TENNIS SEEDINGS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22449, 19 June 1936, Page 9

TENNIS SEEDINGS

WIMBLEDON TOURNEY BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS CRITICISM AROUSED i By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, June 17 The seeded players in the draw for the British lawn tennis championships, which will be commenced at Wimbledon on Monday are as follows : Men's Singles.—F. J. Perry, G. von Cramrn, A. K. Quist, "VV. L. Allison, J. D. Budge, J. H. Crawford, H. W. Austin and B. Grant (United States). Women's Singles.-Miss D.E. Round Miss Helen Jacobs, Mrs. Marshal Fnbyan (nee Sarah Palfrey), Miss K. Stammers, Mrs. Svend Sperling (nee Fraulein Krahwinkel, Denmark), Mme. Rene Mathicu (France), Mile. _J. Jedrzejowska (Poland), Senorita Anita Lizana (Chile). Men's Doubles.—Crawford and Quist, Allison and J. van Ryn, Budge and C. G. Mako, G. P. Hughes and C. R. D. Tuckey. Women's Doubles.—Misses Stammers and Freda James, followed by Miss Jacobs and Mrs. Fabvan. Mixed Doubles.—Perry and Miss Round, with C. PI Malfroy (New Zealand) and Mrs. Sperling, fourth.^ "This does not read sense," is how Crawford's seeding is summed up in Australian quarters. It is emphasised that in America his form showed him to be the obvious superior of Allison. The Australians also are mystified to find Quist and Allison ranked above Budge. Mr. Wallis Myers, in the Daily Telegraph, says: "In the men's list at Wimbledon the seedsmen tactfully re-.-duced heartburning by nominating four national champions for the first four places. A student of world form might question Quist's ability to defeat Budge, but champions remain champions until they lose their titles." Critics, in analysing the draw, predict that Perry and von Cramm will contest the final. They are of the opinion that the semi-finalists will be Perry, Budge, Austin and von Cramm. Crawford will have the hardest first round of the seeded players, as he has been drawn against the former German Davis Cup player, Daniel Prenn. Other first round matches will indue Vivian McGrath v. H. B. Purcell, A. K. Quist v. N. Taylor, C. E. Sproule v. Hon. C. X. O. Ritchie, C. E. Maifroy v. J. Kukuljevic (Yugoslavian Davis Cup player), E. D. Andrews (New Zealand) v. C. F. Aeschliman (Switzerland), A. C. Stedman (New Zealand) v. F. H. D. Wilde. • The seeding of players in tournaments in order that the better players may meet in the final rounds is now a well established practice in lawn tennis. Seeding is always a matter of opinion, but the ranking cabled above is bound to arouse considerable controversy, particularly as the placing of the four national champions of England, Germany, Australia and United States, at the head of the list does not appear to be in accordance with established form, nor has it any precedent in seeding practice. Little fault can be found with the ranking of F. J. Perry and G. von Cramm. They were outstanding last season and are still on recent performances the two leading singles players in the world. J. H. Crawford, however, who won the championship in 1933, must be considered unlucky. He has never yet lost to Allison and although he has been defeated by Quist on niore than one occasion in Australia, his overseas record is better than Quist's. Last season he reached the semi-final, when he was beaten by Perry, the ultimate winner. Budge appears to be placed at random with little consideration of his victories over Quist and Crawford in the recent Australia-United States Davis Cup match or of his play last year at Wimbledon. Tennis critics will consider that Allison's ranking is too high. The United States champion was beaten by V. McGrath in the first round last year and has little beyond his win over Perry in the American final to support his high position. Great interest will centre in the play of von Cramm. who has a good chance of taking the title to Germany for the first time in the history of the contest. He defeated Perry in the final of the French championships and is considered by Tilden to be the best amateur in the game at present. The form of the leading women players is not as well established, but few will criticise the placing of Miss D. E. Round, Miss Helen Jacobs, Mrs. Fabyan and Miss Stammers in that order. The present title-holders, are:— Men's singles, F. J. Perry; men's doubles* J. H. Crawford and A. K. Quist; women's singles, Mrs. Helen Wills-Moodv; women's doubles. Misses Stammers and James; combined doubles F. J. Perry and Miss Round. TOURNAMENT IN LONDON PLAY AT QUEEN'S CLUB BUDGE DEFEATS L. HECHT LONDON, June 17 In the third round of the men's singles at the Queen's Club tennis tournament, Donald Budge (United States) beat Ladislow Hecht (Czechoslovakia) after a hard fight, o—3, 5—7, 7 —o. J. S. Olliff is the only Englishman left in the last eight players. Stratford (United States) created a surprise by defeating E. Maier (Spain). Quist and McGrath beat H. Billington and G. R. B. Meredith in the third round of the doubles, 6—4, 6—4.