TENNIS CONTESTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21399, 25 January 1933, Page 11

TENNIS CONTESTS

AUCKLAND TOURNAMENT MATCHES COMMENCE TO-DAY LEADING PLAYERS COMPETING The Auckland lawn" tennis championships will commence to-day at the Stanley Street courts. Very satisfactory entries have been recei/ed and good contests should be seen in all sections. Besides the normal A and B grade . singles, extra events for intermediates, under 21, and juniors, under 111, have been included in tha extensive programme, so that ample opportunity is given for the younger players. •

The principal contenders for the singles title are C. E. Malfroy; New Zealand runner-up, New Zealand doubles holder, and. combined doubles holder; E. L. Bartleet, the present; champion; N. R. C. Wilson, of Wellington; T. RhodesWilliams, of Christchurch; A. C. Stedman and N. G. Sturt. The ladies' events will be' more interesting by virtue of the entries of Mrs. W. J. Melody, Wellington, and , Miss N. Beverley, Matanata, while Miss Macfarlane, runner-up for the New Zealand singles championship and present holder of the title, is in her best form. In the men's doubles, Wilson and Whitcombe, Wellington, Stedman and Sturt, and Bartleet and Malfroy should all have a chance, while the ladies' doubles event contains such pairs as Mrs. Melody and Miss Knight, and Mis 3 Beverley and Mrs. Napier. Stedman and Miss'Beverley, Sturt and Miss Macfarlans (holders), Wilson and Mrs. Napier, and Malfroy and Miss Knight should all prove strong combinations in the combined doubles.

The B grade, and also the intermediate singles, have l.'rje entries and the issue is quite open.

It is pleasing to note that more playerg are coming forward from the country districts. These in:ludo Miss Bishop, Franklin; Misses Remiger, Rodney; P. Gravatt, Rodney; R. Lees, Bay of Plenty; A. G. Shirley, Hauruki Plains; and Carter, North Auckland.

The junior boys' and junior girls', singles will be commenced at ParneJl at 9 a.m. this morning, and all juniorg should report there instead of at Stanley Street.

As usual th(i tea arrangements are in the hands of the laches of the senior clubs. The tournament will be managed by Mr. P. Harrison, with Mr. A. C. Johns as sub-manager. It will be continued each day until Monday next, when the finals will be decidec.

NORTH ISLAND CONTESTS jf ■> AUCKLAND BOY'S GOOD SHOWING [BY TELEGRiTH—mESS ASSOCIATION] . MASTERTON, Tuesday The North island tennis championship* were continued to-day. In the bojs' championship singles final J. W. Gunn (Auckland) defeated I. Bowden (Masterton), 6—o, 6—o. Other results were as follows:

Ladies' Championship Singles.—Quar-ter-finals : Miss Howell beat Miss' Haggitt, 6—2, 6—2; Miss. M. Ruthe/r ford beat Miss Macagsey, B—6, 5—6, 6—3; Miss Bell beat Miss Glenny, 6—3, 5 —7, 6 —4. Semi-final: Miss Whyte beat Miss P. Riddiford, 6—2, 6—l. Ladies' Championship Doubles. —Quar-ter-finals: Misses L. and M. Rutherford beat Misses Iteetham and V. Rutherford, 6—3, 6—l; Misses Todd and Whyte beat Misses Swainson and Swainson,> -6—3, 6—l; Misses Macassey and Gould beat Misses Glenny and Howell, 6—4, 6—2. Semi-final: Misses Whyte and Todd beat Misses L. and M. Rutherford, 6—4, 2—6, 6-4.

J. W. Gunn won the final of the B grade men's Handicap singles and Payton and Rishworth (Masterton) won ifie final of the B grade men's handicap. The doubles tourney will conclude to-morrow. A feature of yesterday's play was the excellent showing of Gunn, an Auckland schoolboy, who defeated Martin, a leading Wairaraja player, 6—3, 6—B, 6—4. His match with Ferkins ended 7—5, 6 —3, in favour of the Wilding' Shield player, who ivas pushed hard all the way. In the first set Gunn led 5—2. He has a finished forehand, and when his backhand has developel should greatly assist his province.