LAWN TENNIS

Southland Times, Issue 22488, 24 January 1935, Page 8

LAWN TENNIS

N.Z. TITLES PLAY OPENS IN IDEAL CONDITIONS F. J. PERRY PARTICIPATING (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, January 23. The New Zealand tennis championships opened at the Stanley street courts to-day in brilliant sunshine. There was a fairly strong crosswind, but otherwise conditions were ideal, the courts playing true, although they were naturally scorched as the result of the long, dry spell. Occasional gusts of wind sent eddies of dust along the base lines. Although none of last year’s _ champions are defending their titles, interest has been added to the tournament by the participation of F. J. Perry, holder of the Wimbledon and United States championships, and R. W. Ewin and A. A. Kay, young Victorians. These three players had no difficulty in disposing of their opponents. In the second round Perry, who had a bye in the first, defeated J. Roach, of Hamilton, with the loss of only two games. Also playing his first match in the second round, D. G. France, of Wellington, the strongest home player, eliminated the Gisborne man, H. Bowen, in straight sets.

Ewin and Kay produced splendid tennis in the doubles match, which they took from Lees and Porter, of Auckland, with the loss of only four games. The young Victorian players should go far in the doubles. One of the few surprises of the day was the defeat of Miss S. Whittaker, the left-handed Australian player, by Miss Knight, of Auckland. After losing the first set 2—6, Miss Whittaker recovered to take the second one, but in the crucial set Miss Knight prevailed easily. The Auckland champion, Miss M. Beverley, of Matamata, won her match easily against Mrs Anderson. Miss Marion Macfarlane was defeated by Miss V. Eccles in straight sets. The Results. The results of to-day’s play are:— MEN’S SINGLES. First Round. I. A. Seay (Canterbury) beat C. Partridge (Auckland) 6—2, 5—7, 6—2, 4—6, 6—2; S. J. Robinson (Auckland) beat H. J. Pollock (Otago) 7—5, 6—4, 6—3; W. E. Butler (Auckland) beat J. L. Anderson (Poverty Bay) 6—o, 6 —l, 6—o; G. A. Pearce (Otago) beat D. B. Livingstone (Waikato) 3—6, 4—6, 6—4, 6—2, B—6;8 —6; R. W. Ewin (Australia) beat R. Best (Nelson) 6—o, 6—2, 6—l; J. W. Gunn (Auckland) beat G. A. Pearce (Otago) 6—2, 6 —3, 3—6, 6—3; E. A. Roussell (Wellington) beat J. VZ. Neale (Auckland) 6—3, 9 —7, 9—7; M. T. Wilson (Auckland) beat M. R. Andrews (Waikato) 5—7, 7—5, 7—5, 6—l; N. Bedford (Wellington) beat V. R. Johns (Auckland) 6—4, 6—3, 6—4; D. I. Robertson (Manawatu) beat E. H. Orbell (Auckland) 6—3, 6—4, 6—3; R. R. Lees (Auckland) beat G. Dickie (Taranaki) 6—3, 5—7, 6—o, 6—2; N. G. Sturt (Auckland) beat A. J. Dickie (Taranaki) 6—l, 3—6, 6—2, 6—l; F. W. Jenkinsor. (Waikato) beat B. G. Thomson (Auckland) 6—2, 6—2, 6—l; G. Martin (Auckland) beat A. J. Brown (Auckland) 6—3, B—6,8 —6, 6—3; A. A. Kay (Australia) beat W. G. Robertson (South Canterbury) 6—o, 6—2, 6—l; A. Porter (Auckland) beat R. V. Hooper (Manawatu) 6—2, 6—2; A. R. Cant (Canterbury) beat S. Lamb (Auckland) 6 —B, 6—l, 4—6, 6—4, 6 4; P. E. Potter (Auckland) beat C. Chalmers (Hamilton) 4—6, 6—4, 4—6, 6—4, 6—o, 6—3; J. Stevens (Auckland) beat W. Roberts (Auckland) 6—B; 6—3, 3—6, 6 —4, 6—3; A. K. Turner (Auckland) beat A. Wallen (Hellensville) B—6, 6—o, 6—3; D. C. Coombe (Wellington) beat A. D. Brown (Auckland) B—6, 6—3, 9—7; V. G. Mabin (Nelson) beat R. E. Taylor (Auckland) 2—6, B—6, 6—o, 9—7; E. L. Bartlett (Auckland) beat T. Wylds (Taranaki) 6—l, 6—o, 6—l. Second Round. F. J. Perry (England) beat J. Roach (Wiakato) 6—o, 6 —o, 6 —2; D. G. France (Wellington) beat H. Bowen (Poverty Bay) 6—4, 6—4, 6—3; T. J. Mayson (Auckland) beat G. Knight (Auckland) 6—3, 6—l, 6 —2. LADIES’ SINGLES. First Round. Miss B. Griffiths (Auckland) won from Mrs R. P. Adams (Wellington) by default; Miss M. Purcell (Wanganui) beat Miss I. McCready (Auckland) 6—2, 6—4; Miss N. Beverley (Matamata) beat Mrs C. Anderson (Palmerston North) 6—l, 6—2; Miss B. Knight (Auckland) beat Miss S. Whittaker (Melbourne) 6—2, 3—6, 6—l; Miss Marjorie Macfarlane (Auckland) beat Miss M. Hooton (Auckland) 6—3, 6—2; Miss V. Eccles (Auckland) beat Miss Marion Macfarlane (Auckland) 6—4, 6—2; Miss E. Rudkin (Canterbury) beat Miss D. Newton (Auckland) 6—o, 6—4; Miss C. Smith (Wanganui) beat Miss J Bishop (Auckland) 6—4, 4—6, 6—2; Miss B. Gould (Canterbury) beat Miss A. Burgess Watson (Auckland) 6—o, 3 — 6, 6—l; Miss A. Graham (Taranaki) beat Miss E. M. Ross (Otago) 6—o, 6—o; Mrs W. J. Melody (Wellington) beat Miss B. Rossiter (Nelson) 6—o, 6 —2. MEN’S DOUBLES. First Round. A. K. Turner and A. C. Johns (Auckland) won by default from E. L. Bartleet and Huxley (Auckland); I. A. Seay (Canterbury) and H. D. Brinsden (Auckland) beat H. Bowen and C. Bowen (Poverty Bay) 6 —2, 6—l, 6—o; A. A. Kay and R. W. Ewin (Australia) beat R. R. Lees and A. Porter (Auckland) 6—l, 6—2, 6—l; W. G. Robertson (Timaru) and D. I. Robertson (Palmerston North) beat G. Martin and S. J. Robinson (Auckland) 6—2, B—6, 2 —6, 6 —3; L. Knott (Australia) and N. G. Sturt (Auckland) beat J. Wilson and M. Wilson (Auckland) 6—3, 6—l, 6—l; R. Perkins and E. A. Roussell (Wellington) beat A. W. Allen and W. Darrecourt (Auckland) 6 —2, B—6, I—6, 6—2; D. B. Livingstone and F. W. Jenkinson (Waikato) beat M. R. Andrews (Waikato) and N. Johnson (Auckland) 6—3, 6—2, 6—4; P. E. Potter and A.'E. McKeown (Auckland) beat J. W. Gunn and J. Stevens (Auckland) 6—3, 6—4, I—6, 6—4; A. D. Brown and E. W. Griffiths (Auckland) beat G. A. Pearce and G. J. Pollock (Otago) 6—3, 6—4, 4— 6—2; D. C. Coombe (Wellington) and E. A. Pearce (Otago) beat V. A. Mabin and R. Best (Nelson) 6—3, 6—o, 6—l. LADIES’ DOUBLES. First Round. Mrs C. Anderson (Palmerston North) and Miss M. Wade (Auckland) beat Misses R. Taylor and J. Ramsay (Auckland), 6—4, 6—2; Misses M. Sherris and M. Wake (Canterbury) beat Misses B, Griffiths and A. Burges Watson (Auckland), 2—6, 6—l, B—6. MIXED DOUBLES. First Round. N. G. Sturt and Miss Marjorie Macfarlane (Auckland) beat J. Roach (Hamilton) and Miss Dale (Tauranga), 6—l, 6—l; A. K. Turner and Miss J. B. Mueller (Auckland) beat A. Dickie and

Miss A. Graham (Taranaki), 6—l, 6—2; R. W. Ewin (Australia) and Miss N. Beverley (Matamata) beat R. Best and Miss B. Rossiter (Nelson) 6—o, 6—3; W. G. Robertson (Timaru) and Miss I. Poole (Canterbury) beat S. Lamb and Mrs Wren (Auckland) 3—6, 6—3, 6—o; E. A. Pearce (Otago) and Miss I. McCready (Auckland) beat T. Wylds and Miss M. Dickie (Taranaki) 6—4, 6—2; F. J. Perry (England) and Miss S. Whittaker (Australia) beat G. J. Pollock (Otago) and Miss J. Ramsay (Auckland) 6—2, 6—2; R. R. Lees (Auckland) and Mrs W. J. Melody (Wellington) beat C. Partridge and Miss Marion Macfarlane (Auckland) 7—5, 6—2; E. Dickie (Taranaki) and Miss M. Purcell (Wanganui) beat V. R. Johns and Miss V. Eccles (Auckland) 6—B, 6 3, 6—3; D. G. France and Mrs France (Wellington) beat D. I. Robertson and Mrs C. Anderson (Palmerston North) I—6, 6—4, 6—2; E. A. Roussell (Wellington) and Miss I. Poole (Canterbury) beat F. W. Jenkinson (Waikato) and Miss M. Wade (Auckland) 6—2, 6—4. Notes On The Play. The Australian competitors, Kay and Ewin, were not troubled and each won with the loss of only three games. Robertson (Timaru) did not reproduce the promising form shown during his last appearance at Auckland and,could not cope with the faster and more accurate driving of the Australian, Kay. Ewin also produced excellent ground strokes and when needed served brilliantly. His style is much reminiscent of Crawford. Best, of Nelson, was unfortunate to meet his defeat at the hands of so fine a player in the first round. , Seay (Canterbury) and Partridge (Auckland) played a long five set match in which the experience and more accurate stroking of the Canterbury player gave him the ultimate victory. France (Wellington) was not hard pressed by Bowen (Gisborne), who nevertheless is a player of some promise. His skill in taking 11 games from France was full of merit.

Dickie (Taranaki), a son of the veteran doubles player, did well to take one set from Sturt.

Perry was matched against the promising young Waikato player, Roach, who started nervously. Double faults on Roach’s part proved a weakness, but the younger player came to the net and made good interceptions. Perry’s anticipation allowed him to be in position for many hard hit drives and the care with which Perry produced his shots showed the true master, and from those occasions when he was pressed came the usual artistry of the Englishman’s devastating forehand drive. Perry is a great showman and delights in making difficulties for himself only to exhibit the ease with which he can recover.

Brown met Coombe (Wellington), present holder of the North Island championship, in a match chiefly noted for the hard hitting of Brown, who always goes for his shots. He was unfortunate in narrowly missing many brilliant placings. Coombe waited with excellent judgment for the ball to hit and then made few mistakes. Most of the ladies’ matches resulted in clear cut wins. Miss Beverley played with the same admirable attack that won her the Auckland title. On her present form she must be one of the favourites for the championship. Miss Knight (Auckland) played many brilliant shots and did not allow her Australian opponent, Miss Whittaker, to produce her best form. The Auckland girl’s victory in three sets was well deserved, but does not detract from the pleasing performance of the visitor, who should do well in the doubles.

Kay and Ewin hit hard in the doubles match against Porter and Lees. Ewin enhanced his ability in his service which earned him the reputation as the fastest server in Australia. Both Australians took the net on all occasions possible and combined forces with judgment. Brown and Griffiths did well to defeat Pearce and Pollok (Otago), combining youth and cunning to win in four sets. Pearce was very erratic, especially overhead, missing many easy smashes.

In the ladies’ doubles the seeded pair Misses Sherris and wake (Canterbury) just managed to defeat the young Aucklanders Misses Griffiths and Burgess Watson 10—8, in the third set. The match did not rise to any spectacular heights, but many long rallies took place. Miss Burgess Watson must be praised for her excellent defence and steadiness throughout. The Auckland pair had the match point at 7—6, but Canterbury rallied and while Miss Wake held the fort from the back-line, Miss Sherris put on the finishing touches at the net.

No surprise occurred in the mixed doubles. Ewin and Miss Beverley combined well, as did Sturt and Miss Macfarlane.

The Poole sisters, of Canterbury, did not arrive till this afternoon. Each played in a mixed double, showing full well why they retain the Canterbury championship.