TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP

Taranaki Daily News, 3 January 1928, Page 7

TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP

SOME BRILLIANT PLAY OLLIVIER DEFEATS BARTLEET. MISS SPEIRS LADY CHAMPION. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. Th© New Zealand tennis championships concluded to-day in perfect weather at Wilding Park. The title holders for the year are:— Men’s' Singles.—G. Ollivier (Canterbury). Men’s Doubles.—E. L. Bartleet (Auckland) and J. T. Laurenson (Waikato). Ladies’ Singles.—Miss M. Speirs (Canterbury). Ladies’ Doubles.—Mrs. Adams and Miss Tracy (Wellington). Combined Doubles.—-Miss Tracy and N. R. Wilson (Wellington). Boys’ Singles.—H. A. Barnett (Canterbury). Girls’ Singles.—Miss N. Fleming (Otago). New Zealand Plate.—C. Angas (Canterbury).

Canterbury, therefore, secured the Anthony Wilding Cup with seven points, Wellington having four points, Auckland one, Otago one, Waikato one. The best match to-day was that between Ollivier and Bartleet for the men’s singles championship. Ollivier won the first and third sets, and Bartleet the second and fourth seta. Then came an exciting struggle for the fifth set. Ollivier won it at 9 —7. He had been hard pressed. Miss Speirs beat Miss Knight in two sets with the greatest of ease. She was superior all through the five-set match. In the men’s doubles, the final ended In Laurenson and Bartleet defeating Knott and Sturt. Over anxiety spoiled the combination of the latter pair. At first Sturt was off colour, then Knott fell away. Laurenson’s steadiness was remarkable.

Miss Tracy and Wilson prayed brilliantly in the combined doubles final, and, though down four games to five in the third set, they stuck to their guns and collared the next three games. It was a sparkling display. The results are as follow:

Men’s singles final.—G. Ollivier beat E. L. Bartleet, 6—l, 4—6, 6—3, 3—6, 9—7.

Men’s doubles, final. —E. L. Bartleet and J. T. Laurenson beat L. N. Knott and N. G. Sturt, 3—6, 6—3, 2—6, 6—6, 6—3.

Ladies singles, final.—Miss M. Speirs beat Miss B. Knight, 6—l, 6—2. Combined doubles, final. —Miss Tracy and N. R. Wilson beat Mrs. Adams and L. France, 6—2, 5 —6, 7—5. New Zealand Plate, fourth round. —- Walker beat Sheppard 6—3, 4—6, 6—4. Semi-finals.—Wilson beat Bagge, 6—2, 6—2, 7 —5; Angas beat Walker, 6—2, 6—2, 6—l. Final.—C. Angas beat N. R. Wilson, 6-6, 7—5, 6—4. COMMENTS ON THE PLAY.

Ollivier served first in the men’s final, and won the game after deuce had been called twice. Bartleet was forced out of position twice in the second game, and then was beaten by sweet cross court volleys. The Aucklander was three down after Ollivier’s second service. Serving again Bartleet got to “van in” twice, clinching matters with a low shot cut to Ollivier’s back hand. In the fifth game Ollivier sent down soma rattling services for a love game, and a lead of four-one. Ollivier won the set, 6—l.

Bartleet began the second set by winning the service from 40-15. He was applauded for running Ollivier into one corner, and then slamming a fast one straight down the other line. Delightful driving rallies followed, with Bartleet striking a better length. Ho was still being worked out of court, however, and Ollivier completely baffled him with delicate drop volleys. The Canterbury man took the second and third games by this method, but Bartleet secured the fourth; Ollivier won the fifth, and Bartleet the sixth. Next it was three all, and 40-30 on Bartleet’s service. He made a great effort to get the odd game, and succeeded amid applause, after two deuces. Excursions to the net were paying Bartleet handsomely. Ollivier served, and was down 15-40, and later ran out three times. Ho finally came in for a volley, and was passed. Bartleet led five games to three. The effort told on Bartleet, and he lost the ninth game on his service to love. Ollivier lost the first three strokes of the tenth game. Then Bartleet drove one out, but secured the next point, and with it the game and set, by sending a slow drag shot to Ollivier’s. feet as the Canterbury man was coming in.

Opening the third set Bartleet was down on hie service once again. He forced the pace, caught up, and won the final point with a service ace. Ollivier had a narrow escape from losing the second game, but just got home after a keen fight. The third game went to tile Auckland man, and he led 2—l, but Ollivier won the fourth easily to love. When 30-all on service, Bartleet smashed one into the net. Then Ollivier drove out. Bartleet put one into the net. He seemed to have the next point on a great recovery, but Ollivier made a better recovery, and the game was his for a lead of 3—2. Again Bartle* fell into errors ill the net. Ollivier led. 4 —2 and 5—2. Serving in the eighth game he double-faulted, and lobbed out the next. Bartleet put a. smash away beautifully. Ollivier next drove out, and the games were 5 —3. Inaccuracy cost Bartleet the ninth. He was unable to keep up the pressure, and Ollivier won the set, 6 —3.

The fourth set began with spectacular rallies. Ollivier served and won the first game. In one exchange Ollivier smashed four times. He drove a short shot to the side line, and then sent s winning cut volley to the same place, Bartleet served splendidly, and won the second game from 40-15. He also got the third, passing Ollivier beautifully. Twice Bartleet led 40-15 in the fourth, an important game. He tried to clinch it, and lost the next three points to “van out.” The Aucklander pressed hard, and fortunes fluctuated to deuce, van

in, deuce, van out, deuce, van out, deuce and van out, the game going to Ollivier, the scores being 2-all. Ollivier served, and was van out three times before capturing the odd game. Then it was 3-all. Ollivier was down 15-40 in the seventh game, and he lost it by missing a side line drive. Ollivier was finding it hard. Bartleet kept going, and bagged the eighth with clipping drives, varied with slow stuff to the backhand corner. He got the ninth game and set with a net cord shot that did not bounce. Scores, 6—3 in Bartleet’s favour.

With the set 2-all, Bartleet served, and lost from 30-40. Ollivier made the second game his to love. For the time being, anyway, he had full control again, and Bartleet was defending. Bartleet camo to light, and with the aid of a net cord shot and low skimming drive he secured the third game in the fourth game. Ollivier was serving with a lot of cut. He won it, and led 3 —l. Bartleet had to go hard now. He took it from 40-30, when Ollivier lobbed out. As the Aucklander rushed the net Ollivier served and was down 30-40. Then Bartleet netted the drive, and sent one out. Ollivier won the next point on brilliant placement, and the games were 4—2 in Ollivier’s favour. Bartleet outplayed his opponent, and made sure of the seventh with a crisp volley. Ollivier served, and could not get a point. At 4-all excitement was high.

Bartleet stepped into the ninth game with vigour, and took the game, when Ollivier netted Bartleet, 5—4. Ollivier served and lost the first point on Bartleet’s cross court drive. Then it was 15-all, 30-15, 40-15, and the game went to Ollivier with sweet placements. The games were 5-alI. Bartleet served, and got three points, early, but then drove out. Forty-fifteen was called; then 4030; then deuce; van in to Bartleet; The game went to Bartleet with a smash, and the Aucklander led 6—5. Ollivier served in the twelfth game, and led 30-15, 40-15, 40-30. A high drive by Ollivier went out, and deuce was called, but the Canterbury man took the game by forcing Bartleet into errors. Six-all. Bartleet served, and was down love-30, but got to 40-30; then deuce, van in, deuce, van in, deuce, van out, game to Ollivier, with side line drive, and at van in in the thirteenth game Bartleet slipped and appeared to strain himself. Ollivier served and doublefaulted twice, and was down 15-40 then 30-40; game to Bartleet, through Ollivier driving out. At seven-all Bartleet seemed the more exhausted of the two, but he stuck to it, though slower on his feet. Ollivier, however, won the game, and led B—7. On his service Ollivier led 15-love, 30-love and 40-love. Bartleet drove out, and Ollivier won the game and, 9—7, and the match, after t tremendous fight, amid rounds of applause. ■ THE MEN’S DOUBLES.-

In the final of the men’s doubles, Knott and Sturt had more dash and initiative in the first set than Bartleet and Laurenson. They quickly ran to a lead of 5 —2 by going for the net on every possible occasion. Knott lost his service. in the eighth game, but he and hia partner carried the ninth and with it the set at 6—3,- play being patchy. Sturt lost his service at the beginning of the second set. Then Laurenson won his service, after some smart volleying. Knott was outstanding in the third game. His net work excelled anything seen previously at the tournament, and the game .went with his partner’s service. Then through sequence of errors by Sturt the other pair got a lead of 4—2. Knott dropped his service, and Laurenson and Bartleet added the extra game. It was their set at 6 —3. Low back-hand volleys by Laurenson were a feature of the first game of the third set. He was missing nothing at this stage, and Bartleet rattled many scoring drives down the middle. Knott and Sturt recovered ground later, and evened at 2-all. Laurenson served in the fifth game, and lost it after being up 40-15. Knott and Sturt tightened up the combination, and punished anything loose. They led 4—2. Bartleet fell into errors, and another game was lost. Knott's service was hot. Not a point was scored off it in the eighth game, and Knott and Sturt' had the set at 6—2.

Play was resumed without a spell. The first game of the fourth set went to Laurenson and Bartleet. They also captured Sturt’s service, after some smashing. Bartleet held his for lead of 3-love, and it looked like being a fiveset match, particularly when Knott’s service gained nothing. Laurenson’s net work had improved out of sight. He tricked his opponents time, and again. With a lead of 5-love Laurenson and Bartleet took Sturt’s service to love, and the set was theirs.

Bartleet’s service opened the fifth set. He lost it quickly. There Vtere few rallies now, and all four went for the winners. Sturt’s service failed him for the third time in succession, but he revenged himself the next game on Laurenson’s service, securing a lead of two games to one. Knott was next to drop the service, and games were 2-all. A stiff battle for the next game saw Bartleet hitting winners and lobbing with great accuracy. Ho and his partner led 3—2. Sturt served magnificently in the sixth game, and almost broke the spell against him, but the luck went the other way. Bartleet and Laurenson led four to two. Laurenson’s service added another game from 40-15. Now Knoti served, and the tide turned for a time. He won the game, and the older pair, were but two games ahead. With Bartleet serving, Knott and Sturt did net secure a point, and the set went to Bartleet and Laurenson, and with it the match and title. THE COMBINED FINAL. Wilson’s perfect and effortless smashing and control at the net were a feature of the first six games in the combined final. Wilson served and the games went with the service to 3 2, when France dropped his service. Miss Tracy won hers and led 5—2. In the eighth game, there was an amazing volleying rally between France and Miss Tracy in which honours were all with Miss Tracy. Mrs. Adams lost her service, and the set, despite some very snappy work at the net by France. Wilson had the service and won on it, breaking through France’s service to lead 2—o. Miss Tracy was playing a very dogged game, but dropped her service in a lovo’ game. A bad line decision saved Fiance and his partner in the fourth game, and this really cost them the set. Wilson dropped his service at the opening of the third set, and was down 3— l, Miss Tracy tiring a little,

while Wilson went off a shade. France was 5— 4 and 30-15, but lost the advantage as Wilson came right back on his game, and his partner fought doggedly, to win the set back. LADIES’ SINGLES FINAL. The final between Miss Speirs and Miss Knight did not lend itself to description. Miss Speirs dominated the play, having a counter to every piece of courtcraft by her opponent. There -were not many brilliant rallies, but there were some brilliant shots by Miss Speirs, svho volleyed and smashed rarely, but just enough to show how an artist can do it. Miss Speirs attacked Miss Knight's forehand persistently, only shifting the attack when the backhand court invited a clean winner. Miss Speirs lost the second game in the first set, and in the second set she lost the first game and fifth. NEW ZEALAND PLATE FINAL. In the New Zealand Plate final, Angas ran away with the first set, Wilson seeming unable to get imo his stride, but at the opening of the second set he played confidently, and went to a 5 —4 lead, only io be overhauled by Angas, who took the set at 7—5. The match showed some splendid clean hitting, both boys delighting the crowd with pretty ground strokes, but Wilson was always erratic, and Angas, maintaining his steadiness, took the third set at 6—4, and with it the match.