TENNIS AT MIRAMAR

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12355, 27 January 1926, Page 11

TENNIS AT MIRAMAR

SMYTH SINGLES CHAMPION MISS TRACY WINS LADIES’ SINGLES MALFROY SHOWS GOOD FORM With the exception of the men's handicap doubles, the finals in the provincial lawn tennis winch bad for the preceding five days been In progress on the new hard courts at Miramar, were comoleted yesterday, .when Smyth defeated Malfroy for the naen’s singles championship, and Miss M- Tracy van* quisbed Miss East in the ladies Conditions of play were good, alir.ousrh ’ there was a fresh northerly blowing across the courts for a great part, of the day, this upsetting the calculations of some of those unused to such conditions. The doubles events were fought doggedly, particularly the mixed championship match, when Malfroy and Miss. Travers ran France and Miss Tracy to three sets, . and occupied the courts for an hour and a half, before being defeated. The final of the men's championship singles between Malfroy and Smyth, m which the latter won. 6—2, s— -7, 6—4*, G—--4, was not provocative of brilliant tennis, but was largely characterised by . back line play, careful and steady driving, with but occasional excursions to the net bv either to deal with anything in the nature of a short lob. Malfroy fought with commendable tenacity, and had little difficulty in dealing with the majority of Smyth's drives, which lacked tiome of the sting he infused into them when playing France a few days previously. Malfroy was defeated mainly upon Smyth's greater experience of the game, for Smyth frequently varied his * length by chopping short. Both also made some remarkable recoveries. MALFROY KEPT GOING The match should not have gone past three sets, for when Smyth led in the second 6et, 4—l, he had important points jjiven against him by mistakes -in umpiring. But even maxing allowance for this, with a 4—l lead, Smyth should have played his usual hard cross court game and tried swanning the net. As it was he drove with- exceptional force during the earlier stages, and later eased, only to recover and resume the heavy drives which placed Malfroy at a disadvantage. Malfroy experienced difficulty at the back line, but when he advanced to the net. he was unable to keep his half volleys in the court. Both players made some fine passing down the side lines. Malfroy's hack-hand functioning well. His chief weakness was his overhead work in the vicinity of the service line, as Smyth put over some first class lobs. Malfroy lobbed to advantage against- the wind, and had Smyth in trouble many times. It was a novel experience for Smyth to lose six succeeding games, which he did in the second set. Had Smyth been up to the same form displayed when he beat France, he must have won with ease, for Malfroy took a long time to settle to his steady and accurate style of play. Smyth completely outplayed him in the first set, which was won in 6—2, Smyth losing the second and trailing in the third set 2—4. Fighting hard and grimly, making the most of every point, he drew even at 4 all, and took the last two games for love. Had he lost this set, it is conceivable that he would have lost the match, for he seemed to be playing without the confidence which denotes the champion. In the fourth set, with Malfroy serving, Smyth was match point five times before Ultimately winning.

MISS RTACY’S EASY WIN Miss Tracy did not take long to convince Miss Fast of her limitations, and contrary to the general expectation, vanquished here with 'ease to the tune of 6 —2, 6r—l, in the final for the ladies* championship singles. It was shown that so lora as anyone is willing to engage Miss East in a back-line tussle, so long will they come off second best. But Miss Tracy, besides possessing a fine drive to either side of the court and maintaining a good length, has also outstanding ability in volleying and smashing from the net. These were the deciding factors in her game yesterday morning. Miss East fought her usual hard game, and with her usual determination, hut wae compelled to career about the court from side line to side line and was completely outplayed from the outset by Miss Tracy's superior forcing tactics. Both players started quietly as if feeling their way, hut when she found the measure of her opponent. Miss Tracy slapped on the pace, scoring 52 points In the two sets to Miss East’s S 3, Miss East was many times driven out of position as Miss Tracy placed deep to her back hand, and smashed the return to the opposite* corner. She played only as she was allowed to, which was considerably below the standard she established in her defeat of Mrs Fenlington. The score was an accurate indication of the merits of the play. HARD-HITTING DOUBLES It was not to be expected that the mixed doubles, comprising such players as France, Wilson, Lampe, and Smyth, should consist of long sets; while it was anticipated that- whichever combination won would do so decisively—and so it proved. France and Wilson combined better than did Lampe and Smyth, and for the greater part of the match were on the offensive, compelling their opponents to resort to lobbing, which was on the majority of occasions deep and accurate. Short lobs, however, were severely dealt with by Wilson and accurately placed by France. Both Lampe and Smyth drove with greater severity than did France and Wilson, though they netted more shots than perhaps Were warranted. The Lampe-Smyth combination improved in the second set, hut they missed a splendid ooportunity to establish » i —l lead. When they failed in this, France and Wilson, playing solidly and hitting to centre court, had them in trouble, and drew gradually level at 4 all, then led 5—4 to take the set 6—4. Lampe commenced the third set disastrously, serving two double faults and losing the game. Throughout this set, however, Wilson was smashing brilliantly right between the players, and they were frequently only able to get the ball back, but not in a sufficiently good position to pause trouble to Wilson and France. Taken all through the match was a w fitting final, there being many brigh f and sparkling passages with all four close in to the net, volleying crisply or hoping to win a point by sending over a time-lob. Both made some great returns, but the points were gained through sheer hard play. The match was one that might easily have gone five sets, because, although the win was decisive, there was really little to choose between the sides. A GRUELLING SET France and Miss Tracy occupied the courts for an hour and a half against Malfroy and Miss Travers in the final of the championship doubles. It first appeared that the match would be finished In two sets, for France and Miss Tracy established a good lead, and won the first, in 6—2. Malfroy and Miss Travers were at a disadvantage through Miss Travers? being unable to play a net game, and Malfroy lost a number of points through getting out of position In his endeavours to assist her with short cpte from France.

The match was won through the ability of the winning combination to take the net or back line as the play dictated. Malfroy came out with a very useful smash, and generally distinguished himself with his overhead work, while MUs Travers maintained her reputation for one of the hardest ladv forehand drivers Sn the Dominion, sending them to either aide lino to the discomfort of the other eide. The second set was a gruelling one. and although France and Miss Tracy opened well, the other combination drew level at 4 all, and after manv vicissitudes, cnntnred the set in 9—7. Jfiftlfroy ■ maintained his overhead

smashing in th© final set, but the experience of France and Miss Tracy carried the day, they winning.the. set in 6—2. YESTERD— Y’S RESULTS MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES Final—Smyth beat Malfroy, 6—2, 5—7, 6—4, 6—4LADIES’ CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES Miss Tracy beat Miss East, 6—2, 6 —l. LADIES’ CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES Third round —Miss Bast and Miss Mountier beat Mrs Campbell and Mrs Heald. 6-4, 7-5. % Semi-final —Mrs Burn and Miss North beat Miss Travers and Miss Whyte, 6—4, 6—2; Miss East and Miss Mountier beat Mrs King and Mrs Austin. 6—l, 6—4. p Final—Miss East and Miss Mountier bent Mrs Burn and Miss North, 3—6, 4 6, 8-6. MIXED CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES Fourth round—Smyth and Miss Howe beat Williams and Mrs Penlington, 6 4, 6—l; France and Miss Tracy beat Clark and Miss East, 6—4, 6—4; Honings and Mrs Hollings beat Cornet and Mrs King, Malfroy and Miss Travers boat Smyth and Miss Howe, 7—5/ 6—3; France and Miss Tracy beat Hollings and Mrs Hollings, 6—2, 6*~3. , , Final—France and Miss Tracy beat Malfroy and Miss Travers, 6—2, 7—9, 6-2. LADIES’ HANDICAP SINGLES Third round—Mrs L. Moore heat Miss Preedy, 50—44.. w __ , . Fourth round—Miss McKenzie heat Mrs King, 50-34: Miss Brady beat Mrs Moore, 50—40; Mrs Murphy “beat Mrs Marshall, 50—39. Semi-final—Miss Brady beat Miss Shorn 50—27; Mrs Murphy beat Miss McKenzie, 50—36. Pinal—Miss Brady beat Mrs Murphy, 50— MEN’S HANDICAP SINGLES Seni-final— Sykea (28) heat Hollings (12), €o—44. , ' , „ . Final—B. R. O’Brien (15) heat Sykes, 6U— bi. MEN’S HANDICAP DOUBLES Semi-final—Clark and Sykes (25) beat Palethorpe and Hollings (20), 60—58. MIXED HANDICAP DOUBLES Third round—France and Mra Campbell beat Brand and Miss Brady ( 50— 45 Semi-final—Mitchell and Miss Howe beat Franco and Mrs Campbell. 50-42; Andrew and Mins Shortt beat Hollings and Mrs Bollings, 56-3*. Final—Andrew and Miss Shortt beat Mitchell and Miss Howe, 50—18. LADIES’ HANDICAP DOUBLES Third round—Miss Preedy and Miss Mantell beat Mrs King and Mrs Austin, 51— Mrs Campbell and Mrs Heald beat Mrs L. Moore and Miss Duncan, 50 Semi-final—Miss Preedy and Miss Mantell beat Mrs Murphy and Miss McKenzie, 50—43; Mrs Robinson and Mim Shortt beat Mrs .Campbell and. Mrs Heald, 50—46. Final—Miss Preedy and Miss Mantell beat Mrs Bobinson and Mi6s Shortt, 50 —37. MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP DpUBLES Final—France and Wilson beat Lampe and Smyth, 6—3, 6—4, 0 3. WELLINGTON PLATE In the final for the Wellington Plate, which includes players eliminated in their first match. Williams beat Eutw histlc/ 6—2, o—6, 6—2HELEN WILLS IN FRANCE CLOSE CALL AT CANNES DEFEATS MLLE. VLASTO. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association (Received January 26, 7.35 p.m.) PARIS, January 20. At Cannes, in the final of the singles championship Miss Helen Wills, . the Amenan champion, defeated Mile. Vlasto (France), 6-—3, 7 —6. Miss Wills won through her accuracy, steadiness, and persistency rather than genius. The match was close enough to be perilous for the American, but her back-hand baiting extricated, her from danger.