TENNIS TOURNAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19303, 16 April 1926, Page 11

TENNIS TOURNAMENT.

STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS. PLAY IN SYDNEY MATCHES. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 11.35 p.m.) SYDNEY. April 15. The New South Wales State lawn tennis championships were continued to-day in fine weather and on soft courts, a condition due to rain in tho night. Following are the results : Singles.—Willard defeated Smyth (New Zealand), 6—2, 6—3, 6—2; Seiler defeated Wilson, 6—3, 4—6, 6—4, 2—6, 6 —2 ; Andrews (New Zealand) defeated Kilminster, 6—3, 6-3. Mixed Doubles.—France (New Zealand) and Miss Watson had a bye. Peach and ■Miss Butcher defeated Seay (New Zealand) and Miss Harrington, 7—5, 6—4. FIRST GAME OF THE TOUR. VISITORS DEFEAT COLTS. t [from our own correspondent.] SYDNEY. April 10. In the first match of their tour played on April 3 and 5, the New Zealand tennis players met and defeated a team of the best colts in New South Wales. In Australia a colt is 25 years or younger, so that on tho average tho New Zealand team was very little the senior. The match was played under splendid weather conditions, but the light and want of practice wore against the visitors, who showed the effects of tho extreme humidity, and at the end of each clay the only fit players in the New Zealand team were Smyth and Andrews. Considering these conditions and the fact that the New Zealanders had had about ten hours' practice previous to the match, and that practice on four different kinds of courts, they showed very good form, and confounded the local critics who, not knowing the standing of the individual members of the team, openly declared that they would not bo too strong for their own over-much boomed juniors. The visitors were overwhelmingly superior in tho singles, winning eleven out of the twelve singles played. This superiority was duo to better ground strokes, coupled with a highly commendable keenness. But in the doubles the local youths were the better, owing to their combination and enterprise in attack. Their volleying was also more forceful than that of their opponents. The Australians hit when volleying and use tho lob to open an attack. Above the ground they show at their best, but their ground strokes and footwork are disappointing, considering they have so many opportunities to meet and watch the best exponents of tho game. Tho New Zealand team won the match by 15 rubbers, 34 sets, 251 games to 6 rubbers, 14 sets, and 186 games. Tho outstanding features _ were the fine performances in the singles by Androws and Seay. Both these players are much improved, and are capable of springing a surprise at any time. The New South Wales State junior championship for players under 21 years is already credited to Andrews, and if Wilson can come back to his best the doubles should also be theirs. Smyth has played well but is not at his best yet, want of hard practice and slow courts not being to his liking. His service so far is not working well, and it is probable that the light worries him, but he is working hard to overcome these defects. Wilson played a fino game in his first match against Crouch, but sinco then he has not been able to tune himself up. His doubles displays are far below his best, though it is likely that the heat during his first match has done much to upsot him. To-day, however, ho appears to have more "pep." France is showing consistent form, his match against Dunlop being the best of the first day's plav. Dunlop is a fine volleyer, but Franco's driving to the back corners was too much for him. J. Crawford, tho holder of the Australian junior championship, was decisively beaten in his singles games by Andrews and Smyth, 6—l, 6—4, and 6—l, 6—2, respectively.

The New Zealand team had two hours' practice on the afternoon of April 9, on heavy courts, their only play since tho match against tho colts' team.

An event of interest to Mow Zealand tennis folk is the wedding of Mr. Gordon Henderson, of Wellington, to Miss Alma Grant, of Sydney. Tho marriage ceremony took place to day at St. James's Church. Mr. Murray Kean represented tho New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association at the ceremony. Mr. Henderson has been a member of tho Management Committee of tho N.Z.L.T.A. for about twelve years.