VICTORIAN TENNIS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21983, 14 December 1934, Page 13

VICTORIAN TENNIS

STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

ENGLISH PAIR DEFAULT HUGHES' HANDS BLISTERED By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received December 13, 10.35 p.m.) MELBOURNE. Dec. 13 The Victorian lawn tennis championships were continued to-day. Perry and Hughes (Britain) defaulted to Quist and Turnbull in a semi-final of the men's doubles. Hughes had previously had such a strenuous singles match with Stefani (Italy) that his hands were blistered. He asked for a postponement of the doubles match, but this was not granted. Men's Singles. —Quarter-finals: Crawford defeated Malcolm, 6 —o, 6 —o, 6—3; Stefani defeated Hughes, 6—4, 4 —6, B—6, 6 —3. Men's Doubles. —Semi-final: Quist and Turnbull beat Perry and Hughes by default.

Women's Singles. Miss Dearman ('England) defeated Miss Macfarlane (New Zealand), 6 —2, 6 —2.

Combined Doubles. —Turnbull and Miss Hartigan defeated Hassett and Miss Woodward, 4 —6, 6 —3, 6—4; Quist and Miss Lyle (Britain) defeated Olemenger and Miss Bellamy, 6 —2, 6—l.

Stefani gained an early lead in his singles with Hughes. His ground strokes were better * controlled than those of Hughes, who was unable to reach the net. Although he had two splendid chances to win the third set, Hughes could not clinch the points. Stefani's top spin returns were devastating.

Crawford was too strong for Malcolm. Owing to the heat of the day, Crawford was obviously trying to end the match as soon as possible and in this he -was successful. .j,

FUTURE OF WIMBLEDON DEPLETED AMATEUR RANKS OPEN TOURNEY MAY COME (Received December 13. G. 50 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 13 The Daily Mail says the Lawn Tennis Association is conducting a confidential inquiry as to the probable effect on the Wimbledon attendance by further secessions from the amateur rapks. The association has sent a memorandum to debenture-holders asking their opinion on the attitude of the public if Perry and Austin and leading Continental amateurs adopted professionalism and consequently were unable to participate in the Wimbledon championships. One leading debenture-holder declared that Wimbledon would no longer be a successful commercial proposition. The public would not support a tournament of second-rate players. The association's opinion is divided. The die-hards throw up their hands in horror at the idea of an open championship at Wimbledon. Others see the writing on the wall and are prepared to bow to the inevitable.