GREAT WIMBLEDON

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 180, 2 August 1938, Page 10

GREAT WIMBLEDON

SOME IMPRESSIONS PARTISANSHIP FOR LOSING PLAYERS XENKB STABS OF THE WORLD. LONDON, July L Yes, Wimbledon is wonderful! Its delightful setting, its efficient organisation, and its well-behaved crowds, all give it an air of quality. It is as glamorous as any sporting event can be. There is always a note of expectancy in the air. Sensations are expected and are eagerly watched for by the gallery, which shows a pronounced partianahip for the losing player, or the “underdog/’ Wimbledon has its special favourites. Jean Borotra is ever dear to its heart and ••Bunny" Austin and Miss Kay Stammers are always supported by throngs of admirers. Yet the greatest value of all is placed on the quality of courage. Wimbledon likes the fighter! At Wimbledon this year the first thrill came from Uric Filby, the 20->ear-old English player, who led Austin by two sets to one. Filby showed distinct promise because he was always carrying the attack to Austin. Filby is far from a champion yet, but he is easily the most promising player that England has. Ronald Shayes is probably the best player, apart from Austin, and is a replica of. Perry in every way. He won three rounds and then crashed against Budge. Shayes might become very good. However, he is rather old at 25 years to improve considerably, and has not Perry’s industry’ and driving ambition. England is fully aware now that Filby and Shayes are its hopes. They are being sent to Hamburg for the German championships, and will probably go to the United i States. j Considerably interest centred | around the Chinese, Yugoslavs, and I Indians, while the Czechs could notbe overlooked. Menzel and Hecht, seeded third and seventh respectively, are familiar figures at Wimbledon, of course. Our Gaint Frien . Most Australians had regarded ouri eccentric giant friend, Roderich Menzel, of Kooyong “cow paddock” fame, | with tolerant amusement. But in the French championships Menzel revealed high qualities of subtlety, patience and aggression, and at Wimbledon he showed high courage and initiative when facing desperate situations. Menzel, glorying m his terrific struggles, commanded unstinted praise by the magnificent courage he showed as he steeled himself in coolness. poise, and concentrated purpose, and fought, out of those desperate situations. It was amazing to see him make the most audacious winners from seemingly impossible positions. Hecht has proved himself a sounder player on turf than on hard courts. Hi* steadiness off the ground, particularly on the backhand, earned him his place in the “last eight.” Youngster of Promise. Czechoslovakia sent J. Drowiy, Its 17-year-old left-handed junior cham-j pion. Drobny has distinct possibilities, j He would definitely be much better | on grass than on hard courts, as can be understood by his recent defeat of j Henkel at Berlin. Dragutin Mitic will eventually become the best of the Yugoslavs. In fact, it is safe to say that he will be one of the best players in the world in two seasons if he can get a full season on grass. He has beautiful ground strokes, particularly on the backhand Franko Kukuljevic might have defeated Hecht if he had not missed so many easy chance. He is well versed in the turf game, for he has played at Wimbledon regularly. Pallada found that his best defence was not good enough on grass. His turf play will never approach that on hard courts. With Kho Sin-Kie and Choy, China win have to be reckoned with in the Davis Cup this year. Kho is well known. Choy has made an amazing advance in three months. A keen student of the game, he needs only improved stamina and a better service to become a superior player to Kho. His game is basically more correct. His backhand is second only to that of Budge. It is played on the same principle. His forehand Is sound. He takes a very early ball and searches for the sharp angles to create openings for his advances to the forecourt. What of Bodge? There are many critics who consider that Budge has not played as well this year as last. If his play in Australia can be taken as a guide, I would say unhesitatingly that Budge Is improving with every title. It must be remembered that Budge came to Wimbledon in 1937 without one of the major titles. Moreover, he was only 22 years old then. He did not know his full powers then. Now he is poised and confident. He know s his own powers. He plays comfortably and quietly in the early rounds, more or less carrying his opponent along, unless he is threatened with the loss of a set. He combines brilliance and soundness in such proportions tljat he dwarfs everyone. Henner Henkel played very well during this first week. He could not be recognised as the uncertain strokemaker whom we saw in Australia. His grou.id strokes, particularly his backhand, have been much sounder and more penetrating. Consequently he has been able to exploit his volleying powers more. Austin had an uncertain first week,' being taken by Filby and Mako toj

’ five sets—not very convincing per- . formances. ■ Women Command Interest. > The women commanded a tremendE ous proportion of the interest. This s was easy to understand with so many brilliant players in the field. Wimbles don is one place where class and qual- . ity have paramount virtues. Thus . there were few surprises. The fav- ■ ourites won convincingly. ; Considering the many disturbing 5 happenings in the last fortnight, with : two of the players suffering family , bereavements, the Australians did sat- > isfactorily. Miss Stevenson forced Mme. Jedrzejowska to a close match 1 by play of a very courageous calibre, t Mrs. Hopman also was seen to great - advantage against Mrs. Moody, keep- . ing the issue very close and not havi ing an ounce of the luck. : Both lost on the centre court, and ' it was there also that Miss Coyne lost ■ to Mrs. Sperling. Miss Coyne stroked | as well In this match as she did at any , time during the tour. But her tac»J tics were not good.