NEW TENNIS CHAMPIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19834, 3 January 1928, Page 11

NEW TENNIS CHAMPIONS.

OLLIVIER REGAINS TITLE. HARD FIGHT BY BARTLEET, { SUCCESS OF MISS SPEIRS. jSTURT AND KNOTT DEFEATED. [BX TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATICN.O CHRISTCHURCH. Monday. The New Zealand tennis championships were concluded in perfect weather at Wilding Park and the title-holders for tho year are:— Men's Singles.—G. Ollivier (Canterbury). Men's Doubles. —E. L. Bartleet (Auckland) ii,'id J. T. Laurenson (Waikato). Ladies' Singles.—Miss M. Speirs (Canterbury). Ladies' Doubles. —Mrs. Adams and Miss Tracy (Wellington). Combined Doubles.—Miss Tracy and N. p.. Wilson (Wellington). Boys' Singles.—H. A. Barnetfc (Canterbury). Girls' Singles.—Miss N. Fleming (Otago). New Zealand Plate.—C. An,gas (Canterbury). Canterbury secured tho Anthony Wilding Cup with 7 point?, Wellington having 4 points and Auckland, Otago and Waikato 1 each. Tho best match on the final day was that between Ollivier and Bartleet for the men's singles championship. Ollivier won the first and third sets and Bartleet the second and fourth sets. Then came an exciting struggle for the fifth set. Ollivier won it at 9—7. Ho had boen hard pressted. Miss Speirs beat Miss Knight (Auckland) in two sets with the greatest of ease. She was superior all through. A five-set match in the men's doubles final ended in Laurenson and Bartleet defeating Knott and Sturt (Auckland). previous title-holders. Over-anxiety 4, spoiled the combination of the latter pair. Laurenson's steadiness was remarkable. Miss Wilson and Tracy played brilliantly in the mixed doubles final and although dovrn four games to five in the third set, they stuck to their guns and ,won the next three games. It was a sparkling display. Details are:— Men's Singles Final.—G. Ollivier beat E. L, Bartleet, 6 —l, 4—6, 6—3j 3—6, 9-7. Men's doubles Final.—E. L. Bartleet and J. T. Laurenson beat L. G. Knott and N. G. Sturt, 3—6, 6 —3, ,2—C>, 6—o, 6-3. Ladies' Singles Final.—Mius M. Speirs beat Miss B. Knight, 6 —l, 6—2. Mixed Doubles Final. —Miss Tracy and N. R. Wilson beat Mrs. Adams and L. France, 6 —2, 'l—6, 7—5. New Zealand Plate.—Fourth rcund: Walker beat Sheppard, 6—3, 4—6, 6—4, fl—7. Semi-final: Wilson beat Baggo, 6—2, 6—2, 7 —5; Angas beat Walker, 6 —2, 6—2, 6—l. Final: C. Angas beat N. R. Wilson, 6—o, 7—5, 6—4. NOTES ON THE PLAY. GOOD GAMES IN DOUBLES. FEATURES OF THE CONTESTS. [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION. 0 CHRISTCHURCH. Monday. In tho final of the men's doubles Knott and Sturt had more dash and initiative in tho first set than Bartleet and Laurenson and they quickly ran to a lead of 5—2 by going for the net on every possible occasion. Knott lost his service on the eighth game, but he and partner carried the ninth and the set at 6 —3 Play was patchy. Sturt lost his service at the beginnitig of the second setarid th«n Laurenson won his service after some smart volleying. Knott was outstanding in {he third game. His nel work excelled anything seen previously at the tournament and the game went with his partner's service. Thsn through a sequence of errors by Sturt, the other pair got a lead of 4—2. Knott dropped i)is [service and Laurenson and Bartleet added an extra game. It was their set at 6—3. Low backhand volleys by Laur enson were a feature of the first gamo of the third set. Ho was missing nothing at thin stago and Bartleet rattled many scoring drives down the middle Knott and Sturt recovered ground later and evened at two all. Laurenson served in the fifth game and lost it after being 40—1.5. Knott and Sturt tightened their combination and punished anything loose. They led 4—2. Bartleet fell into errors and another game was lost. Knott's service was hot. Not a point, was scored off it in the eighth game and Knott and Sturt had the set at 6—2. Play was resumed without a spell. The first game of the fourth set %vent to Laurenson and Bartleet. They also captured Sturt's service after some smashX ing. Bartleet held his for a lead of 3—o and it looked like being a five-sat match, particularly when Knott's service gained nothing. Laurenson's net work had improved out of sight and he tricked his opponents repeatedly. With a lead oi" &—-0, Laurenson and Bartleet tool" Sturm's service to love and the set. Bart leet's service opened the fifth set. Ho lost it quickly. There were few rallies now and all four players went for winners. ' With the games two all a battle for the odd game saw Bartleet hitting winners and lobbing with great accuracy. He and his partner led 3—2. Sturt served magnificently in the sixth ga,me and almost broke the spell against him, but luck went the other way. Bartleet and Laurer.sor led 4—2. service added another game from 40 la Knott served and tho tide turned for the time. won the game !inf ' * older pair weie only two games ahead With Bartleet serving, Knott and Stuit did not secure a point and the set went to Bartleet and Laurenson and with it *he match and the title. Wilson's perfect and effortless smash ing and control at net were a feature cf the first six games in the combined final. Wilson served and the with the service to 3—2. when 1' rant* dropped his service. Miss Tracy •wgjj hers and led 5—2. In the eighth game there was an amazing volleying rally between Francs and Miss Tracy, m which honours were all with Miss Tracy. Mrs Adams lost lißr service and the set. The secoTid set went *to Mis. Adams and France. In tho third Set France was 5—4 and 30—15, but last the advantage, as Wilson camo right back on his jjatne and hi.-, partner fought doggedly to win the set. The final between Miss Speirs and Miss Knight did not lend itself to description. Miss Speirs dominated play, having a counter to every piece of court craft by her opponent. There were not many brilliant rallies, but. there were some brilliant shots by Miss Sneirs, who volleyed, and smashed rarely, but just enough to fchow how an artist can do it. Miss Speirs attacked Miss Knight's forehand 'persistently, only changing the attack when tho backhand court invited a clean winner. Miss Speirs lost the iecond game in the first set and in the Second set she lost the first game and fifth..