Lawn Tennis.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18449, 27 April 1928, Page 4

Lawn Tennis.

BUUllllilillllliUilllililllllllilililltKillillllKHlllllilllflllillililllillllllllllllllllll^ G. L. PATTERSON SHOWS RETURN TO BEST FORM.

(United Press Assn. —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Received April 27. 2 p.m.l ROME, April 26. All the Australian tennis players came through the eliminating rounds of the Italian championships. G. L. Patterson was most' brilliant, but was slightly erratic in backhand shots. Otherwise his was the best play seen here in the singles for many seasons, being reminiscent of his Wimbledon days. His service was terrific, and when he came to the net his .smashing “ kills ” delighted the spectators. Frenz ranks among the first ten in Germany. Hopman delighted the gallery by his thorough mastery of the court and exceptional accuracy. Frenz’s service was not very strorjg, but he made Hopman give of his best.—Australian Press Association. G. L. Patterson (captain), J. Crawford and H. Hopman arrived at Toulon a fortnight ago. and are now preparing for the first Davis Cup tie against Italy. This will be played at Genoa on May 5, 6 and 7. and should provide a close and strenuous match. If De Morpurgo, the Italian star, is in form, he might easily win both his singles, though Australia’s representatives should get the better of Italy’s second string, De Stefani. If so, the result will depend on the doubles, and here again De Morpurgo is capable of winning the match practically off his own bat. Last year against France he beat Cochet and ran Lacoste to five sets before acknowledging defeat. He played a magnificent game in the doubles, and carried his partner to victory. On the other hand, like many Continental players, he is liable to get upset over trifles and lapse into poor mediocrity. In that case Australia should win comfortably. These two teams appear to be about the strongest in the European zone, and the winner should have a good chance of reaching the final round against the winner of the American zone, which will most likely be the United States.