TENNIS MARATHON

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19140, 8 October 1936, Page 7

TENNIS MARATHON

WOMEN'S 40-GAME SET CHAMPIONS AT PLAY BROOKLINE (Mass.). Aug. 27. Al't or ;i record second set of 40 games, Miss Helen Jacobs mid Mrs. Fabvan boat Miss K. Stammers, the British Wightmnn Cup playei', and Miss Alice Marble, by 6—2, 21 —lit in tlio semi-final of (he American Women's Doubles Championship hero to-dav. The second set- lasted 00 minutes, and was one of the most spectacular over seen in America. It was remarkable for the brilliant returning efforts of Miss Stammers, who frequently rescued her side. It was the English girl who 'made three untakeable service returns when | the holders had their three match

balls ;■.; L - ',) in Mrs. Pabyan's service game, and it. was she who, by her volleying thrusts, won countless points when Miss Jacobs threw up lobs. Miss Marble was. only good at intervals. She has lost the great service'speed which made her famous be-' fore her illness, ami now plays all her shots with more restraint. Miss Jacobs and Mrs. Fabynu took the first set in 15 minutes. Miss Stammers lost her first two service games, not through double-faulting, but because, by remaining back, she encountered the full force of her opponents' deep length returns, and could only make a defensive reply. CREAT RECOVERY When the Americans went to 3-—1 in the second set the large gallery wondered how it was possible that Miss Stammers and her partner had beaten the champions last week. I Then came a swift change. Miss , Stammers and Miss Marble, assuming - parallel formation for the first time, : both took the offensive, and won fonr

successive games to one for a s—o lead. The set sliouid have beoii theirs when Miss Marble served in the ninth game. Instead, the game was sacrificed to !<>ye, Miss Marble making throe backhand errors. -.- The set.was quickly squared, and we had to wait -an hour- until a decision was reached. Miss'Stammers stood out as the best of the four. She had to carry an erratic partner, who often disconcerted her own individual skill'ami fortitude. .Miss Jacobs drove well, but was unreliable overhead when stepping back for deep lobs. It was Mrs. Pabyan whose calm, resourceful volleying saved a match, which Miss Stammers deserved to win.