BRIGHT TENNIS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21968, 27 November 1934, Page 12

BRIGHT TENNIS

FRENCH PLAYERS WIN BRUGNON AND BOUSiiUS AUCKLANDI-HS* GOOD DISPLAY 4 t IMPROVEMENT OF STURT Following closely upon the visit of the English lawn tennis team, the French Davis Cup players, Jacques Brugnon ancl Christian Boussus, appeared in exhibition matches at Stanley Street, yesterday afternoon against the E. L. Bartleet and N. G. Sturt. The visitors were obviously short of practice, but both gave impressive displays. The excessive heat distressed the French players, but, in spite of this, they carried a superiority which gave them a margin over the Aucklaikl players. Both Aucklanders made a staunch resistance against the visitors and, considering their lack of practice, ' the local players performed creditably. In the /singles Boussus and Sturt had a very close contest and it was anybody's gamn up to the three scheduled sets. Similarly, in the second singles, the contest went to the third set before Brugnon gained a decision over Bartleet. In the doubles match the French players &ad that little extra combination which earned victory. The results were as follows: SINGLES beat Sturt, 6 —B, 6 —4, 6—4. Brugnon beat Bartleet, 3 —6, 6—o, B—7, In a / friendly match Robertson, America, bent M. T. Wilson. 6—o, 6—4. / DOUBLES x Brugnon and Boussus beat Sturt and Bartleet, 6—3, 9—7, 6—l. . Spectacular Play The game between Brugnon and E. Xi. Bartleet provided spectacular tennis. Both t players, seemed txv enjoy themselves and the measured strokes of the Auckland player, who ia one of the finest stylists in the Dominion, were in sharp contrast to the rather quick stab and varied spin employed by his French Brugnon was fighting against a service advantage in the early stages of the first set and although he equalhied at 3-all Bartleet retaliated in the seventh /"game and took the French player's service to re-establish his lead. Brugnon tried a net attack but the Auckland player met it with fine driving, one i forehand shot in particular £kken on the full run across court, earning well deserved applause. Bartleet lost his service early in the second set and the gallery had the privilege pf seeing Brugnon's full locker oif novel shots, the Frenchman going in consistently to gain a love set. Bartleet foiled an attack on his backhand in the early (stages of the deciding set and led 3—l, 3—2 and 4—3. Brugnon's top-spin forehand alternated with heavily-cut sbttts and an occasional advance to the :aet enabled him to secure the Auckland flayer's service to square tile match at 5-all. Bartleet countered a volleying attack in the eleventh game tu lead 6—5, hut Brugnon served his way level, at 6-all. Bartleet missed his clbance at 7 —6, when leading 40 —love Brugnon's vigorous reprisal saved the game, and'enabled him to take the set aiud the match at 9—7. Sturt Starts Well N. G. Start started well against Boussus and took the first game after deuce, but tlte Frenchman then went to 5—2 attractive tennis, some of his backhand drives taken off the body under pressure being particularly well At this stage Boussus appeared to have the match, but Sturt, increasing the pace of his ground shots, crept up to s*ll, breaking through his opponent's service by forcing a number of volleying eirrors. Sturt went to 6—5, and, although Boussus took the twelfth game to love on his own service, the Aucklander won the next two games and took the set at B—6.

The French player became dominant again in the second set and went to 5—•2 by, accurate ground strokes which kept his/opponent constantly on the man. Fine retrieving by Sturt and a q nick attack when the French player vtas short brought the Auckland player urithin 4—5 of his opponent, but Bous80*' service had Sturt overdriving on two occasions to give the set to France. Brilliant play marked the opening of the deciding set, Sturt leading 2—l by fine driving and volleying, m which every point was earned. » A concentrated attack on Sturt's backhand, which weakened under pressure, brought Boussus to 3—2, but unaccountable errors permitted Sturt to cet on terms, at 3-all. Added speed to his ground shots, which swung Sturt from ' earner to corner, took the French Davis Cup' player to 5—3, but the next game went to Sturt to love. Boussus then clinched the match by winning his service to SO for "the set at fh-4. • Boobies Features The chief features of the doubles match were the backhand strokes of Boussus, the combination of the Frenchmen, and the improved form shown by Sturt;- '• ~ Boussus displayed remarkable skill in net interception and his smashing a»ked for little improvement. A lefthand plbyer, Boussus brought off some brilliant volleys on his backhand. The Frenchmen were rarely at fault in their combination, and in this proved superior to the local players. Bartleet's service, was again good. Boussus possesses quilie a peculiar service, and lacks a good; swing, but nevertheless he delivered with much pace. The round-arm smashing of the visiters was' another feature, the smash hiring delivered with a round-arm movement with little wristwork. Sturt was a much improved player on his exhibition against the Englishmen, Both he and Bartleet stood close in to the neb and brought off many brilliant volleys and smashes. Prior to the commencement of the games four Auckland juniors, J. Gunn, J. Allen, J. Stevens and A. May son, provided a bright exhibition. An added attraction to the afternoon's entertainment was.'a singles match between Robertson. of Lou Angeles, and M. T. Wilson, of Auckland. Robertson was too strong for his opponent, who was slightly nervous, and won in two sots.