Tennis Champions From Australia

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6748, 5 January 1932, Page 8

Tennis Champions From Australia

PLAYERS WITH RECORDS, Consisting of the cream of the tennis talent of Australia, the women's tennis team which is to tour New Zealand, starting with an invitation tournament at Wilding park, Christchurch, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday of this week, arrived at Wellington yesterday morning by tho Marama from Sydney. The team consists of Mrs. M. Molcsworth, ranked third player in Australia; Miss U. Vaikcnburg, ranked sixth; Miss N. Hall, ranked ninth; and Miss J. Ilartigan, Australian junior champion. The manager and captain of the team is Miss N. Lloyd. Despite a fairly rough trip across the Tasman the members of the team are looking very fit, and arc eager to commence the tour. The players are classified as New South Wales players, although Mrs. Molesworth is a leading Queensland player. That the members of the team are first-class exponents of the game is evident from their past performances and the titles which some of them now possess. In an interview the manager cf the team gave a summary of each player's qualifications. Mrs. Molesworth who is tho present singles champion of Queensland, is the possessor, of a very, fine backhand. She has wou tho singles championship of Australia on two occasions, and with tho exception of Western Australia, has held every Stato singles title. Mho has never competed for tho title in Western Australia. She has won the singles championship of Queensland on six occasions, three times being in succession. Miss Vaikcnburg is one of the best ladies doubles players in Australia, and is considered a very fine exponent oi tho mixed game. She was nominated socond player for New South Wales at the Australian championships last year. Miss Vaikcnburg plays an all-round game, excelling in volleying. Miss Hartigan is the present junior champion of Australia. Although she is only 19 years of age, competent judges anticipate that she is tho coming winner of tho Australian singles championship. She holds tho City of Sydney singles title, one of tho bos: senior titles after tho State title. One of the features of Miss Hartigan's play is her forehand drive, which is outstanding in its strength.

Miss Hall won the Australian mixed doubles titlo in 1930 with Harry Hopman, the Davis Cup player. With Miss Butsworth, the present Australian champion, sho won the Queensland ladies’ doubles, and the Victorian ladies’ doubles. Miss Hall’s game was moulded by Hoprnan. Both Miss Hall and Miss Hartigan are considered two of Australia’s most promising players. The manager of the team, Miss Lloyd, is a member of the council of the governing body of New South Wales. She was runner-up with Mrs. Utz in the Australian ladies’ doubles championship last year. Some Promising Players. “The members of tho team are very anxious to do well,” said Miss Lloyd. “They are arriving in good form, but what they will bo like when they land I don’t know% They will have two days' practice in Christchurch, howcver, before playing in the invitation tournament.’ ’ Questioned about the game in Australia, Miss Lloyd said that it was progressing well, and she thought it possible that a team would compete in the next Davis Cup. Among tho men there were a lot of promising players. One youth in particular was considered . u coming champion. He was only' lo years of age, but ho was a, very lino twohanded player. Thero was no doubt, however, that J. Crawford was the best player in Australia to-day. By the retirement of Mrs. Couzens (Miss D. Akhurst) Australian tennis had suffered a great loss. Where the Team Will Play. The itinerary of the tour is as follows: Leave for Christchurch Monday evening, where the team will compete in an invitation tournament for women at Wilding park, The meeting will ex-