N.Z. TENNIS MAN . GAINS VICTORY OVER HUNTER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18544, 18 August 1928, Page 7

N.Z. TENNIS MAN . GAINS VICTORY OVER HUNTER.

STARTLING UPSETS ARE TRADITION AT WIMBLEDON. Written for the "Star” by VINCENT RICHARDS, American Professional .Tennis Champion and Former Davis Cup Star. Wimbledon, recognised as England’s greatest tennis championship, has always produced startling upsets. Each year some international star falls by the wayside during the opening rounds. This year * has been no exception. The opening day E. D. Andrews, the Oxford undergraduate, proved a sensation by disposing of F. T. Hunter in a terrifically-fought five-set match. It was a dramatic and well-earned victory for the Oxonian Critics had given him iittle thought previous to his match with the hard-hitting Hun ter. which made his victory all the more startling.

I have always contended that Wimbledon is an extremely difficult place for a player to produce his best game. The heavy turf and general conditions which surround the play on the centre court are not conducive to good tennis. Another reason for the surprising upsets almost, sure to attend the opening of play in this historic meeting is that very little time is allowed for practice at Wimbledon before the tournament. Usually the Americans are engaged at Eastbourne in the annual team match between the United States and Great Britain, or they enter the London championship at the Queen’s Club the week before Wimbledon. The players go right from either of these events into the opening round of the English championship. Hunter had been playing in various events in Europe since April, but his play had been confined chiefly to clay courts, where the bounce of the ball generally is high. The sudden change from clay to turf, especially at Wimbledon, where the ball bounces close to the ground, was probably too much for America’s No. 2 man. This in no way detracts from the splendid victory cf young Andrews. I am simply basing my reasoning on the fact that only one week before Wimbledon Hunter won a straight set victory from Joan Borotr a in the international championships at The Hague. It is hard to conceive that Hunter went so far back in such a short time. The logical explanation is simply that the balls did not bounce high enough for him to use his terrific forehand drive. Many other international stars have been put out on the opening day at Wimbledon. Such famous players as Norman Brcokes, Borotra, Jacques Brugnon and B. I. C. Norton have thus tasted defeat there. I never could get past the third round at Wimbledon. Henri Cochet and Bill Johnston have seen to it in d;.e past that this record should not be broken. However, this has never been true of "Big Bill” Tilden. The famous Philadelphian his always survived the opening day and in most instances has reached the semi-final or final, Tilden likes to play on the turf courts at Wimbledon. The tense atmosphere surrounding the centre court and the presence of so much royal tv has always appealed to his dramatic sense, which means that "Big Bill" is at his best. (Copyright 1928 by the "Star” and N.A.N.A.).