LAWN TENNIS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21531, 31 December 1931, Page 4

LAWN TENNIS

By Smash. TOURNAMENT DATES The following is a list of the principal tournaments sanctioned by the Management Committee of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association: Wanganui.—January 1. 2,4, 5. South Canterbury.—January 1. 2. 4. 5 (South Island Championships.) Wellington.— January 21. 22. 23, 25. V’luceut.—Xfebruary 5 and C. Auckland.—Easter dates. Wellington.—Easter dates. Canterbury.—Easter dates. Otago.—Easter dates. , NEW YEAR TOURNAMENT The stage is now set for the Otago Lawn Tennis Association’s New Year tournament, which will be commenced tomorrow at the Logan Park courts. Most of the leading players in the city have entered for the various events, and as there is also a sprinkling of outside entries, competition should be keen and spirited throughout. The Mixed Doubles, in particular, should provide some very interesting contests, ami spectators who visit Logan Park during the next few days should find plenty to engage their attention. Fine weather is alone required to ensure the success of the tournament. TOURNEY AT KARITANE On December 28, in aid of the Karitane Amenities Society, a very successful Yankee tournament was hurriedly arranged on Mr James Love’s court, which was kindly lent for the occasion. Sixteen pairs entered, and under the supervision of Mr W. Stevenson the tournament was brought to a conclusion at 7 p.m. The winners wore R. Guy and Board (owe 10). Among the competitors were Martin and Mrs Martin (Timaru), who ran the winners to 30—31, and Marshall and Mrs W. Stevenson, who lost to Martin and Mrs Martin, 30—31. In the final Holden and Mrs Janies Love wore defeated, 31—27. THE SOUTHLAND TOURNAMENT The surprise of the first day’s play in the Invercargill tournament was the defeat of H. J. Pollock by Winston Strang, a young Wailiopai player, who was a competitor in the Boys’ Singles at the last Otago Easter tournament. The score in favour of Strang was 4 —6, 9—7, 6—3. Commenting on the match, the Southland Times states that Pollock was regarded as having an excellent chance of playing his way to the finals of the Singles Championship, but after taking the first set he failed to cope with Strang’s consistent driving and excellent placing and went under by two sets to one. Strang put up a meritorious, performance against such an experienced player as Pollock, and fully earned his victory. He handled the windy conditions much better than his opponent and made fewer mistakes. Pollock obviously was affected by the gusty wind and perhaps was unlucky to meet Strang in the first round, especially when the latter was playing good tennis. Strang subsequently reached the semi-finals, in which he was defeated by A. J. Deaker, 3 —6. 6 —3, 6—2. With Stephens, he was runner-up in the Men’s Doubles Championship, and he won the Junior Championship, in the final of which he defeated A. Baird, 6—3, 2 —6, 6—2, In the. final of the Men’s Championship Singles, H. K. Sumpter retained .his title by defeating A. J. Deaker. 6—l, 6—3, 6—3. Mrs W. A. Scott won the Ladies’ Championship Singles by a victory over Miss P. Guest, who showed remarkably good form throughout the tourney. Mrs Scott, who has played very little this season, did not reveal her true form in her opening matches, but in the final on Monday she showed a remarkable improvement and won in straight sets, 6—4, 6—2. Rawlinson met Falconer in the second round and avenged his defeat in a recent match in Dunedin by winning 6- —4. 6 —4. In the next round, however, Rawlinson went down to R. Johnstone, 6—3, 6—4. Miss Joan Cupples (Kaituna) won the Girls’ Singles, the scores in her various matches being as follow:—Beat Miss Hoyles, 7—5; beat Miss Cutt, 7—5; beat Miss Hunt, 9—5. In the final she gave a good exhibition of driving. Partnered by Miss Peggy Griffiths, Miss Cupples also played through to the final of the Ladies’ Handicap Doubles, a very meritorious performance for so young a pair. . ' ■ glanville extends ANGAS ' Though he won eventually 7—5, 3—6, 6—o, C. Angas ha c l to fight all the way in his match with D. F. Glanville in the semi-final of the Canterbury Championship Singles. The older player made a good recovery of form during the progress of the tournament (says the Christchurch Times), and he extended the Canterbury champion to the fullest. Glanville plays a heady game, and while reserving his own strength, makes his opponent work hard for all points, _ If Angas had been slightly less fit pr his ability to recover lost shots been slightly less, he might have faced a defeat. As it was, and as Glanville himself remarked afterwards, Angas was too good for him. D. G. FRANCE AND WILSON N. R. C. Wilson recently defeated D. G. France in a three-set match, but on the occasion of their next meeting France avenged this defeat by winning 6—4. 6—4. Commenting on this latter match a writer in the Dominion states that France proved himself a more consistently accurate player than Wilson, who mixed bad errors with brilliant passing shots as France took the net. The superiority of France’s game resides in his net piny. He is a very difficult man to pass, his volleys are so angled and cut that they drop parallel with the net, and scarcely bounce. Overhead he is more deadly in his skill and concealment of placement than Wilson is with his strength. While France’s drives may not have the speed of Wilson’s they are more accurately placed. Wilson has perhaps the speediest service in New Zealand, but on Saturday he served too many double faults. France’s service is not so fast, but it is well placed, and the heavy cut on it requires to be treated carefully. France’s net rushing caused Wilson to hit too soon, and that caused errors. None the less Wilson is an improved player. WOMEN v. MEN Prompted by a suggestion that the skill of the best women golfers such as Joyce Wethered, is very little inferior to that of the best male golfers, Mr S. N. Doust recently discussed in the London Daily Mail the question of women v. men in lawn tennis. Mr Doust, a former Australian of long experience, as a player and writer, in first-class tennis, says that in this game the women have a long way to travel before they can reach the men’s standard. I was once asked (says Mr Doust) what handicap W. T. Tilden, then at his best, coulfl give Suzanne Lenglen, that peerless woman who revolutionised not only women’s play, but also women’s lawn tennis costume. My reply was 30. Tilden told me afterwards that 1 was just one point per game too few because he played Mile. Lenglen one set and he beat her 6—o. Tn this sot Tilden offered Suzanne Lenglen 40 in every game, which she indignantly rejected, so they “ apparently ” played level. From the score book it was noticed that every game went to deuce, and that the Frenchwoman won the first three points—making her 40-0. Then Tilden always won the next five points, which made him game. Tilden confessed to me that he wanted to try what he could, actually give this Frenchwoman, who had been beating all her women opponents by 6 —o, 6—o. So when she refused the handicap, Tilden deliberately lost the first three points in every game to make the score, before he started to win, the same as the Offered handicap. THE , HARDY-WOOD INCIDENT Mr Sam Hardy, who was captain of the United States Davis Cup team last year, and has incurred the wrath,'if Sidney Wood, .a juvenile member of the team, came to New Zealand in 1020 as manager of the team that lifted the Davis Cup from what was then Australasia. ■ i h° American team on that occasion consisted of Tilden. Johnston. Hardy, and Washburn, and the Australian team of Brookes, Patterson. O’Hara Wood, and Heath. Hardy, who played in the New Zealand

1 V/iv/oc v/u u uaum j vi championships, partnered by Mies Airey in the Mixed and by Washburn in the Men’s Doubles, has been censured for telling the young man that he was no good, that he looked like a fool on the court, and that he had no chance of winning but he impressed New Zealanders as the ideal captain, encouraging to the players, and, above all, polite and sporting in his demeanour on and off the court. LEADING WOMEN PLAYERS The women’s lawn tennis season is over so far as competition goes, for with the close of the United States championships the big fixtures are over. < Even though Mrs Helen Wills Moody did not play in France or England this year her brilliant victories on this side, where once more she went through the season without the loss of a set, entitle her to first place in the world’s ranking (writes W. T. Tilden, in the New York Times). It is a pity that Fraulein Cilly Anssem, the marvellous little German star who won the Wimbledon, French, and German championships, did not play here, for she alone could give Mrs Moody a battle, though I doubt if even she could seriously extend the great American star. . Certainly Frauelin Aussem comes next to Mrs Mo*dy, with a clear margin over all others. Her record almost entitles her to first position since she won three major titles. Only Mrs Moody’s known superiority in her field can take precednece over Fraulein Aussem’s phenomenal record. Following her come a group about even on record. Frauelin Hilda Krahwinkle, of Germany, finalist at Wimbledon; Miss Betty Nuthall and Mrs Eileen Bennett Whittingstall, of England, and Miss Helen Jacobs, of the United States, are tied. It seems to me there is very little to choose. Miss Nuthall was finalist at Paris, Miss Krahwinkle at Wimbledon. Mrs Whittingstall at Forest Hills. Miss Jacobs has twice beaten Miss Nuthall and also lost to her. Mrs Whittingstall has beaten Miss Nuthall. Mdme Simmone Mathieu, of France, might well be included in the same group, although she may be just a shade below Mrs L. A. Harper, of the United States. Miss Dorothy Round and Miss Phyllis Mudford, of England, are also well up the list. NOTES Miss J. Hartigan, of the Australian ladies’ team, is said to be one of the hardest drivers amongst the Commonwealth women players. Strong disapproval at the action of the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association in inviting Wellington women players to play the Australian team at Christchurch without the consent of the Wellington Association was expressed at a meeting ot the Wellington Management Committee last week. The Management Committee of the Wellington Lawn Tenuis Association has set up a sub-oommittee to consider the inauguration of a scheme to pay expenses of players in the New Zealand championships, points to be awarded on ability, conduct on the courts, support given to the association, etc. Let us have your repairs! Guys Ltd., tenuis specialists. Note new address; 47 Moray place, opposite Y.M.C.A. Phono 11-775.—Advt.