TENNIS CHAMPION BEATEN

Taranaki Daily News, 30 January 1931, Page 9

TENNIS CHAMPION BEATEN

GREAT AUCKLAND SENSATION MORRISON OUTPLAYS BARTLEET STRENUOUS TOURNAMENT GAMES By Telegraph—Press Association Auckland, Last Night One of the greatest sensations ever experienced in tennis circles in New Zealand was the defeat this afternoon of E. -L. Bartleet by M. M. Morrison in the third round of the men’s singles. championship of the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association., Bartleet was bolder of the title and former-- , ly Nev; Zealand champion. He _ had won the Auckland title three years in succession and was favourite again on this occasion. . , Sensation in the match came bright and early as Morrison won two love sets straight off the reel. This marked the first occasion upon which Bartleet had been beaten by a love set since he entered oig tennis, but to beat Him twelve games in succession was. a record no other player previously had achieved. Morrison’s play in those two sets was positively brilliant, the Eden and Epsom Club champion leaving Bartleet standing with brilliant passing drives on both hands. Even at this stage there were many people who thought Bartleet would eventually pull through and when the titleholder took the third, set with ease these judges exchanged whispers of confidence. The customary interval followed and Morrison after a much-needed rest ran to lead 4—l in the fourth set. It looked like , the end. but Bartleet commenced a wonderful uphill fight., .His accurate placinga had his opponent cofftiaually on the move and he eventually scored 7—-5. Even now there were very few people who would have been prepared to wager on Morrison. Morrison/ however, was by •no means done with and while he did noc reach his standard of the first two sets his opponent made more mistakes, missing narrowly with drives - : “ Thi r enabled Morrison to go on to an easy victory. The scores were 6—o, 6—o, I—o, 7—5, 6—l. J. T. Laurenson had'a marathon tussle with the. Wanganui veteran, M. L. Lamps. Both played steady, tennis and it was a question of the one making the fewer .er-, rdre being the winner. Sturt made himself the other semi-finalist by a comfortable' victory over Lamb.

■There were some intereating games m the ladies’ singles. Mrs. Dykes missed a number of smashes at the net in the first set with Miss Ramsay and she wari down 2—4 '.im' consequence. There were severs! Splendid • rallies in which Mrs. Dykes cleverly worked her opponent out of position before dealing out a deciding shot. The New Zealand champion took four games in a row and with them the first set. Miss Ramsay led 2--love and then 3—l in the second set, but Mrs. Dykes’ deep drives had her opponent continually on the run. Miss Ramsay chased the' ball but the returns were impossible. She retired in _ a state of collapse when Mrs. Dykes was leading 4—3 in the second set.