LAW ‘TENNIS

Southland Times, Issue 25302, 4 June 1935, Page 7

LAW ‘TENNIS

FRENCH TITLES PERRY BEATS VON CRAMM MRS SPERLING’S SUCCESS (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) Paris, June 2. The French tennis championships were continued to-day, when the singles finals were decided. The results were: MEN’S SINGLES. Final. I F. J. Perry (England) defeated G. von Cramm (Germany) 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, 6-3. WOMEN’S SINGLES.

Mrs Sperling (Germany) defeated Madame Mathieu (France) 6-2, 6-1. Perry is the first Englishman to win the French singles title since 1891. He played the first set in valiant form and showed good strategy. His angle shots were just too acute for Cramm to reach, while the pace of the Englishman’s driving did not give the German player a chance to produce his normal swing. Von Cramm was leading 1-0 in the second when rain interrupted play, and upon the resumption Perry seemed unable to recover his concentration, Cramm taking the set 6-3. Perry began the third quite differently, 'being brimful of energy and confidence, and he played at such a pace that he surprised everyone by the ease with which he dashed to lead 5-0. He seemed to throw away his own service game, feeling that he could easily take Cramm’s next service and thus begin the fourth set with his own service.

Perry soon led by 3-0 in the fourth set and at 5-1 held six match points, but was over-anxious and lost the game, also the next, but won the championship with a beautiful passing backhand shot. '

Mrs Sperling was too confident for Madame Mathieu, who appeared to be tired throughout. Mrs Sperling, in winning the championships of Ireland, Germany, Denmark, Italy and France, in addition to other tournaments, has not lost a set since she was beaten by Miss Joan Hartigan at Wimbledon in 1934.

Crawford’s decisive defeat by Perry, coupled with Austin’s good win over Menzel and his narrow defeat by von Cramm, must shatter confidence in the Australians’ chances against Britain in the Davis Cup, though conditions in the latter contest will be different.

Perry’s conclusive victory over the titleholder, von Cramm (whom Tilden ranked No. 1 in the world) indicates that the Englishman has quite recovered from his staleness at the close of last season. In last year’s final von Cramm beat Crawford 6—4, 7—9. 3—6, 7—5, 6—3. An ankle injury spoilt Perry’s chances. The holders of the men’s title since the war have been:—l92o, A. H. Gobert: 1921. j. Samazeuilh; 1922, H. Cochet; 1923, P. Blanchy; 1924. J. Borotra; 1925, R. Lacoste; 1925. H. Cochet: 1927, R. Lacoste; 1928. H. Cochet; 1929, R. Locoste; 1930, H. Cochet: 1931, J. Borotra; 1932, H. Cochet; 1933, J. H. Crawford; 1934. G. von Cramm; 1935, F. J. Perry. It was in 1925 that entries were first accepted from all countries. The English girls did not do as well as was expected. Mrs Sperling, the new champion, is probably better known to the tennis public by her maiden name, Fraulein Krahwinkel. The women champions since the war have been: 1920, Mlle. Lenglen; 1921, Mlle. Lenglen; 1922. Mlle. Lenglen; 1923, Mlle. Lenglen; 1924, Mlle, vjasto; 1925. Mlle. Lenglen; 1926. Mlle. Lenglen; 1927. Mlle. K. Bouman; 1928. Miss H. Wills; 1929. Miss H. Wills; 1930. Mrs F. S. Moody; 1931. Frl. C. Aussem: 1932, Mrs F. S. Moody; 1933, Miss M. Scriven; 1934, Miss M. Scriven; 1935. Frau. Sperling.