rest, Perry and company outplayed the opposition and were absolutely unbeatable. Wilde was all over the court. He smashed and volleyed like a real champion. He did the bulk of his side’s work, but the, übiquitous Perry was always handy; to lend assistance if called upon. . .

Perry and Wilde continued to be ill winning vein at the opening of the third set. Perry t-ook the first game off Malfroy’s (service land won the second off his own service after being . down o—4o. There were now some great ralLies, and the crowd were treated to a higli-class doubles display.** Malfrov won applause by returning impossible shots from all' parts of the court. The games went to 5—3, arid then Lee and Malfroy took the latter’s service to make the score in the third set 5—4. There were sharp rallies in the last game of the set, the ball being bandied across the net with-* out touching the court for long periods. But Perry and Wilde were too strong and won the set, 6—4. Wilde opened nicely in the fourth • and last set winning a love game off*, has service. Plav went to 3—3. Now-* Horry and Wilde concent, on Malfroy’s backhand, which wilted rings der a terrific pounding. There were long rallies and “screaming” winning" shots, with the crowd intensely excited. The games went to 5—4, but. with Wihle serving in the filial game * the result was a foregone conclusion. Wilde was serving brilliantly, and lie", did not disappoint the crowd. At 4(L—' * ?0 Pen v came close to the net and—' skittled Malfroy’s .return of service * shots across the court for game, set and final match, I—6,1 — 6, 6 —l, 6 —4, 6 14.