LAWN TENNIS NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 176, 25 June 1935, Page 9

LAWN TENNIS NOTES

For tlie next fortnight all interest will be centred in Wimbledon, where the entry is perhaps tho best ever. A forecast of the seeding was given in these columns last week, and proved to be very accurate. In the men’s singles the eight seeded are exactly the same as foretold, and in the same order. In the women’s singles the forecast was nearly correct, but Miss Hartigan, the Australian champion, has been preferred to Mrs Whittingstall, Mrs King and Senorita Lizana. On recent form this was something of a surprise, for Miss Hartigan has not been doing too well lately, and at Scarborough could only score five games in two sets against Miss Ridley who is not quite in the first flight. At the Tally-Ho tournament the little Chilian champion beat Miss Stammers, tho conqueror of Miss Round and Miss Scriven, Britain’s first and second ranked players, 6 —4, 6 —l, and though she was beaten by Mrs Whittingstall in three sets at the hard court championships, she has subsequently won at Hurlingham, and since the seeding list has been published has beaten Miss Hartigan at Queen’s Club, 7—5, 7 —5, and divided the final. No doubt the fact that Miss Hartigan beat Mme. Sperling lust year at Wimbledon and got into the last four influenced tho selectors. In the men’s singles Perry will naturally start favourite. Since his disastrous visit to Australia he has been unbeaten. He commenced bv winning the N.Z. championship, and then in America twice beat Shields. On arrival in England he won the hard court championship without any practice and followed this up by annexing the championships of France and Belgium and other lees important events. Von Cramm, who will head the lower half of the draw, was easily beaten in the French championship and previously had lost a match to the ex-professional Palmieri in five sets. Still, he looks the chief danger to the British plavers. Crawford played so badly in the French championship and the Davis Cup matches that he will need to show vastly different form if lie is to win. He will naturally be in the upper half of the draw, so may meet Perry in the semi-finals. . The fourth player, Austin; seems to be Perry’s most dangerous opponent. He will be in the lower half of the draw, so that he should meet von Cramm in the semi-finals. He may be greatly fancied to win, for in 6pite of two defeats at the hands of Palmieri he has been in great form lately. He more nearly resembles H. L. Doherty in his play than any other player. The difference is that, whereas Dohertv was deadly overhead and could sm,ash effectively from any part of the court, this was Austin’s weak point. Now, however, he is said to have become very efficient overhead, and this with his beautiful ground strokes and strong volleying may pull him through. Although he was beaten in the hard court championships by Perry in five sets, his friends point out that he won the first set C —o and had the better of the play till he was attacked by cramp in the fourth set. A few years ago this constantly occurred, hut last year he showed signs of improved stamina and quite recently won a big match by outstaying his opponent. The American players Allison and Wood come next, and will naturally be in different halves of the draw. Although Allison is the American No. 1 he hardly looks likely to win in this company, and quite recently was badly beaten by the American No. 10. Wood, apart from the fact that he is a previous Wimbledon winner, was preferred to Allison for last year’s Davis Cup team, and on the whole seems to have the better chance. Of the remaining two Boussus has done well this year, but it- will be a very big surprise if he threatens danger. Menzel on the other hand may, if in the right mood, l>eat any amateur, but is hardly likely to win the seven matches necessary for the championship. We were recently informed by cable that Collins and Wilde had l>een definitely chosen as Britain’s Davis Cup pair, but at Queen’s Club they were beaten by Gandar-Dower and the Belgian de Borman, a pair that do not look very strong on their individual form. On the other hand Hughes and Tuckey. the Army champion, beat Allison and Van Ryn who twice won at Wimbledon, and finished up by beating the strong American pair, Budge and Mako. Hughes is of course wellknown as one of Britain’s Davis Cup pair and has partnered Perry for several years. But it is not considered advisable to play Perry in the doubles as well as the singles and a fresh pair is Collins has a great record in double's, and with Gregory reached the final at Wimbledon in 1929. Wilde on all previous performances does not look up to Davis Cup form, and many good judges think that Tuckey should be one of the pair. He has been the Army champion for several years, and lately showed that he is at the top of his form by winning all three events at Scarborough. It would be odd if he were not a good player, for his father has held the British Veterans’ Championship for several years, and his mother was a well-known player. She partnered her son at Wimbledon two or three years ago. The news of the death of Mr Frank Peach will be received with great regret throughout New Zealand. He visited Palmerston North twice with travelling teams and all who met him will remember his charming personality. To Australian, and especially to New South Wales, tennis his loss will be almost irreparable.