LAWN TENNIS

Southland Times, Issue 19509, 8 May 1922, Page 5

LAWN TENNIS

THE SYDNEY TOURNAMENT MISS CURTIS WINS CHAMPIONSHIP A BRILLIANT EXHIBITION. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) SYDNEY, May 7. (Received, May 7, 5.5 p.m.) The tennis tournament was continued yesterday in bright and warm weather. Miss Curtis beat. Miss Boyd in the semifinal for the ladies’ singles championship, 6-2, 1-6, 6-2 after a brilliant exhibition. Miss Curtis employed the cross-court drive frequently and successfully, displaying the keenest discrimination and measuring her strokes. She maintained the mastery throughout the first set. Miss Boyd won three games straight, and then a thrilling bout of rallying terminated in favour of Miss Curtis in the fourth game of the second set. Miss Boyd won the next three. The third set called for a special effort, and Miss Curtis provided it, striking cautiously. Neither took risks. Miss Curtis drew first blood, her fine cross-court driving being combined with excellent. playing. Though not displaying the coolness or assurance of the champion, the New Zealander in all other respects was faultless. Miss Boyd’s remarkably strong service and driving kept Miss Curtis on the run several times, but just when the ball seemed beyond her reach the New Zealander extricated herself with beautiful back hand strokes, incidentally embarrassing her opponent. 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 in contrast to the morning, Rain threatened, with a cold wind. £lt sprinkled slightly during the final, but was insufficient to interrupt the game. In the final Miss Curtis beat Miss 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 rooms amidst great enthusiasm. The first set. was remarkable for its contant fluctuations. Miss Curtis was unperturbed and tackled the champion with the same calm and casual manner which ch. - acterised her play throughout the carnivaL Her opponent always played with the confidence and assurance of a champion, but despite excellent service jxieaessing considerable pace she repeatedly failed to rattle the New Zealander or put her off her game. The games not only fluctuated alternately to the eighteenth but play hovered, round deuoe in a remarkable number of instances. The set took fifty minutes to decide. The set was eventually terminated by Mrs Molesworth double faulting. In the second set Miss Curtis, repeated cross-court drives and net volleying at one stage led 5-2. Mrs Molesworth recovered through her splendid service, finding the corner of the court frequently by the closest margins. The tension was at high pitch when the third set commenced, but Miss Curtis was less concerned than the spectators. She always had Mrs Molesworth on the defensive, and whenever placed in difficulties she always appeared to revere* the tables from almost imjxwible situations. Several times she failed to complete neatly executed movements by tapping the ball into the net. At other times she lost strokes through not judging the back line to a nicety, but on the whole her cross-court 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 sitation 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 the victory is for the championship of Ne v South Wales, in the view of interstate competitors it actually means the championship of Australasia. The New Zealand party present were overjoyed, one remarking: “I knew she would win. A black cat nestled in her clothes in the dressing room before the final started.” In the finals of the men’s singles Thomas beat Peach 2—6, 6- 3, 6—B, 6—B, 6—3. In the men’s doubles Kirkpatrick and Cleamenger against Utz and Henderson 4—g, 46—1, 6—2, unfinished. In the ladies’ doubles Mrs Lister and Mias Boyd (Victoria) beat Misses Gray and Cox (New South Wales) I—6,1 —6, 6 —o, 6—3. THE DAVIS CUP. WITHDRAWAL OF CANADA. OTTAWA, May 5. (Received May 7, 5.5 p.m.) The Canadian Tennis Association has announced that Canada will withdraw from the Davis Cup contest, defaulting to Franc* owing to insufficient time for selecting and training a team for the trip to Europa LATE SPORTING FOOTBALL. ENGLISH NORTHERN UNION RESULTS LONDON, M«y (, (Received May 8, 12.5 am.) In the Northern Union League cup final Wigan defeated Oldham by 13 to 2. Th* football season has ended. Liverpool, with 57 points, won the first League Championship, Tottenham 51, being next, whereas Manchester United and Bradford City, the two lowest, are relegated to the second League. Notts Forest, 56 pointe, win ners of the second League, and Stoke, 53 points, are promoted to first League, BILLIARDS. THE ENGLISH CHAMPIONSHIP. LONDON, May 6. (Received May 7, 5.5 pm.) There is the keenest interest in the final of the billiards championship, owing to th* high standard of play and Falkiner’s brilliant recovery during the week, whereby he wiped out moat of Newman’s lead. Th* scon® are: Newman 14,667, Falkmer, 14,429. NEWMAN DEFEATS FALKINER LONDON, May «. (Received May 7. 11.5 pm.) Newman, 16,000 beat Falkiner, whf scored 15,167. SWIMMING. BRISBAaNE, May 7. (Received May 7, 5.5 p.m.) The State 440yds swimming championship was won by Springfield in smin 35 4-5 secs. CRICKET. DEBUT OF FRY’S SON. LONDON, May S (Received May 7, 5.5 pm.) Fry’s son, Stephen, aged 21, already * 1 strong batsman and wicketkeeper, made hi* debut for Hampshire. Fry, senior, interviewed, said he had never coached or encouraged Stephen. He was doubtful whether county cricket was worth playing nowadays.