KEEN TENNIS

Southland Times, Issue 22948, 22 July 1936, Page 14

KEEN TENNIS

THE WIGHTMAN CUP MATCH London, June 24 Amidst the tensest excitement America won the Wightman Cup for the sixth time in succession when it defeated Great Britain at Wimbledon in the last of seven matches on June 13. The final game, a doubles match with Miss Kay Stammers and Miss Freda James representing Great Britain and Miss Helen Jacobs and Mrs M. Fabyan playing for America, was the deciding issue, for both countries had won three games. At set-all and five-games-all the atmosphere was electrical as the players fought out the last few points. The United States won finally by 7 games to 5, Miss Helen Jacobs scoring the winning stroke. On the first day Miss Stammers and Miss Jacobs opened the competition with a terrific struggle in the first set, which Miss Stammers won in the 22nd game, 12—10. In the second set she rounded off her victory comfortably by 6 games to 1. Miss D. Round followed up Britain’s success by beating Mrs Fabyan without great difficulty, 6—3, 6—4, but the third game of the day, a doubles match, went to America, when Mrs J. Van Ryn and Miss C.. Babcock beat Miss E. M. Dearman and Miss N. M. Lyle, 6—2, I—6, 6—3. Thus Great Britain entered the second day’s competition one game to the good, and with a favourable chance of breaking the United States’ long list of succe.sses. Contrary to expectation, however, Miss Stammers’ form was a long way bfelow the standard produced when she beat Miss Jacobs on the previous day, and she was defeated fairly easily by Mrs Fabyan, 6 —3, 6 —4. Miss Round accounted for Miss Jacobs, however, giving Great Britain the lead again and the American captain her second beating, a rather galling experience.

First Appearance.

Great hopes were held that Miss R. M. Hardwick, playing in her first Wightman Cup, would be able to stave off defeat by Miss Babcock. She began nervously, but afterwards provided better opposition for her opponent, who won the first set 6—4. Playing a determined game. Miss Hardwick won the second set by a similar margin, only to lose the third by 6 games to 1. Both sides now had three games to their credit and everything depended upon the last match. Miss Stammers and Miss James rattled up three games before their opponents had settled down, and continued the pace to win the set by 6 games to 1. Miss Jacobs, who had been giving Mrs Fabyan little i support, showed her fighting spirit in ' the second set, which the Americans won by 6 games to 3. The English girls began the third set confidently and were leading at one stage by 3 games to 1. Excitement grew as America crept into the lead and the score stood at 4—3. The visitors went ahead again at 5 —4, where they lost two match points. But with the score at 5-all they were not to be denied, and the end came two games later. A Marathon Singles. The two matches holding the most interest for the spectators, which included thousands of schoolgirls, were undoubtedly the first and the last— Miss Stammers against Miss Jacobs, and the doubles. Miss Stammers did not begin too well in her “marathon” with the American, who established a lead of three games to nil. But she fought back splendidly, and drew level at 4-all, taking the lead af 5—4 and again at 6—5. Both girls pegged away steadily and the games continued until they reached 10—9. For the twentieth game Miss Jacobs changed her tactics, swept the corners with fiery drives and followed the ball to the net. Miss Stammers cleared her lines confidently, but was finally served out of the game with two aces. At 10-all Miss Jacobs seemed to have worked herself out, and Miss Stammers took the next two games without difficulty, together with the second set. Great Britain started the doubles with such a bang and confidence that I they overwhelmed the American pair and finished the set quickly. Miss Jacobs and Mrs Fabyan played up better in the second set, and soon, established a lead. Miss Stammers began double-faulting, and the loss of her service put the game at s—l.5 —1. in I America’s favour. The English girls pulled two games out of the fire, but eventually lost the set, 6—3.

Tense Excitement. The last set began well for Miss Stammers and Miss James and they established a lead of 3 —l. For the second time Miss Stammers lost her service, Miss Jacobs served a love game, and the score was 3-all. Miss James made her first two mistakes, a double-fault and a netted smash, and America went into the lead at 4—3. From then until the finish the spectators were in a state of tense excitement. The games stood at 4-alI, then at 5—4 in America’s favour, then 5-all. The English girls lost the next game, but there was still a chance that they might pull up again. The Americans bagged the last game, however, and the Wightman Cup competition was over for another year. A fine display of good tennis and confidence was given by Miss Dorothy Round, with whom New Zealanders have more than a passing acquaintance. She was at her best on the first day when she defeated Mrs Fabyan. She was sure of her control on both wings, and splendid variation of length and

i " - *i strength were too good for the little visitor. On the second day, when she accounted for Miss Jacobs, the speed of Miss Round’s strokes had her opponent at full stretch all the time. She cut off most passing shots, and never looked like mishandling an overhead volley; indead her overhead work was a feature of the afternoon’s play.