LAWN TENNIS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3556, 9 May 1922, Page 49

LAWN TENNIS.

NEW ZEALANDERS IN SYDNEY. MISS CURTIS WINS CHAMPIONSHIP. SYDNEY, May % The lawn tennis championships were continued in fine, cool weather. The courts are showing signs of wear and tear, ana resemble chip rather than the turf courts to which the New Zealanders are accustomed. Ae a consequence the courts are fast in places and patchy, putting the New Zealanders in some instances off their game. Besides the singles and doubles events, several of the New Zealanders also paired with InterState pa ri riels in the Mixed Doubles. In tire Men’s Singles Poulton (New South Wales) beat Ait-ken (New Zealand), 6—4, 6 —4, 6 —2. In the Mixed Doribles Poulton and Mrs Docker beat Aitken and Miss Wellwoed, 6—l, 6 —2. Aitken was to reproduce his true form in either the singles or doubles. Poulton smashed and served excellently, and was well supported by Mrs Decker. Miss Welhvood was unable to get going properly with .Aitken. Carr and Miss Cox beat Hartgell and Miss Brewster, 6 —l, 6 —3, with comparative ease. S. H. Henderson and Miss Macfarlane Aeat Mellor and Miss Sinclair, 6 —2, 6—3. Miss Macfarlane showed greatly improved form, driving beautifully and indulging in smashing successfully. Her backhand work and all-round play was first-class. In the Ladies’ Doubles Miss Curtis and Mrs Lascelles beat Mrs Cooling and Miss Moaney, 6—l, 6 —o, in a one-sided game. Mrs Turner and Mrs Nicholson beat Misses Macfarlane and Payton, 6 —l, 7 —5. The winners were the steadier players, and excelled in placing and all-round play. Misses Wellwood and Smith beat Mrs Green -and Miss Brewster, 7—5, 6—3. Miss Smith possesses a peculiar underhand drive which bothered the losers. In a special double match Hartgell and Mrs Green beat Rice and Miss Morris, 4— 6, 9 17, 6 —4. Mrs Green excelled in smashing, throwing her full weight into the strokes. In the men’s special singles Aitken beat M’Causland, 6 —l, § — 6, displaying considerably improved form on the morning’s exhibition. In the Ladies’ Singles Championship Mrs Fuller beat Miss Payton, 3- 6, 6 —l, 6 —4. Miss Payton won the first set, but played short subsequently, being unable to strike her length. Mrs Fuller used better judgment, placing judiciously, and her play was steadier all round. In the Ladies! Singles Handicap Miss Taylor beat Mrs Hartgell, 6 —l, 6 —4. May 3. The tennis was continued in muggy weather. Misses Curtis and Macfarlane were in excellent form, both being successful in two contests each. The New Zealanders generally had i successful day. In the ladies’ singles championship Mies Macfarlane beat Miss Sinclair, 6 —4, 6 —4. She also beat Miss Bedgood, 6 —2, 4— 6, 6 —3. She gave a fine exhibition in each contest, her steady driving and smashing being dominating factors in her victories. Though practically experimenting with net play, she acquitted herself with distinction in this department. Miss Curtis treat Mrs Fuller, 6 —4, 6 —4, after a close game, the former’s strong volleying being the chief feature. Miss Wellwood had an easy victory over Miss Stubbs, B—l,8 —1, 6 —2. In the ladies’ doubles championship Misses Curtis and Lascelles beat Mrs Fuller and Sinclair, 6 —2, 6 —2. The winners combined splendidly, Miss Curtis’s volleying being again strongly in evidence. The victory, however, was attributable chiefly to mistakes by Miss Sinclair. Hisses Wellwod and Smith beat Misses Doddlmead and Cox in two straight sets, though the losers pushed them every inch of the way. B—6,8 — 6, B — 6. Minor results: Special Men’s Doubles.-—Kirkpatrick and Aitken beat Baker and Lees, 6 —2, 6 —4. Mixed Doubles Handicap.—Green and Green heat Baker and Patterson, 6—4, 3 — 6, 6 —4. In the ladies’ doubles handicap Misses Green and Brewster heat Misses Hunt and Miller, 6 —l, 6 — o. Misses Elliott and Bull beat Misses Hartgell and G. Curtis, 6 —l, 6—2. May 4. The tennis championships were continued in dull weather. Misses Wellwood and Macfarlane both succumbed to superior rivals, but Miss Curtis comfortably accounted for

j her opponent, and promises to go close te • the final. j Ladies’ Singles Championship.—Miss Curj tis beat Miss Lloyd, 7 —5, 6 —l. The first i set was a ding-dong contest, the standard of play by both players being distinctly ! superior to the games earlier in -the week. 1 Jdiss Curtis displayed plenty of confidence and gave an excellent all-round exhibition. In the second set her volleying and placing was first class, and she greatly impressed the critics. Mrs Lister beat Miss Macfarlane, 6 —2, 6 —4. The loser was up against a doughty opponent, and failed to reproduce the previous day’s form. She used a backhand stroke effectively on occasions, but was some- : what uncertain in her net play. ; Miss St. George beat Miss Wellwood, 6—l, 11.9. The New Zealander was unable to strike her length in the first set, but in I the ngxt session, in which she forced play to the 11th stage, her effort to save defeat ; was well sustained, hut the tension was too much. ~ Special Doubles 'Match, —Robertson and Meller beat Green and Hartgell, 3— 6, 6 —3, 64. ! Special Singles.—Poulton beat Aitken, 9 —7 ! 6—4. j _ May 4. I The tennis tournament was continued m bright weather, the courts being fast. Miss Curtis qualified for the semi-finals in the Singles Championship, but with Mrs Lascelles was defeated in the doubles. ! In the Singles Championship Miss Curtis defeated Miss Gray, 6 —2, 6 —l. The New Zealander was in her best form to date. Miss Gray repeatedly tried to give her rival considerable roaming, but the latter invariably succeeded in reaching difficult shots, ultimately converting them to good account. Miss Gray in the second game was more or less demoralised, though she was rei sponsible for excellent placing, which de- : served better results when up against a I veritable champion. In the third set of the second game Miss Curtis netted thrice in endeavouring to skim the net, otherwise she would have given her opponent a clean sheet, j Miss Curtis will meet Miss Boyd on Saturj day. I Ladies’ Doubles Championship.—Mrs Lis--1 ter , and Miss Boyd beat Mrs Lascelles and I Miss Curtis, 6 —4, 6 —4. This was a close ! contest, and was won simply by superior combination. The volleying of Mrs Lister wias also* a telling factor, but otherwise there was little separating the four players in individual ability. Mrs Utz and Miss Lloyd beat Misses Wellwood and Smith, 6 —3, 6 —3. The losers were, pitted against a strong pair, Miss Wellwood’s all-round play being excellent, suggesting that there might be a different result if she were embarking on the championships. Miss Curtis in special matches and championships has vanquished all the New South Wales representatives, which the critics consider a feather in her cap. In view of her play not dove-tailing with that of Miss Wellwood, Miss Curtis is paired in the Doubles Championship with an Australian, and was anxious to know if the New Zealand Association unproved. Her nnxietv was dispelled at the conclusion of the singles victory to-day on receipt of a cable message from iff' Denniston: “Don’t worry, carry on.’’ In the Mixed Doubles match Peach and Miss Curtis beat Green and Green, 6 —2 6—3. May 7. The tennis tournament was continued in bright, warm weather. Miss Curtis beat Miss Boyd in the semi-final of the ladies’ singles championship, 6—2, 1 6 6 2, after a brilliant exhibition. Miss Curtis employed a cross-court drive frequently and successfully, displaying the keenest discrimination in measuring her strokes. She maintained the mastery throughout. In the first set Miss Boyd won three games straight, and then a. thrilling bout of rallying terminated in favour of Miss Curtis. The third set called for a special effort by Miss Curtis, who provided it. Starting cautiously, neither took anv risks. Miss Curtis drew first blood with fine crosscourt driving, combined with excellent placing, though she was not displaying the coolness or assurance of a champion. The New Zealander in all other respects was faultless. Miss Boyd, who has a re- ’ markably strong service, was driving well and kept Miss Curtis on the run several

times, but just when the ball seemed beyond reach the New Zealander extricated herself with beautiful back-hand strokes, incidentally embarrassing her opnonent. At the fifth game the score was 4-—1 in favour of Miss Curtis. Miss Boyd” lost heart thence to the end. The weather after lunch was a contrast to that of the morning. Rain, accompanied by a cold wind, sprinkled the court slightly during the final, but it was insufficient to interrupt the game. In the final, Miss Curtis beat Mrs Molesworth, the previous champion, 10—8, 5—7, 7—5, after a remarkably brilliant exhibition. The New Zealander’s victory was immensely popular, and she was “chaired” to the dressing room by Messrs Green and Hartgill amidst great enthusiasm. The first set was remarkable for its constant fluctuations. Miss Curtis was unperturbed, and tackled the champion with the same calm, casual manner which characterised her play throughout the carnival. Her opponent always played with the confidence and assurance of a champion, but, despite an excellent service possessing considerable pace, she repeatedly failed to rattle the New Zealander or to put her off her game. The games not onh- fluctuated alternately till the 18th, but play hovered round deuce in a remarkable number of instances. The set took 50 minutes to decide and was eventually terminated by Mrs Molcsworth double faulting. In the second set Miss Curtis repeated her crosscourt drives and pot volleying, and at one stage led 5 2. Mrs Molesworth recovered through her splendid service and by finding the corner of the court frequently by the closest of margins. The tension was at a high. pitch when the third set commenced, but Miss Curtis was less concerned than the spectators. She always had Mrs Molesworth on the defensive, arid whenever placed in difficulties she always appeared to reverse the tables from almost impossible situations. Several times she failed to complete neatlvexecuted movements by tapping the ball into the net and at other times she lost strokes through not judging the back line to a nicety ; hut, on the whole, her crosscourt drives 'and volleying, combined with an inexhaustible supply of grit and. determination, enabled her to cope with any rally, no matter how forlorn it seemed to the onlookers. Her back hand returns repeatedly changed the situation for her, particularly in the last game when she triumphantly emerged from several rallies worthy of the occasion, and worthy of the best players in the world. Though her victory is for the championship of New South Wales, in view of the inter-State competitions it actually means that she is the champion of Australasia. The New Zealand party present was overjoyed, one remarking: “I knew she would win. A black cat nestled in her clothes in the dressing room before the final started.” . PLAY IN THE FINALS. In the final of the men’s singles, Thomas beat Peach, 2—6. 6—3, 6—3, 6—B, 6—3. In the men’s doubles, Kirkpatrick and Cleamenger were unfinished against Dr Utz and S. H. Henderson, 4—6, 6—l, 6—2. In the ladies’ doubles, Airs Lister and Miss Rovd (Vic.) beat Misses Gray and Cox (N.S.W.j, I—6, 6—o, 6—3. DAVTS CUP. WITHDRAWAL OF CANADA. OTTAWA, May 5. The Canadian Lawn Tennis Association has announced that Canada will withdraw from the Davis Cup, defaulting to France, owing to insufficient time for selecting and training the team for the trip to Europe.