LAWN TENNIS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21668, 11 June 1932, Page 19

LAWN TENNIS

TOUR OF FRENCH PLAYERS COCHET AND MERLIN TO VISIT DOMINION. Grunt interest attaches to the announcement made in the cable news that Henri Oochet and Andre Merlin are to undertake a world tour which will include New Zealand. So much has been beard of Coehet and so ranch has been written in ■praise of his play‘that the lawn tennis public of the Dominion would welcome wholeheartedly an opportunity to see him in action. The last French team to visit New Zealand consisted of Borotra, Bragnon, and Boussus, who played a series of matches in the North Island in 1928. The Otago Lawn Tennis Association should give early consideration to the question of making representations for the inclusion of Dunedin in the New Zealand itinerary of Coehet and Merlin. A few particulars concerning these two players should bo of interest. HENRI COCHET. Henri Coehet is considered by many good judges to be the greatest player in the world to-day. His remarkable agility on the court, his uncanny accuracy, and his tine volleying game are recognised as superb, and groat crowds of enthusiasts flock to Wimbledon during tournaments to see the French champion in action. He is beaten occasionally, but big lapses are largely due to indolence and lack of practice, and when great things are required of him, such as in Davis Cup play, he has consistently withstood all challenges to his supremacy. He and Brugnon are probably the best doubles pair in the world. Coehet first came to the fore in 1922, when he won the national covered court championship at Auteuil and also the world covered court championships (singles and doubles) at St. Moritz. In that year he also won the world hard court championships (singles, doubles, and mixed) at Brussels, competed at Wimbledon, represented France against Denmark at Copenhagen and against Australia and New Zealand at Boston. He defeated O’Hara W’ood in the Davis Cup competition, and he represented France against Belgium, Italy, and Spain. In 1923 he won the world covered court championships (singles and doubles) at Barcelona, retained the world mixed doubles championship (with Mile. Lenglen) at St. Cloud, and represented France against Denmark and Spain. Coehet was an Olympic . Singles and Doubles finalist at Paris in 1924, and he represented France in the Davis Cup matches. He was a finalist in the French Doubles Championship in 1925, and in the following year he won the trophy, defeating Richards and Lacoste in three sets. With Brugnon he carried off the Doubles Championship at Wimbledon, and qualified for the semi-finals in the Singles. In the American Championship of the same year he defeated Tilden, the holder, in the fourth round after a five-set match, and also represented France in Davis Cup matches in Europe and America. In 1927 he won the Singles Championship at Wimbledon, defeating in succession (after losing the first two sets to each) F. T., Hunter, W. T. Tilden, and J. Borotra. In that year he won the Doubles Championship of France .and the Mixed Doubles Championship of America. He was a member of the victorious French Davis Cup team in the challenge round, and won the decisive fifth match against W. M. Johnston. In 1928 he again won the French Championship (defeating Borotra and Lacoste), and won the Doubles at Wimbledon. He won the U.S.A. Singles Championship at Forest Hills, and represented France in the Davis Cup challenge round, defeating Tilden and Hennessey in the Singles, and winning the Doubles Match. He also carried off the Pacific Coast Championship at Los Angeles, and the Monte Carlo Cup. In 1929 Coehet represented France in the Davis Cup challenge round against America, and defeated Tilden and Hennessey again. He won the Singles Championship at Wimbledon the Singles. Doubles, and, Mixed Doubles Championships of Czechoslovakia at Prague, the Singles and Doubles at Berlin, the Singles, Doubles, and Butler Cup (outright) at Monte Carlo, and the Singles at Gallia. He was a, member of the French team that visited China, Japan, India, and Egypt. Although Coehet won the Singles Championship of the world at Wimbledon in 1929. he was defeated in the same event in 1930 and 1931. However, he has won the Davis Cup for France for the last two years against America and Rritain, and has maintained his form with remarkable consistency. A RISING STAR.

Andre Merlin has not such a record to show as Cochct, but there are many who think that a somewhat similar career lies before him. He is a young player with some brilliant shots, and he has taken part-in sonic important matches in international tennis during the last few years. Merlin was a member of a French team (dubbed in an English newspaper a team of almost unknown Frenchmen ). which crushingly defeated a strong British team, including such well-known pljjyers as i±. W. Austin. F. J. Perry, G. P. Hughes, and j, S. OllifT, on March 20 last. In criticism of Merlin, who was outstanding in the French team, Perry said that he lacked the will to win but that he hah the shots. „ , - In the Singles Merlin beat Hughes in three straight sets, and in the Doubles he and Marcel Bernard beat Austin and Olliff in four sets. His opponents were all well-known English Davis Cup players. In the London v. Paris match last month Merlin beat H. G. N. Lee, a Davis Cup player, C—o, 6-3. 6—2, and Merlin and Bernard beat Pony and Hughes. 6—l, 6—3, 6—l. WIMBLEDON PROSPECTS.

Writing in the London Daily Telegraph early last month, Mr Wallis Myers said: “When the Wimbledon draw is made on June 15 the world’s first 10 players will include the entry of representatives who have been playing for the last 10 years. These will include the champions .of America. France, and Australia. Ellsworth Vines, the American, is coining to Wimbledon for the first time. British hopes will be concentrated on a group ol voting players. Austin assures me that he is now fit enough to face a searching five-set match. Perry and Lee have done brilliant things in Paris, b ranee will be here in force. Borotra, though retiring from hardcourt Singles. does not intend to leave the turf courts. The Australians, Crawford and Hopman. have previously made their mark at Wimbledon, and it looks as if any of (be eight seeded players of 1032 may make a world champion.