FINALS AT WIMBLEDON

Taranaki Daily News, 8 July 1929, Page 11

FINALS AT WIMBLEDON

THRILLING DOUBLES FIGHT GREGORY AND COLLINS BEATEN. COCHET VANQUISHES BOROTRA. By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. Received July 7, 11 p.m. United Service. London, July 0. The weather was unfavourable for the tennis finals at Wimbledon, being dull, chilly and showery. Nevertheless the centre court was crowded to capacity. The spectators found the day’s greatest thrill in the five-set struggle between young England and young America, in which Allison and Vanryn (America) defeated Gregory and Collins, but the margin was only three games. The Americans captured the first set comfortably before the Englishmen were into their ‘stride. After that it was a sparkling, hard-hitting, thrilling fight. The match was decided in the third game of the fifth set, when the Americans for the first time in the match collared Collins’ service.

Showers fell intermittently throughout the three last sets. The whole quartette covered themselves with glory but the most notable revelation and probably the deciding factor was the strength of Allison’s service, which nonplussed Collins throughout. Opposing all-round steadiness to Socotra's erratic genius, Cochet always had his match safe. Borotra concentrated for reaching the net but Cochet’s accurate returns often passed him. Borotra frequency foot-faulted. He made a fine effort to retriev the position in the third set. He made a splendid crosscourt shot but Cochet marvellously got there and his returns found Borotra out of position. The crowd, which loves Borotra s sportiveness and gaiety, cheered him on to greater efforts. He gallantly rallied when Cochet stood 4—l. Cochet was temporarily nonplussed but recovered steadily and- Borotra’s rally failed. Final results are:—

Cochet beat Borotra 6—4, 6—3, 6—4. Allison and Vanryn (America) beat Collins and Gregory (Britain) 6—4, 5—7, 6—3, 10—12, 6—4. Mrs. Watson and Mrs. Mitchell beat Mrs. Covell and Mrs. Barron (P-4, B—6.

Miss Helen 'Wills (America) beat Miss Helen Jacobs (America) 6—l, 6- —2. Miss Jacobs was unable to extend . Miss Wills, so the final was disappointing. The doubles semi-final resulted: Mrs. Watson and Mrs. Mitchell beat Mrs. McUquliam and Miss Harvey 6—4, 5 7, 6 —2. The mixed semi-final resulted: Colfins and Miss Joan Fry beat Gregory and Miss Ryan 6—2, 6—3. Hunter and Miss Helen Wills beat Farquharson and Miss Heine 6 —t>, 6—2, 6 —3. Hunter and Miss Wills beat Collins and Miss Fry 6—l, 6 —4. The defeat of Cochet and Miss Bennett, which was a real surprise, was largely due to the way in which Miss Joan Fry stood up to Cochet’s crosscourt drives in the closing stages.