LAWN TENNIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15521, 31 January 1914, Page 6

LAWN TENNIS.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

The Auckland Championship Tournament was advanced a further stage on Thursday, and all the events have now reached the final, with the exception of the semi-finals of the combined championship and one unfinished semi-final in the men's doubles championship. It was hoped to complete the finals at the Eden and Epsom courts this afternoon, but from present indications it looks as if at least one event will have to stand over. Up to the present both Dr. McCutcheon and K. Duthie have not met defeat in any of their events, and the same applies to Miss Gray and Miss G. Gorrie. The outcome is that these players are now concerned in every match still to be played, and the result is that it seems almost a matter of impossibility to complete the tournament this afternoon. Assuming that either McCutcheon or Duthie remains undefeated they will have still to play five matches, and that is a big order for a whole day's play, let alone .a Saturday afternoon.

The finals and semi-finals this afternoon

should prove very interesting, and the match between Duthie and McCutcheon

should furnish the finest contest that has taken place in the Auckland Championships for a very long time. Opinions as to the result are about equally divided, and it seems to be a matter of certainty that the match will go the full five sets. Duthie's play in the preliminary rounds shows that he ha* plenty of confidence, and should he do himself justice the present holder of the championship will require to bo at his very best to stave off the challenge. Many interesting contest* were seen at the Remuera courts on Thursday, and although there were no great surprises the exhibition of tennis given by some of the players was a treat to watch. In the men's singles championship McCutcheon had little difficulty in reaching the semifinal. He defeated Goldsmith in the semifinal after a splendid exhibition. Duthie reached the semi-final by easily defeating Abbott, the latter only getting one game. Abbott is usually a hard player to defeat, but he could make little headway against the accurate piay of his opponent. Keith also reached the semi-final, but ho had to , strain every effort to stave off defeat by I Hickson, who pressed him all the way. Hickson played one of his best games and had the match been the best of five sets the chances are he would have won. Keith is not the player of old, and has lost much of his accuracy and not a little of his aggressiveness. Great interest was taken; when he met Duthie in the semi-final, but in the light of previous form the result seemed all in favour of Duthie. Both players were fairly tired and towards the end of the match Keith seemed to have played himself to a standstill. He managed to secure the second set, 6—4, but that was the best'he could do and Duthie, sharpening up the play, had no difficulty in annexing the next two sets and the j

Hickson and Goldsmith have reached the final of the doubles championship, defeating Lyttelton and Newell in the semifinal with a good deal to spare. The West End players did not play as accurately as when they defeated Keith and Quinnell, but Hickson and Goldsmith were combin-

ing splendidly, and gave their opponei

no opportunity to break through their defence. In the other semi-final McCutcheon and Abbott started against Duthie and Eobson. The hour was getting late and after the first set the match was postponed owing to the bad light. This should be the finest double match of the tourna-

ment, and the result is very open. Duthie and Hobson have the advantage of a set in, which they secured by brilliant play. Much of the play was in Robson's direction, but he fairly excelled himself and smashed in the most deadly fashion. McCutcheon and Abbott showed the more solid combination, but their opponents evened this up by brilliant volleying. The chances of Duthie and Robson are good, provided they are able to keep up their ag(,Tessive tactics, but McCutcheon and Abbott are so solid and steady in their play that they will take full advantage of any loose play on the part of their opponents. The winners of this match will meet Hinkson and Goldsmith in the final, and although a good match should result the consensus of opinion is that the winners of the above semi-final will be the ultimate winners of the championship. As has happened in several previous years Miss Gray will again contest the final of the ladies' singles championship with Miss G. Gorrie. Miss Gray has reached the final somewhat easily, and was not unduly pressed in the semi-final by Miss Steele. Miss Barstow was expected to fully extend Miss Gorrie in the other semi-final, but the match was very disappointing. After taking the first set by good driving Miss Barstow went right off her game and could do nothing right The consequence was that the second set was secured by Miss Gorrie to love, the failure of her opponent enabling Miss Gorrie to get right into her game. For a few games in the third set Miss Bai-stow improved and seemed to have a chance, but it was only temporary, and the remaining games went to Miss Gorrio with ' ease. After Miss Barstow's previous good play her failure was unaccountable, for although she seemed to tire at the finish . that does not account for her poor display in the second set, when she drove ball ; after ball into the net or over the side ' lines. 1

The final of the ladies' doubles championship lies between Misses Gray and Gorrie and Mrs. Cooper and Miss Harvey. A close contest should eventuate, but the odds are rather in favour of the present holders of the title. Misses Thompson and P. Gorrie put up a surprisingly good fight against the holders in the semi-final only losing 7—5, 7—5. Miss G. Gorrie did not play as well as one would expect, and her driving was reckless in the extreme. She will need to adopt steadier methods in the final or the result may come as a shock to the holders.

Both semi-finals in the combined championship have yet to be played, and any of the lour remaining pairs may turn out the winners. They are all evenly matched and every match should be keenly contested. Keith and Miss Gray meet Robson and Mrs. Cooper, and Duthie and Miss G. Gome play McCuJtcheon and Miss P. Gorrie. The latter match should furnish a great exhibition of the combined game, anil it is quite impossible to give any indication as to the winners. IT]© same applies to the first mentioned match but the combination of Keith and Miss Gray is not what it should be, and this may be their undoing. Up to the present they have not been hard pressed, but Robson and Mrs. Cooper will try them out. Keith has too great a tendency in the combined games to hug the back line leaving his partner to do the net work! Miss Gray is certainly very strong at net play, and there seems no reason why Keith should not follow in the same as in the doubles game, but if he continues to keep away from the net against a player with the smashing capabilities of Robson the result will be disastrous.

Play in the semi-finals and final* will commence at tho Eden and Epsom courts this afternoon at one o'clock sharp. It is to be hoped that the players will be available punctually, as every effort must be made to pet the matches off as far as possible this afternoon. TE AROHA V. WAIHI. [by telegraph.— correspondent.] Te Aboha, Friday. A team of Waihi tennis players visited" Te Aroha yesterday. The game was very close, the visitors winning by nine matches to eight*