Womens Champion Beaten In Semi-Final

Northern Advocate, 9 January 1948, Page 4

Womens Champion Beaten In Semi-Final

TENNIS

AUCKLAND, Fri. (Sp.)— Finalists in the singles events at the New Zealand tennis championships, being decided at Stanley Street courts, are R. S. McKenzie (Wellington), the holder, and J. E. Robson (Otago), the two Davis Cup representatives, and Miss M. L. Kerr (Otago) and Miss E. G. Attwood (Auckland). Highlight of yesterday’s play was the defeat of the reigning women’s champion. Miss M. Beverley (Waikato) by Miss Kerr. The score was 6—2, 2—6, 6—3. In the other semi-final, Miss Attwood beat Mrs J. J. McVay (Wellington), 5—7, 6—2, B—6.

The two women's games caused more excitement .among the gallery of 2000 than the men's, as in Ihe latter McKe/.zie and Robson scored comfortable wins.

McKenzie beat O. M. Bold (Wellington) 6 —4, 6—2. 6—4, and Robson beat R. W. Smith (Auckland) 6 —3, 6—o. 6—o. Miss Kerr’s defeat of Miss Beverley, national champion in 1937. 1945 and 1946, was nighly meritorious, but marred by her serving underhand when in the third set she held a lead of 5 —2. This was caused by nervousness. Miss Kerr owed her success to her ability carefully to angle .shots to Miss Beverley's defensive backhand and follow up with a forehand drive deep to the forehand corner. This plan did not always bear fruit as the ' Waikato player occasionally scored winners with her ruthless forehand. Miss Beverley was I—21 —2 down in the second set, but then exerted the utmost pressure and won five games in a row for set.

I—s in the third set and then took five games in a row to lead 6 —5. A debatable decision by the umpire given against her seemed to upset her. and Miss Attwood played steadily to enter the final for the second consecutive year.

Mrs McVay came from behind and won the first set by playing an allcourt game, her volleying being decisive both in angle and pace. She was on the defensive in the second set against Miss Attwood’s deep, paceful driving, and an occasional pretty backhand cross-court passing shot.

MRS MeVAY UNLUCKY Miss Kerr's style of attack bothered the defending champion in the third set. especially with her forehand not working as smoothly as normally. Mrs McVay was rather unlucky not to beat Miss Atlwood. She was down

The Aucklander built up her s—l lead in the third set without trouble, but then Mrs McVay resumed her brilliant volleying and scored points with lovely backhand shots straight down the line. ROBSON, McKENZIE Robson was vastly superior to the veteran Smith. The Dunedin boy's fine sweeping forehand, beautiful volleys and powerfid and well directed smash were too much for the Aucklander. Robson beat Smith in 75 minutes and McKenzie, took 15 minutes longer to dispose of Bold. Bold was slow to find form and in the first set his own service was unsteady. McKenzie concentrated on driving deep to Bold’s backhand followed by a rush to the net to cut off the return. Bold lacked a good cross-court drive and netted in attempts to pass the champion.

McKenzie went to a 4—l lead in the third set but then Bold left the baseline and moving into the net won the next three games to draw level at 4-all.

PLAY HELD UP The players then had to wait a few minutes while an official made an announcement to the spectators over the loud-speaker system and the break j completely upset the tenor of the : match. I Both players lost their sting in the I last two games and McKenzie lodged a J protest when the match was over, i A plucky performance was given by j Mrs McVay in the quarter-final of the combined doubles in which she and McKenzie beat Barry and Miss Attwood, 2—6, 6—4, 6—3. The Auckland pair unexpectedly won the first set but McKenzie and his partner tok the next and were leading 5 —3 with McKenzie down 30 on his service when Mrs McVay doubled up on the court with a sprained ankle. After a short spell, she continued | and a long rally ensued between (McKenzie and Barry and Miss Attwood, j with Mrs McVay hopping~about at the ! net. I Barry put a straight volley at her j and thre times she played quick shots and won the point. McKenzie reached 40—30 for match point and in the vital rally Barry j made a swift return across court and Mrs McVay lunged to chop the shot I dead for the match. In the other quarter-final, Robson and Miss Kerr had no difficulty in eliminating Radonich and Miss L. Adams, 6 —l, 6—2. HEAVY RAIN Sudden heavy rain caused a stoppage of play this afternoon. It was still raining at 1.30 p.m. Results : MEN’S SINGLES Semi-finals. —R. S. McKenzie (Welling- ] ton) beat C. M. Bold (Hutt Valley), G—4. 6—2, G—4; J. E. Robson (Otago) beat R. I W. Smith {Aucklandl, G—3, G—o. G—o. j WOMEN’S SINGLES Semi-finals. —Miss E. O. Attwood (Auek- i land) beat Mrs J. J. McVay (Wellington), 5 G—2, B—G; Miss M. L. Kerr (Otago) beat Miss* M. Beverley (Waikato), G—2, i 2G, G—3. COMBINED DOUBLES Quarter-finals. —Robson and Miss Kerr | beat G. M. Radonich and Miss L. Adams I Auckland), G—l, G—2; McKenzie and Mrs I McVay beat J. A. Barry and Miss Attwood ' (Auckland). 2—6, G —4. 6 —3. MEN’S PLATE Second Round. —R. G. Pattinson (Canterbury) beat O. Satehell (Auckland), G—3. G—2; N. Bowden (Auckland) won by default from L. M. Roach (Waikato); B. E. Sou ter (Auckland) beat C. An gas (Wellington). G—3, G—3; R. G. Coldham (Auckland) beat N. H. Duckling (Hutt Valley), G—4, G—2; A. W. Tills (Auckland)'beat R. Lees (Auckland), G—3, 7 —5; B. M. O’Connor (Wellington) beat T. Childs (Auckland), G—4. G—4; K. W. Dyer (Auckland) beat J. W. Best (Nelson), B—G, 5—7. G—4; A. J. Seeley (Auckland) beat I. Easton (Waikato). G—o, G—4. Third Round.—Pattinson beat Bowden, i 61. G—2; Tills beat O'Connor. 6—3, 7—5; i Seeley beat Dyer, O—G, G—o, 6—o. I WOMEN’S PLATE j First Round.—Miss A. Walker (Well- i ington) beat Miss A. Malone (Auckland), 2—G, 6—2. G—l; Mrs S. Painter (Welling- J ton) beat Miss N. Hope (Nelson), 6—o, : G—o. Second Round.—Miss H. Redwood (Auckland) beat Miss A. Johnson (Auckland). B—G. G—2; Miss Walker beat Miss M. Spackman (Otago), G—o. 6—l; Mrs Painter beat Miss V. Johnson (Auckland), G—l, G—l; Miss J. McL. Wallace (Auckland) beat Miss Z,. Swanson (Auckland), 6-2,- G—2.