McKenzie, Miss Attwood Win Titles

Northern Advocate, 10 January 1948, Page 3

McKenzie, Miss Attwood Win Titles

AUCKLAND. Sat. (Sp.)— I The New Zealand tennis champions for 1948 are R. McKenzie (Wellington) and Miss E. G. Attwood (Auckland).

In the final of the men’s singles at Stanley Street today, McKenzie beat J. E. Robson (Otago) 7—5. 6—2. 6—2.

Miss Attwood beat Miss M. Kerr (Otago) in the women's final, 6—2, B—6.

Robson made a great match of it in the first set, but after holding the advantage at 5 —4, lost his grip as McKenzie came into form and from then on had to play second fiddle. Miss Kerr was very nervous in the early stages of her match with Miss Attwood and was obviously beaten in the first few minutes. She played poorly at the outset. ROBSON STARTS WELL After losing his first service, Robson quickly struck form and adopting aggressive tactics took the next three games to lead 3—l. He served with pace and following the second shot to the net, bustled the defending champion with snappy forehand driving to the backhand corners. McKenzie rallied and serving with sting and playing beautiful passing shots across Robson’s front drew level at 3-all.

The young Otago player took the seventh game after two deuces and then McKenzie changed into spiked shoes.

McKenzie equalised at 4-all, but Robson continued to move into the net, where his uncanny anticipation enabled him to kill McKenzie’s attempted passing shots on the backhand and go into the lead again at 5—4. The Wellingtonian’s strong service troubled Robson in the next game which he conceded to love. FIRST SET TO McKENZIE He held the advantage at 40—15 but outed a drop-shot and then doublefaulted to make it deuce. After two deuces and another double-fault by Robson, McKenzie went ahead for the first time since the I first game and held two set points at 40-love. He won the game for the set at 7—5. continuing to put as much pace into his second service as his first, Robson took the opening game of the sec-

ond set. From that stage, McKenzie came right into his own and playing at the, top of his form gave the Otago representative no chance. Robson continued to hit hard, but wa’s at a loss to combat the superior courtcraft and stroking of the champion. McKenzie took the set at 6—2 and j maintained the same pressure in the third session to win at 6—2 after being | on top throughout. Miss Attwood Confident

Miss Attwood was confident and quickly took the first three games. Miss Kerr improved to win the fourth game, but her nervousness was most apparent in the fifth game, where she served underhand with the score at 30—all. Miss Attwood clouted it for a clean winner and then the Otago player double-faulted for the fifth time to be down I—4. Miss. Attwood was clearly on top and took the first set easily at 6—2. SECOND SET The Aucklander went into a 2—love lead in the second set and in the third game Miss Kerr double-faulted again, and resorted to underhand serving. This proved fatal, as Miss Attwood put them away with ease. Miss Kerr outed simple shots. The Aucklander was in command and took the third game, but conceded the fourth on her own service, when her opponent scored twice with splendid forehand drives. The Otago player continued to serve underhand, but, moving in to the net. scored with fast backhand and forehand drives and won the game to make it 3—2. DOUBLE FAULTS ' Miss Attwood double-faulted in the critical sixth game to be down ET—4O but fought back to deuce. Miss Kerr was not to be denied, however, and took the game to even the score at 3 all. Miss Attwood led at 4—3 and 5—4, but Miss Kerr evened at s—all.5 —all. Miss Kerr took the lead at 6 —5, but Miss Attwood came again, squared the issue at 6—all, and then won the next two games to win the title. 6—2, B—6.