TENNIS AS PLAYED BY CHAMPIONS

Northern Advocate, 12 February 1936, Page 8

TENNIS AS PLAYED BY CHAMPIONS

T/ROM a spectator’s point of view, the doubles match with which the tennis exhibition given by professionals at the Whangarei courts yesterday concluded was the star turn of the afternoon.

Every shot in the game was exploited, and, although Cochet had his erring periods, his general courtcraft was magnificent.

As was only to be expected, most interest ‘centred on the doings of the illustrious Frenchman, three times champion of the world. Cochet’s style of play was a revelation of graceful ease, his fluent strokemaking classing him as the master he is ( He distinguished himself from the other players by returning apparently impossible shots. Sometimes, when stretched right on his backhand, he would clout a ball back hard down the sidelines or across court. It was this continual aggression, even from the return of service, which placed his play and that of J. Willard, the ex-Australian Davis Cup player, on a plane apart.

MET AND AUSTRALIANS GIVE SCINTILLATING DISPLAY

Tennis Heights,

Their duel in the singles reached

the heights of good tennis, with both men playing shots which plainly astonished the large gallery. With his punishing volleys Willard, who fought determinedly, won most of his shots, but in the second set Cochet revealed his ability to get an opponent into difficulties.

The doubles match was keenly contested and interesting throughout. The superior combination of the Willard brothers brought them success. This match was remarkable for the number of occasions upon which Cochet dropped his service, but he compensated for this lapse by remarkable half volleying and lob volleying. Of the visitors, A. Willard undoubtedly possessed the most hostile service, anb this gained him a number of aces, chiefly at the expense of Baker. However, Baker, who had been the weak link in the singles matches, revealed himself as a wellequipped doubles player, his tallness at the net proving a great asset. The Willard brothers won, 7 —5, 4—6, 7—5. The scores in the matches played were as follows: —A. Willard beat L. Baker, 6—2, 6 —2. H. Cochet beat J. Willard, 9—7, 6—l. J. and A. Willard beat A. Cochet and L. Baker, 7 —5, 4—o, 7—5.