CHAMPIONSHIP TENNIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19858, 31 January 1928, Page 11

CHAMPIONSHIP TENNIS.

AUCKLAND TOURNAMENT. FINAL MATCHES DECIDED. KNOTT WINS MEN'S SINGLES. EXCITING DOUBLES CONTEST. _• V. The Auckland huwn tennis championship tournament v.'as concluded yesterday, the winners being:—Men's singles: L. G. Knott ; ladies' singles, Miss Marjorie Macfarlane; men's doubles, L. G. Knott and N. Sturt; ladies' doubles, Mrs. Marshall and Miss Macfarlane; combined doubles, H. Brinsden and Miss D. Nicholls. So close had been Laurenson's semifinal against Bartl;et and so splendidly had Knott played against Sturt that the possible outcome of the meeting of these players in. the final was a matter of speculation. It was a question whether Laurenson, with his greater steadiness and match experience, could succeed in breaking up the tremendous forehand driving game that Knott had displayed against Sturt, or whether Knott could sweep the Mata.mata player off the court .by the force ol: his attack. The former seemed likely, but the latter proved to. be the case. No finer driving has been seen on the Stanley Street courts. From the commencement of the match Knott gave an exhibition of terrific hitting. Laurenson is famous i'or his quickness of foot, for his ability to make seemingly impossible recoveries, yet he was aced repeatedly. To Knott must go great praise for a magnificent performance. Laurenson is to be commended for a wonderful fight against an opponent who simply could not go wrong. Laurenson very nearly succeeded in getting the last set and had he done so .there is no knowing what might have happened, as Knott was suffering from tho t.?rrific pace that he had set right from the time the match commenced. Miss Macfarlane's Success. Miss Marjorle Macfarlane completed a successful come-back after last year's forced absence from the defence of her title by her visit to England. In view of her fine play through all of her early round matches, it was not deemed possible that any other competitor would be able to keep her from the championship. Such proved ito be the case. Interest, therefore, was centred in who would come through in. the cither half of the draw. Miss Knight proved successful, but could not hold the Remuera player in the final, Miss Macfarlane winning in straight sets. In the combined doubles Brinsden and Miss Nicholls gained a well-deserved victory. Brinsden played finely and Miss Nicholls gave him splendid support, both from the back court and when she joined him at tho net. In the men's doubles Griffiths and Brinsden pressed Knott and Sturt to a close five-set final, which was in doubt up to four-all in the deciding set. Mrs. Marshall and Miss Macfarlane won in two close sets from Misses Nicholls.and Ramsay. Knott served first in the* final of the men's singles and the difficulties of the situation with which Laurenson was faced were immediately impressed upon him when the young Eden and Epsom player went to 3—l with an exhibition Of flawless driving. He made the scores to three-all, however, by breaking through Knott's service to lovo. A period of incredible driving carried Knott to 5—5. Laurenson won the ninth game to 50 on his own service and offered magnificent resistance, getting advantage on more than one occasion, only to lose it to an ■unreturnable drive or smash from Knott. Two net cord shots also favoured Knott and he eventually secured the game and the set. Knott in Winning Form. Laurenson started serving in the second set and went to> 40—love, only to lose the next four points. That Knott could keep up this perfect? play much longer seemed impossible, and yet in a verj short time he had established a 4—o lead. Laurenson took the fifth game by going to the net, where he cleverly cut oil some of Knott's drives. Knott, 'however, broke away in the next game, again serving, smashing and driving with deadly precision, and took the set at 6—l. Knott continued his winning form by taking the opening game in the third set. Laurenson, however, by a more forceful service, won the Becond to 15. Knott resumed his victorious march by taking the third game after a close fight. He broke through Laurenson's service in the fourth game, after having the advantage three times, and led '6—l. Laurenson, by an attack on Knott's backhand, evened the match at three all. The pace had slackened considerably and Knott was playing more carefully, apparently feeling the heat and the effects of the strenuous attack which he had kept up incessantly. Games wont with the service to 6—5, with Laurenson serving. Laurenson trailed at 15—40, but two marvellous recoveries on his backhand drew him level and he took the game. Knott held the ne:ct game on his service and led 7—6. Laurenson netted a backhand and two fine forehand placements pit Knott ahead at 40—love. Ho lost the next point, but in an advance to the net by Knott Laurenson, in trying for a passing shot, netted and the set and match went to Knott. The match provided splendid tennis. Knott has not been seen to such advantage before. Ilis overhead work was flawless and his driving proved absolutely irresistible. Laurenson was playing accurately when he had the semblance of an opportunity to set himself, but so overwhelming was Knott's play that he was usually striving for desperate recoveries. It seemed that Knott must eventually let up.in his attack, and then it would have been Laurenson's chance. Tho opportunity, however, did not come and Knott managed to keep up the pressure until he had just annexed the final set. Another two sets have seen Laurenson gain the ascendancy. Flay in the Doubles. The men's doubles provided a splendid contest. The cleverness and good combination oii Griffiths and Brinsden nearly won against the more forceful tactics of Sturt and Knott. The firsi, set was a battle of services and the margin of victory for Griffiths and Brinsden was gained by a double break through Sturt in the fifth and ninth games. The second set saw Sturt and Knott at their best, as far as decisive placing of their shots was concerned Both went, out to_ win each point quickly and, of the two, Knott was perhaps the more effective. He scored many earned points and his famous forehand rarely let him down. Sturt and Knott went to a 4—2 lead when Sturt again lost his service, one chiefly to two fine returns by Brinsden. one of which flashed pr.st Knott down the side-line and the other, whicih Sturt, across court, .as .hp .cawo Jffl- - xa£ v\

took the next two games, however, foir the set at 6—2. Games went to 4 all in the third set when Brinsdeii was beatim., Start's service produced sone good play.He went to 40 love with a clever io«» vcilley over Brinsden's head, which tho latter could not recover. Knott fin all 3,* scored the game after a close . volleyinjj exchange ia which all four players participated. After the rest, Brinsden dropped hir service and Sturt did likewise. Griffith arid Brinsden then played their best tennis of the match and went into a lead of 4—l. Sturt and Knott won the next two games, but Knott was again beaten and Griffiths and Brinsden led, 5—5. In the nest game, with Brinsden serving, they took the set by clever volleys. Start started the service in the deciding set aad decisive volleys by Knott took the game to love. Knott and Sturt led 2—l and ■■s—l. In the fifth game, with Sturt serving and leading 30-15. Griffiths scored with a low lob. Ivnotfc then smashed out and Sturt volleyed over the side-line. Fine serving by Brinsden wen him the game to love. Knott had difficulty in holding his delier'y, two marvellous recoveries bv Brinsden o5 Sturt's smashes winning the first point. Griffiths lobbed first out,. but Brinsden scored with a fast cross-court drive. Knott won with a volley down the centre and then Sturt smashed a short. lob through Griffiths, who netted the next shot- Griffiths held his services with difficulty, 4—all. Sturt served finely to score a love game. Brinsden, serving, was beaten three times by wonderful returns and then Knott scored the final point with a perfect cross-court drive that beat Brinsden as he rushed to the net. The Ladies' Singles. Few incidents in" the ladies' singles final stand out. The main superirrity of Miss Macfarlane over Miss Knight was in the greater steadiness and forcejf her ground shots. Miss Knight handled most of Miss Macfarlane's shots quite well and she occasionally scored brilliant placements, but shs could not sustain her form. Miss Macfarlane's driving, either down the linos or across court, was very fine and there was iittla doubt at any time as to the ultimata result. The combined double final was closely fought for tho first set, but Brinsden and Miss Nicholls always seemed to bo just a little the better. Both Lampe and Brinsden played well and their partners ably assisted then. Miss Nicholls was especially pood and when necessary hit the ball with great speed off the ground or volleyed decisively at tiie net. Miss" Knight has been seen to better advantage in combined doubles and in her duels with Brinsden the latter usually camn off best. In the second set Lampe's service was broken through in the first game and Brinsden. holding his delivery, Lampe and Miss Knight, were behind at I—s and eventually lost at 2-6. ' In. the ladies'doubles Mrs. Marshall and Miss Marcfarlane ware not seriously threatened in the first set, which thqy won at 6—3, but Misses Ramsay and Nicholls impi-oved in the second set and although they were always one game behind, they carried' it to 12—10. Miss Macfarlane was tho best of the four, being most consistent and tireless in her * recoveries at the back of the court. . Details of results are:— Men's Championship Singles. Final.—lt. G. Ivnott beat Dr. Laurenson, 6 —4, 6 —.1, B—6. Men's Championship Doubles. Final. —N. Sturt and L. G. Knott beat E. W. Griffiths and H. L. Brinsden, 5—6, 6—2, 6 —4, —6, 6- —4. Ladies' Championship Singles. Final. —Miss M. Macfarlane beat Miss B. Knight, 6—4, 6—2. Ladies' Championship Doubles. Final-—Mrs. Marshall and Miss Macfarlane beat Misses J. Ramsay and D. Nicholls, 6—3, 12—10. Combined Championship Doubles. Final.—H. Brinsden and Miss D. Nicholls beat M. L. Lampe and Miss B. Knight, B—6, 6—2. Men's B Grade Singles. Final.—N. Bowden beat Stallworlby, 4—6 ,6 —2, 3—6, 6—l, 6—2. 0 <3rade. Men's Singles.—Final: C. G. Bowden beat G. McDonald, 6—o, 6—2. Ladies' Singles.—Final: -Miss C. Bryant won by default from Miss D. Bryant. Men l s Doubles.—Final: Syme3 and Abbott beat Jonson and Wood. 4—6. 6-4, 7—5. Ladies' Doubles.—Final: Misses Leng and Rukutai beat Misses C. and D. Bryant, 6—2, 5—6, B—6. Combined Doubles.—Final: J. N. "Wilson and Miss Knell beat Bates and Mrs. Harvey, 6—3, 6—2.