TENNIS IN BRITAIN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23106, 3 August 1938, Page 21

TENNIS IN BRITAIN

NEW ZEALANDERS TAKE PART D. C. COOMBE AND A. D. BROWN [thom OUR OWN correspondent] LONDON, July 13 D. C. Coombe took part in the Irish lawn tennis championships at Fitzwilliam. He went through to the semifinals of the men's singles, when he was conquered by G. L. Rogers, 6 —2, 6—2, 6—-4. who played beautiful tennis but who finally was defeated by Owen Anderson. Rogers, according to the Irish Times, quickly found the weakness in Coombe's make-up, for deep drives to the backhand were always likely to score, and Rogers made full use of these. All round he was the better player, however, quite a number of Coombe's terrific top-spin forehand drives coming back with interest.

On his form Rogers was thought to have an excellent chance of holding the title for the tliird successive year. However, Anderson has captured it for America. The final of the men's doubles saw the defeat of E. A. McQuire and D. C. Coombe, whose conquerors were G. L. Rogers and J. Pallada, 6—3, 5—7, 10 —8, 3 —6, 7—5. This game, says the Irish Times, was a surprising affair. On form through (lie week it looked as if Rogers and Pallada would have a straight-set victory over McGuire and Coombe, and they started off winning the first four games, which was followed by the set. Then Rogers' concentration slackened and the other two began to take heart. They broke through Rogers at o-all and levelled the sets. The whole aspect then altered. Rogers and Pallada could not settle down properly again; Coombe began to hit with terrific power overhead and off the ground with a topspin forehand drive. McGuire uupported him with really steady low volleying, and the third set went game for game until Rogers rather luckily won it at 10—8.

The others were not done with yet, however, for Rogers was tiring and Pallada was getting worried, so the sets were again levelled. When the eventual winners went to 3 —love in the fifth, it really did look to be over this time, but .McGuire and Coombe came within sight of victory with a run of four games. However, mistakes overhead crept iu and Rogers and Pallada finally scrambled home in the 12th game, considerablv bruised and battered.

A. D. Brown played in the Leicestershire championship, which was finally captured by \V. C. Clioy from G. R. H. .Meredith. G—4. G —l. Meredith, one of the best English players out of London. bad successfully tackled the New Zealand champion as well as the strong Argentine hitter A. D. Russell to reach the final of the singles. F. H. D. Wilde and Meredith beat Choy and Brown in the final of the men's doubles,' G—l, 2 —6, t>—2. C. E. Malfroy and Mine. R. Mathieu carried off the combined doubles of the Midland Counties championship at Edgbaston, beating D. W. Butler and Miss F. James, 6—4, 7—6.