TENNIS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 35, 25 January 1932, Page 7

TENNIS

N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIPS. OPENING DAY’S RESULTS. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Auckland, Jan. 25. The New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association's championship tournament opened this morning under ideal conditions. There are seventy entrants for the men’s championship, and 35 for the women’s, including five members of the Australian team. Concurrently with to-day’s championship play, the inter-provincial Wilding Shield final, Canterbury v. Wellington, and the winners of the test match, Australia v. New Zealand, are being finished. Added interest is given to the men’s championship because of the fact that the Canterbury colt, Barnett, playing in tho Wilding Shield matches, has already beaten three leading players, including the 1928 champion, Bartleet, and the present champion, Stedman. Results:— MEN’S SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIPS. First round: Robinson (Auckland) beat Deaker (Otago) 6 —3, —64. I—6,1 —6, 6 —4; Turner (Auckland) beat Hayr (North Auckland) by default; Brown (Auckland) beat Schadick (West Coast) 6 —2. 7—5, 6—3; Wright (Thames Valley) beat A. Dickie (son of a former New Zealand doubles champion) 6—3, 6 —’, 6—2; Taylor (Auckland) beat Christmas (Auckland) 6 —4, 4—6, 6 —4, 10—8; Laurenson (Waikato) beat Norinnn (Otago) 6—2, 6—o. Court (Hawke’s Bay) beat Johns (Auckland), 6—4, 6—4, B—6; Charters (Auckland) beat Melody (Wellington), 3_6, 4—6, 6—l, 6—4, 6—3. WOMEN'S SINGLES. First round: Miss Johnson (Canterbury) beat Miss Needham (Auckland) 6—l, 6—3; Miss Howo (Wellington) beat Miss Robertson (Auckland) 6r—l, 6-3. WILDINC SHIELD FINAL. D. G. FRANCE BEATS BARNETT. By Telegraph —Press Assn. —Copyright. Auckland, Jan. 25. The Wilding Shield final between Canterbury ami Wellington was continued this morning, when D. G. France sprang a surprise by decisively beatin gibe Canterbury colt, Bar-

nett, who hitherto was unbeaten. Results :— Angas (Canterbury) beat Wilson (Wellington) 6—2, 7—5; L. France (Wellington) beat Glanville (Canterbury) 6—4 > Patterson (Canterbury) beat Roussill (Wellington) 2—6, 6—4; D. G. France (Wellington) beat’Barnett (Canterbury) 7—5. 6—l. With the doubles matches to play, Canterbury is leading by five matches to three. France played Barnett at his own game. Barnett was not at home with slow stuff and soon found himself making errors. He varied his tactics just as°he did in earlier matches, but France found a counter for everything. France played patiently, worked Barnett out of position and polished off the rallies with beautiful kills at the net. In the first set his overhead shots were weak, but ho improved in the second and was always Barnett’s master.