FRENCHMEN SUPREME

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12181, 4 July 1925, Page 3

FRENCHMEN SUPREME

WIMBLEDON CHAMPIONSHIPS LACOSTE DEFEATS ANDERSON MEETS BOROTRA IN FINAL By Telegraph.—Frew, Assn.—Copyright. Reuter's Teleeram. LONDON, July 2. The following are the latest results at the 'Wimbledon tournament : Men’s Singles. Rene Lacoste (France) defeated J' O. Anderson (Australia), 6— i, 7—5, 6 — l . Jean Borotra (France) defeated Henri Cochet (France), 5—7, B—6, 6—4, 6—l. Men’s Doubles. John Hennessey and Roy Casey (TT.9.A.) defeated H. L. Barclay (Tasmania) and G. R. O. Crole-Rees (England), S—lo, 6—3, 6—3, 6—4. Jean Borotra and Reno Lacoste (France) defeated J. M. Hunt and A. Berger (England). Women’s Doubles. Mrs Bridge and Mrs Mellquhan (England) defeated Mrs Lambert Chambers and Miss E. Harvev (England), 6—l, 6—4. Mixed Doubles. Jean Washer (Belgium) and Mrs Satterthwaite (England; defeated E. T. Lamb (England) and Mrs Harper (Australia), 6—2, G—2. R. Lycett and Mrs Lycett (England) defeated C. G. Eames and Mrs Beamish (England), o—6, 6—2, B—6. LACOSTE EASILY SUPERIOR Australian amt N Z Cable Association. By defeating Anderson in one of the semi-finals of the men’s singles, Reno Lacoste enters the final, where he will meet another Frenchman. Borotra. who defeated Coehet in the other semi-final. Anderson went down before a player who, on the day. was vastly superior in every phase of the game. The day in. cidentallv might have been a summer one in Australia. Lacoste after the match modestly declared that he was lucky to win against Anderson, as he “was not on his game,” but it is doubtful whether Anderson, if in his best form, could have withstood the overwhelming onslaught of the youthful Frenchman. Lacoste possesses all the strokes and the knowledge of how to use them. Hia service, ground strokes, and volley* aliko were, played with deadly precision and in delightful Etyle. Furthermore. Anderson frequently found himeelf in the unaccustomed position of being outgeneralled, and in the first few games he played in the minor key, Broth sparring for an opening. The loss of three games in succession acted as a stimulus to the Australian, who electrified his many supporters by annexing the next three games in brilliant fashion. Lacoste, however, remained unshaken, and levelled the scoring. Anderson had a great opportunity to gain a 5—4 lead when the game stood at 40—love on his service, hut his inability to return a rising ball on the backhand prevented him clinching the garnet and Lacoste had little difficulty in winning the deciding game. ANDERSON UNSTEADY The second set was of a see-saw character, each winning his own service. Anderson was calm and unhurried, and stuck to his driving game as being more remunerative than advancing to the net. Lacoste, on the contrary, frequently came up to the net, and, rarely on the wrong ball, to smash it in from all angles. A tense hut fluctuating- struggle went on for ten games when the Frenchman, helped by a net cord double fault, broke through Anderson’s service, after which he always had the upper hand. Anderson won the first game of the third set, hut thereafter his resistance weakened, and his service, which was never particularly impressive, fell off considerably, and he gave frequent double faults. Lacoste invariably dealt out drastic treatment to the Australian’s weak second service, helped hy this and by the fact that Anderson had lost his length and drive. Leconte was’ always on the move, anticipating, following up, driving, and battering from every position, had little difficulty in winning a sequence of - six games. The Frenchman was wonderfully steady, while Anderson heat himself time after time. Sometimes the Aug- , tralian brought off a magnificent stroke, but more often than not Lacoste would match it with a better, i His retrieving strokes were not merely defensive, thev were aggressive, and often proved winners. The Frenchman’s backhand"was a revelation, ami he played it with mechanical precision .- and it gathered point after point. The result of to-day’s matches is that last year’s finalists meet again on Saturday. Experts expect that the resuit." the victory of Borotra. will be reversed. “FATAL INERTIA” A. Wallis Myers, writing in the “Daily Telegraph.’ ’says: “Anderson has jeopardised his mission and is contracting influenza. He is never happy at Wimbledon and never free troin a fatal inertia, while only at fitfuL periods did he play as he can play. Lacoste is a more disciplined and scientific plaver, and accomplished "hat. Brugnon ought to have accomplished lost, Saturday. “ All the fight left Anderson after the'second set. He threw his ah into winning it. hut Lacoste’s wonder stroke secured a priceless 6 —o lead which proved the turning point. Anderson s forehand let him down, and apart from his service, he had nothing o put on the table. Lacoste won I’ o’' 0 ’' i«hed stroke-craft, tenacity. an< |. b egic judgment which ; o tTve°re a K~sis£nce to a powerful driver much stronger than in 1924.” (Received Julv 3. S.oo p.m.) In the fourth round of the men’s doubles R. C’asev and John Henne,scy (TT c\ ) beat Crawford and * isner (England). 6—4. are now in the seim-final. . . . In tbe mixed doubles. semi-nnM. Borotra and Mile l*Tisr]enbe*t * Lycett and Mrs Lycett. 6—4, 5 —76—3.