CHAMPIONSHIP TENNIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19831, 29 December 1927, Page 11

CHAMPIONSHIP TENNIS.

* DOMINION TOURNAMENT. OLLIVIER IN GREAT FORM. SUCCESS OF AUCKLANDERS. THE SEMI-FINALS REACHED.. [by telegraph.—press' association.] CHRIS I CHURCH, Wednesday. The New Zealand tennis championships were continued to-day and, although play had to be adjourned for half an hour in tho morning owing to rain, there was no further interruption and games continued until after eight o'clock. The feature of the day was the outstanding form of G. Ollivier, who defeated D. G. France with the loss of enly six games in. the fourth round. So accurate was Ollivier that France scored out eight points in tho second set. Ollivier played wonderful tennis and showed splendid generalship. Ollivier plays N. Sturt (Auckland) to-morrow in ©no semi-final and Dr. Laurenson plays Bartleet. Sturt's 'victory over Seay today was due to the latter's lack of physique for a five-set match. Laurenson to-day lost tho first two sets hadly to France, but then his staying powers told. Finally he won the last set, 15—13, amid tense excitement, after Franco had had at least three match points. It was a sensational contest, for Laurenson had also had two match points. Bartleet also had a five-set tussle with Malfroy, but the young Wellington player faded out at the finish.

Ladies' Championship. Iri the semi-final of the ladies' singles Miss Speirs plays Miss MacFarlane and Mrs. Adams plays Miss Knight to-mor-row. The final of the ladies' doubles is between Misses Speirs and Partridge and Mrs. Adams and Miss Tracy. In the men's doubles Bartleet and LauTenson meet Peacock and Wilson in one semi-final and Knott and Sturfc meet the ■winners of France and France versus Lampe and Malfroy. In the first set of his match with Mai. frov to-day Bartleet was outplayed and lost the set 6—2. In the second set Bartleet began by making numerous errors, but recovered touch and evened the score at two all, mainly by neat volleying. His returns of service were magnificent. Bartleet led, 5—4, by beautiful driving lo corners, but lost on his service, and the scores were 5 all. Deadly serving gave Malfroy the eleventh game, and he finally took the set, B—6. Bartleet won the third set at 6—4 smid applause. Just before going for the last ball in the fourth game of the fourth set "Bartleet lost the use of his right hand from cramp. He played with his left hand softly and won tl)6 paint amid gasps from the spectators. After a brief spell play was resumed. Malfroy served iu the fifth game and led 40—15, only to lose it. Bartleet served at his best and made it a iove set. Poor tennis was witnessed in the final set. Malfroy had lost all his former accuracy, and Vigour, and Bartleet won, 6 —2.

A First-class Exhibition. Every seat in the stands was filled to Watch Ollivier play France. The game began quietly, both men going for position. With angle shots that were models of precision Ollivier went off with a 3 —l lead. He showed uncanny intuition, and repeatedly France was caught on the wrong foot by what seemed simple shots. Ollivier won, 6—4. In the second set Francs was outplayed, and Ollivier won 6 —o. The third set provided more excellent tennis, though France could secure only two games. Sturfc began better than Seay and took the first set B—6. He showed great agility but was always sure. In the second set. Seay many punishing drives and made few errors. He wen 6 —2. Sturt took the third set at 6—4, after an exciting display, full of fast drives and rattling fcet work. The fourth set went to Seay ftt 6—3, but in the fifth set Sturt was not Jiressed. A Gruelling Contest. L. France surprised most critics 'by easily accounting for Laurenson in the first two sets. Laurenson only began to show occasional flashes of his old brilliancy m the middle of the third set. Ho won fhe third and fourth sets and the last, uhich was the most gruelling seen here lor years. Miss Macfarlane, as expected, proved much too good for Miss Pattison, the Otago champion, and lost oniy four games. The Auckland player will prove a formidable opponent for Miss Speirs. Although Miss Wake dominated the first Set against Miss Knight, she could not kpep on top. Miss Knight improved greatly half-way through the second set and won from then on through steadiness and brisk overhead work Capital tennis roused the enthusiasm of Ihe hrge gallery that watched the ladies' doubles between Misses Macfarlane and Knight, of Auckland, arid Misses Speits fend Partridge, of Canterbury. Not only was the volleying sharp and crisp, but the exchange of hard driving between Miss Speirs and Miss Macfarlane resembled a hard men's singles. Detiils of the Matches. Details are

Men's Singles Championship.—Fourth 'round: Bartleet beat Malfroy, 14—6, 6—B, 6—o, o—2; Ollivier beat D. France, 5 4' 6 0, 6—2; Laurenson beat L. G. France, I—6,1 —6, 2—6, 6 4, 6—-4, 15—13. Hturt beat Seay, B—6, 2 6, 6 4, 3 . 6_ Ladies' Singles.-Third round: Mrs. Adams beat Mrs. Melody, 6—3, b—o, Miss Spoirs beat Miss J'racy, 6—o, 7—5; Miss Knight beat Miss Wake, 1-6, 6—4, b—2; Miss MacFarlane beat- Miss 1 attison, 6 —2, 6—2. Ladies' Doubles.—Fourth round'. Misses Speirs and Partridge beat Misses MacFarlane and Knight, 5—7, 6 ~f' Vv Adams and Miss Tracy boat Misses Wake and Andrew, 6—3, 3—6, 9—7. Combined Doubles.—Second round : Miss East and Greenwood beat Miss Pattison and McDougall, 6—o 6—2. Men's Doubles.—third round: Slurt and Knott beat Fulton and Boddy, 6-4, 4—6, 6—3, 4—6, 64. New Zealand Plate—Second round: Knott beat Wallace by default; Pearse beat Smithson, 6-3, 7—5, 6-3; N.R. Wilson beat Parker, 6-3 6-2, 6-4 Walker beat McDougall 6-4, 6-3, b-O. Third round: Tait beat Munns, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2; Angas beat Barlow, 6-3, 8-6 6-4 Boys' Singles Championship.—Second round: Cant beat Slade, 6—o, 6—l; Howo j 1 Priffithfi 6—l, 6—2; McCaskey beat White, 6—l,' 6—l; Barnett beat Daly, —2. 6 Girls' Singles.—Second round: Miss Long more beat Miss Blundon, 6-1, 6-1; 2Sliss Dini beat Miss Blunden, 6—3, 6 0, Miss Fleming beat Miss Donaldson, 6-4, b— 5; Miss Rudkin beat Miss Smithson, 6—3,' 6—5. ■