LAWN TENNIS

Southland Times, Issue 22491, 28 January 1935, Page 8

LAWN TENNIS

N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIPS PLAY APPROACHING FINALS PERRY’S SUCCESS (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, January .26. With play approaching the finals, interest in the New Zealand tennis championships quickened on Saturday. There was a large gallery. Perry had no difficulty in reaching the semi-finals of the men’s championships, defeating Bartleet, the Auckland champion and former New Zealand title-holder, in straight sets and will next meet Roussell (Wellington) who has played consistently well throughout the tournament. . Having beaten the prominent New Zealander, France the young Victorian Kay, will next be matched against Sturt (Auckland), who to-day defeated Coombe (Wellington). In the ladies’ singles Miss Nicholls reached the final by outplaying the Auckland champion, Miss Beverley (Matamata). The other finalist will be either Miss Marjorie Macfarlane (Auckland) or Miss Knight (Auckland), who won by default on Saturday owing to Mrs Melody (Wellington) being mIn the only men’s doubles match played on Saturday, Knott (Australia) and Sturt prevailed over the Wellington pair, Roussell and Ferkins,' after a hard-fought contest, which went the full distance. . , , . , One semi-final of the combined doubles was played, Perry and Miss Whittaker defeating France and Mrs France in straight sets after a good match. Both pairs had prevailed m their quarter-finals, which were decided earlier in the day. The winning pair will meet either Sturt and Miss Macfarlane or Ewin and Miss Beverley. The first of the finals to be decided, the boys’ doubles championship, resulted in a victory for Penfold (Canter bury) and R. G. Pattinson (West Coßst) over 13. O’Connor (Nelson) and F. H. Renouf (Wellington). In the men’s intermediate singles the finalists are -Bedford, the strong Wellington player, and Brown, of Auckland, and in the girls’ intermediate singles, the finalists are Miss M. Beverley (Matamata) and Miss B. Griffiths (Auckland). Results: —

MEN’S SINGLES. Quarter-finals.

Perry (England) beat Bartleet (Auckland) 6—3, 6—2, 6—2; Roussell (Wellington) beat Ferkins (Wellington) 6— 2 3—6, 6—l, 6—4; Sturt (Auckland) beat Coombe (Wellington) 6—o, 6—4, 3—6, 3—6, 6—4; Kay (Australia) beat France (Wellington) 6—o, 9 —7, B—6.

LADIES’ SINGLES. Quarter-finals. Miss Knight (Auckland) won from Mrs Melody (Wellington) by default. Semi-finals. Miss Nicholls (Wellington) beat Miss N. Beverley (Matamata), 6—l, 6—3. MEN’S DOUBLES. Quarter-final. Knott (Australia) and Sturt (Auckland) beat Ferkins and Roussell (Wellington) 5—7, 6—2. 3—6, 6 —3, 6—4. LADIES’ DOUBLES. Semi-final. Miss D. Nicholls (Wellington) and Miss N. Beverley (Matamata) beat Misses Sherris and Wake (Canterbury) 6 —3, B—6.8 —6. COMBINED DOUBLES. Quarter-finals. F. J. Perry (England) and Miss S. Whittaker (Australia) beat Coombe (Wellington) and Miss Gould (Canterbury) 6 3, 6—l; France and Mrs France (Wellington) ’ beat Knott (Australia) and Miss Knight (Auckland) 6—2 B—6; Sturt and Miss Macfarlane (Auckland) beat Roussell (Wellington) and Miss I. Poole (Canterbury) 6—o, 6—2; Ewin (Australia) and Miss Beverley (Matamata) beat Robertson (Timaru) and Miss T. Poole (Canterbury) 6-4, 6—3. Semi-final. Perry and Miss Whittaker beat France and Mrs France, 6-2, 6-4. BOYS’ DOUBLES. Final. Penfold (Canterbury) and R. G. Pattinson (West Coast) beat B. O’Connor (West Coast) and F. H. Renouf (Wellington) 6—3, 6—4. MEN’S INTERMEDIATE SINGLES. Semi-finals. Bedford (Wellington) beat Gunn (Auckland) 6—3, 6—l; Brown (Auckland) beat Mayson (Auckland) 6—l, 6—l. LADIES’ INTERMEDIATE SINGLES. Semi-finals. Miss N. Beverley (Matamata) beat Miss E. Stewart (Auckland) 6—o, 6—3, Miss Griffiths (Auckland) beat Miss Adams (Auckland), 6—4, 4—6, 6—2. BOYS’ SINGLES. Semi-finals. Penfold (Canterbury) beat Allen (Helensville) 6—3, 6—2; Pattinson (West Coast) beat Matthews (Auckland) 6—l, 6 —l. GIRLS’ SINGLES. Semi-finals. Miss N. Beverley beat Miss Barry (Canterbury) 6—3, 6 —2; Miss P. Cook (Auckland) beat Miss M. Dickie (Taranaki). . BOYS’ DOUBLES. Final. Penfold (Canterbury) and Pattinson (West Coast) beat O’Connor (West Coast) and Renouf (Wellington) 6—3, 6—4. GIRLS’ DOUBLES. Semi-finals. Misses Fooke and Beverley beat Misses Warren (Auckland) and Dickie 6—2, 6—4. JUNIOR COMBINED DOUBLES. Semi-finals. Pattinson and Miss Dickie beat Renouf and Miss Beverley 6—5, 6—4. Notes on the Play. Kay began remarkably well against France. He won the first set to love, making few errors. He drove fast to the side-lines continually, making the chalk fly. France improved his game in the second set, but made errors in volleying. He did not play with his old-time accuracy and does not seem well. By just missing in two or three net attacks, France lost a set 9—7 which might easily have been his. Kay returned to the attack in the third set, but had to slow up the game because the light balls began to fly. France again made errors with his volleys, but was somewhat unlucky not to take this set. Kay varied his play with crosscourt placements and won the third . set and the match B—6.

Sturt began well against Coombe, the first 10 games being reminiscent of

the day he beat Harry Hopman. The deep drives to the corners which he occasionally followed to the net, gave Coombe little chance to maintain his form of Friday. With a lead of two sets Sturt failed to press home the attack and lapsed into errors. By steady but slower drives Coombe forged ahead to win two sets and level the match. The fifth set began steadily and the Wellingtonian looked the winner, but the resistance of Sturt at this stage stiffened and he again played judiciously to the base-line, at the same time correctly judging the time to go in. His final victory at 6 —4 in the fifth set must add another plume of wellearned success. Roussell’s Form. The third man to enter the semifinal round was Roussell. Continuing with the good form shown against Ewin on Friday, Roussell turned the tables on Ferkins, who ranks three places above him on the Wellington ladder. The game was not fated for any hard hitting. Both players have met often before and the knowledge of each other’s ability confined the play to a series of ultra-careful placements. The match went to one set all and from then on Roussell claimed the ascendancy and ran out a comfortable winner by three sets to one. Perry engaged Barleet (Auckland) in an attractive sporting contest. Although Perry again displayed astounding ability to deal with every type of shot, Bartleet played sufficiently well to make each set attractive. Perry, showing better control, ran to a lead of 3—l, at which stage Bartleet attempted a net attack, but failed through indecisiveness. He drove well in the sixth game to win that and the next. After gaining a doubtful decision, Perry, next won his own service and followed his returns to Bartleet to the net to take the set 6—3. In the second set the Englishman contented himself by coming in when in need of a point and lost only two games in the set. Bartleet still worked hard in the third set, but made more mistakes with the lighter balls. Final Round Disputed.

Miss Nicholls met Miss Beverley (Waikato) to dispute the right of the final round. Miss Beverley started nervously and in the first game hit three volleys out, but won the next game to even at one all. From then on she would not play her usual game at the net, but remained at the baseline to attempt the difficult task of defeating Miss Nicholls at her own game. The last-named drove from side to side and had her opponent obviously worried. Miss Nicholls, hitting with power and accuracy, won the first set 6—l. The second set was a replica of the first, though the Waikato player managed a little better. Well-placed lobs gave Miss Nicholls a lead of 3—l and failure to connect lost her a further game after a 5—3 lead. An excellent driving rally ensued, which proved too strenuous for Miss Beverley who failed in the last point to be soundly defeated 6—3. Mrs Melody unfortunately was unwell, giving Miss Knight the match by default. This player will meet Miss Macfarlane for the right to enter the final. , , Knott and Sturt entered the semifinals in the men’s doubles by defeating Ferkins and Roussell in a strenuous five-sei match. The Wellington nlayers combined well to win the first set 7—5, after many bright rallies, and the opposition quickly ran to a 4—l lead and evened at 6—3 at two sets all. The players struggled for the net position and faster work by Knott and Sturt gave them the match at 6—3. Knott played admirably in the latter stages, while Sturt was effective with his overhead shots. Roussell, unfortunately, had an attack of cramp. Both he and Ferkins combined well. They know the game thoroughly, though they are scarcely severe enough in doubles play. The ladies’ doubles match resulted in a win for Misses Nicholls and Beverley over the Canterbury pair, Misses Sherris and Wake. The former improved on their combination shown in the previous round, but the formation is still far from perfect. Both victors produced many fine individualistic shots, especially overhead. Miss Sherris preferred net and Miss Wake the back-line, steady play on the latter s part taking the final set to B—6. Combined Doubles. In the combined doubles, Sturt and Miss Macfarlane, Ewin and Miss Beverley, Perry and Miss Whittaker, and France and Mrs France all advanced easily to the semi-finals without the loss of a set. The Poole sisters disappointed in each of their combined fixtures, while in the match France and Mrs France v. Knott and Miss Knight (Wellington) the players were much more steady and France played brightly. Knott, on the other hand, after playing brilliantly in the mens doubles, did not seem equal to the occasion, while his partner took a long time to get going. The full galleries were enthusiastic enough to wait tut after 6.30 to see Perry and Miss Whittaker defeat France and Mrs France in a combined doubles match noted for many bright rallies and excellent combination. Perry and France both played fast overhead shots, while both ladies ably supported their respective partners.