LAWN TENNIS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 27, 2 January 1931, Page 5

LAWN TENNIS

STEDMAN WINS MEN’S SINGLES.. MRS DYKES THE LADIES’ TITLE. Per Press Association. •CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 31. The New Zealand lawn tennis championships concluded to-day at Wilding Park in glorious weather before the biggest attendance of the tournament. The principal attraction was the final of the meii’s championship singles between A. C. Stedman, of Auckland, and H. A. Barnett, of Canterbury. Stedman began nervously: but quickly rallied and after being down 3—5 in the first set shot ahead to win the title without much difficulty, 7—5, 6—l, 6—3. His fierce forehand drive sizzled into the corners with tremendous force and gave Barnett little chance, though the latter stuck it out gamely to the bitter end and often retrieved marvellously. Stedman, who is 22 years of age ana six feet in height, is also holder of the Auckland doubles championship with N. G. Sturt, and holder of the New Zealand ’Varsity singles title. He is not as nimble as Angas nor as neat at the net, but he is a far harder driver. In addition he has an excellent court temperament and keen intuition. Mrs H. M. Dykes, now of Auckland, who won the ladies’ singles title as Miss May Speirs in 1923, 1925 and 1927, was again triumphant to-day, beating Miss Marjorie Macfarlane 6 —l, 9 —7 in the final. .The first set was a simple series of whirling attacks something after the style of a Stedman offensive. Mrs Dykes is still the only woman player in New Zealand to mix her game like a man champion, using a flat 1 drive, slice, volley and smash in scintillating fashion. She was down I—s1 —5 in the second set today and then won it despite her opponent’s well-judged driving. ■■ The men’s doubles title went to 1. Seay and C. Angas, of Canterbury. They vanquished the France brotheis in three sets in a match of sustained brilliance. A sparkling volleying duel kept the crowd at fever heat. This is the first time that Seay, though lie has long been a leading player, lias ever held a New Zealand title. Keen contests characterised the mixed doubles championship throughout and Miss May Andrew and Seay, of Canterbury, were frequently extendeU before they won the filial alter a three-set match with Mrs Ihomson (Levin) and Noel Wilson. Two of the sets went to twelve games. Miss Andrew was holder of the ladies doubles title last year with Miss Wake and is the present Canterbury singles champion. , . . The girls’ singles championship was won by Noeleen Bishop, off Christchurch, and the junior mixed doubles championship was won by Miss M. Howe and N, Davys, of Wellington. In the opinioil of good judges the standard of junior tennis has never been higher in New Zealand. It was fine to see the young players going for their shots with confidence and Sk Tllo Anthony Wilding Memorial Cup for tho association scoring the greatest number of points at the tournament was won by Auckland, with Canterbury second. As for the standard of tennis in the senior events, it was not up to that of former years, mainly owing to the absence of several leading men players, but promising and improving competitors 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 be emphasised that Stedman is already a worthy successor to Bartleet, Ollivier and Andrews. MEN’S SINGLES. Final: Stedman (Auckland beat Barnett (Christchurch) 7 —5, 6 —l, 6 —3. LADIES’ SINGLES. Final: Mrs H. M. Dykes (Auckland) beat Miss Marjorie Macfarlane 6—l, 9—7. MEN’S DOUBLES.

Final; I. A. Seay and C. Angas (Canterbury) beat D. G. and A. L. France (Wellington) 6 —3, 6 —3, 6 —3. MIXED DOUBLES. Final: Miss Andrew and Seay (Canterbury) beat Mrs Thomson and Wilson 7—5, 3—o, 7—5. GIRLS’ SINGLES. Final: Miss N. Bishop (Christchurch) beat Miss C. Reese (Christchurch) 6—2, 6 JUNIOR MIXED DOUBLES. Final: Miss M. Howe and N. Davys (Wellington) beat Miss T. Poole and E. Kean 3 —l, 6 —5. In the final of the men’s singles, Barnett, showing more steadiness than his opponent, though both appeared nervous, led Stedman 4—3 in the first set. Stedman had double faulted four times. Barnett served in the eighth game and won it from 40 —30, outlobbing Stedman twice. Stedman was so far not driving half as hard as on the previous day, but he managed to get the ninth game on deep drives and Barnett led 5 —4. There was a grim struggle for the tenth. Barnett, serving, was down 15 —40 and he could only get one more point —5 all. Stedman had the pace on now and Barnett was finding it harder and harder to get his returns in. Stedman got the set 7 5 after a series of sweeping drives along the lines. Barnett was virtually outclassed in the second set. The other man was aggressive all the time from all parts of the court. His volleys were nearly always sure kills with the direction cunningly concealed until the last seoond. Barnett kept on pugnaciously and captured several points by pluck alone. He won the fifth game, btedman leading 4—l. Barnett never saw daylight again in this set and Stedman went out 6—l. The third set was a better fight than the s.econd. Barnett made the first game his with excellent placements, and one beautiful crosscourt shot left Stedman standing. He repeated it later when the Aucklander was expecting a straight drive. Still Stedman forged ahead to lead 3—l. The Aucklander’s great reach favoured him —ho is nearly a foot taller than Barnett —and many lobs were smacked to the corners for clean winners. At 4—l Stedman lost his serve. Then Barnett won his service and the lead was only 4—3 against him. His recoveries were often amazing and Stedman was passed three times at the net in one game. Stedman won the eighth and ninth games and the set 6—3 and the match. Both men were cheered at the conclusion. . In the final of the ladies’ singles, Miss Macfarlane served first and lost the game from 30—40 after three beautiful placements by Mrs Dykes. The second game was a triumph for Mrs Dyke’s serve. Three times Miss Macfarlane failed to track it. Varying a hot low drive with sharp neat drop shots, Mrs Dykes went to 4—love. She clinched the set at 6—l. Her placements first to one corner and then the other were punched home with unerring precision. It was Mrs Dykes in form as good as her best two years ago. Kven her serve had most or its old. sting. Miss Macfarlane was not ag-

gressive once. In the second set Mrs Dykes had a hard struggle in the first game and lost it after being 40—15 and going to deuce four times. Miss Macfarlane, stroking cleanly now and forcing the pace, led 2—love and 3—l. In the fifth game Mrs Dykes double-fault-ed and was passed at the net. Miss Macfarlane sent in some clipping line shots and had a 4—l lead. The sixth game was also hers mostly on her opponent’s errors. Mrs Dykes won the service in the seventh game and then captured. Miss Macfarlane’s service after a long driving rally. Her drive was shooting home better now and 5 —4 was called. The tenth game was keen. A swift follow-in and smash gav.e it to Mrs Dykes, s—all.5 —all. Mrs lykes was down 15 —40 on her service hut won the eleventh game to lead 6 —5. Play was slower with long rallies. Miss Macfarlane drew ahead again at 7—6 and had set point in the fourteenth, but Mrs Dykes saved once with a low volley and saved twice again later in the same way after several deuces —7 all. Mrs Dykes, serving, took the fifteenth to lead B—7. Then Miss Macfarlane served and was down 15 —40. She got to deuce, but Mrs Dykes, not to be denied, took tho set 9 —7 and match. She received an ovation. . , ~ , The final of the men s doubles between Angas and Seay and France and France started at a fast pace, all rushing to the net at every opportunity and volleying crisply. Angop and Seay had greater accuracy and also a full share of luck. They won the first set 6—3 from one all. In the second set Angas and Seay advanced to a 5 —3 lead. Len France was not as sure as his partner and the Canterbury pair concentrated most of their attack on him, alternating quick side liners with deep lobs. Don France was every bit as brilliant as in the semi-final and he often did the unexpected with complete success. Seay’s polished, all-round play was again exhilarating to watch. Canterbury got the set 6 —3. Brilliant and sustained rallies were again a feature of the third set. Once the France brothers recovered fierce smashes seven times in succession and they were cheered tumultuously when tho point finally went to them. When Angas lost his serve in the fourth game the soore was 2 all. Two terrific cracks down the centre by Len France put the Wellington men ahead for the first time, 3—=2. Then Seay won his service, 3 all Mistakes by the France brothers let Canterbury draw away to take the third set 6 —3 and the match. . The semi-finals of the mixed doubles produced bright tennis, the ladies all standing up at the net and mixing rt with the men. One set between Mrs Thomson and Wilson and Miss Wake and Stedman went twenty games before the former won. The final went three sets. Miss Andrew and Seay showed slightly better combination and beat the holders of the title. Mlb Thomson and Noel Wilson. They won 7 5 3—6, 7—5. The big crowd stayed to the finish to watch the last set as the result was doubtful until the end. Both Seay and Wilson poached overmuch and made numerous errors. Wilson offended most. Mrs Thomson played brilliant tennis, especially in the last set, dealing coolly with the hardest stuff Seay could send in. Wilson could not hold Seay’s service at all. At b—o Miss Andrews lost two match points, but retrieved them by service aces and so the last title changed hands. j The standard of play in the gins championship was very high and the winner, Miss Noeleen Bishop, of Rangi Iluru School, Christchurch, has an attractive free hitting style.

TILDEN’S PLANS. RETIRES FROM AMATEURS. NEW YORK, Dec. 30. W. T. Tilden, the tennis player, has announced his immediate retirement from the ranks of amateur tennis. He intends to take up cinema work presumably to make a senes of tennis “talkies.”