AMERICAN TENNIS TEAM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21327, 31 October 1932, Page 10

AMERICAN TENNIS TEAM

ABRIVAI IN AUCKLAND

EXHIBITION MATCHES TO-DAY

GREAT INTEREST IN VISIT

ARRANGEMENTS FOR WELCOME

The American lawn tennis team, which comprises four of tho world's leading players, will arrive in Auckland to-day by the. Niagara, and will take part in exhibition matches at the courts of the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association at Stanley Street this afternoon. The members of the team are as follows: —H. Ellsworth Vines, Wilrner Allison, John Van Ryn and Keith Gledhill. Mrs. \an Ryn, an accomplished player, and Mrs. Vines, who was married shortly before the Niagara left for New Zealand, are also in tho party.

Mr. G. Gore, president of tho New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association, and Mr. R. B. Hardy, president of the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association, will go out by launch to the Niagara when that vessel anchors in the stream, for the purpose of extending a welcome to the visitors. Tho arrangements for entertaining tho Americans will be finalised when they are consulted to-day.

Tho Auckland Lawn Tennis Association has gone to a great deal of trouble in order to stage exhibition matches this afternoon for the benefit of its patrons, and tho presence of such famous players is likely to draw a very large attendance to Stanley Street. Tho courts have been covered with tarpaulins and they are in sploridid order. Two well-known Auckland players, A. C. Stedman and N. G. Sturt, will play an exhibition match at 1.45 p.m., and they will be followed by the Americans, who aro expected to be on tho courts somewhere about 3 p.m. The matches to be played by the visitors cannot be made known until they aro consulted upon arrival.

Followers of lawn tennis are well acquainted with the names of the members of tho visiting team. Vines, who is 21 years of age, is the present American and All England singles champion. In the latter contest he defeated J. Crawford, of Australia, in the semi-final, and 11. W. Austin, England, in the final, both in straight sets. He was also American champion in 1931, and ho and Gledhill aro the present holders of the American doubles title.

Allison has represented America on no fewer than fivo occasions in Davis Cup contests, while he has invariably been ono of tho most prominent players in English and American tournaments of recent years. He has fully extended Cochet and Borotra, the well-known Frenchmen, in singles matches. Partnered by Van Ryn ho won tho All England doubles at Wimbledon in 1929 and 1930.

Van Ryn has victories over Tilden and Austin to his credit, while he has twice extended Vines to fivo sets. Apart from tho doubles victories he gained in company with Allison, Van Ryn assisted Lott to win the Wimbledon doubles in 1931. Allison and Van Ryn accounted for Cochet and Brugnon in tho latest Davis Cup contest.

Gledhill is regarded as being one of the most promising young players in America. He won the national boys' doubles in 1926, partnered by Sydney Wood, and was junior national singles and doubles champion, partnered by Vines, in 1929. He defeated Crawford when the Australian was in California on his way to take part in tho Wimbledon tourney. His latest achievement in company with Vines was the defeat of Allison and Van Ryn for the American doubles championship last August.