New Zealand Tennis Championship Events.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18640, 18 December 1928, Page 10

New Zealand Tennis Championship Events.

SEVERAL NOTABLE ABSENTEES, BUT ENTRIES INDICATE SPLENDID MEETING; YOUTH PREDOMINATES.

THE OUTSTANDING FEATURE of the draw for the New Zealand tennis championship tournament to be held in Auckland at Christmas time is the number of notable players absent from the entries. Seven of the Dominion’s leading men players are not participating in this year’s tournament, but every woman player of note, with the exception of Mrs W. A. Scott, has entered for the women’s events. A disappointing feature is the slump in entries, but this can be attributed to the travelling that South Island players have to undergo to reach the northern capital. The junior events have

attracted a record entry, and the new events, boys’ doubles and girls’ junior mixed have met with a pleasing response. The most satisfactory fact is the youth of the majority of the outstanding candidates for championship honours. Despite the smaller entries the indications are that this year's tournament will b? a most successful one, and productive of a splendid standard of tennis.

A glance at the entries reveals the fact that the majority of the entrants are North Island players. The South Island is poorly represented numerical ly. Canterbury will send a small but select contingent, and the champior province may retain the Wilding Cup emblematical of inter-provincial supre macy at the New Zealand championship tournament. Canterbury players do not give Auckland tournaments the same support as Aucklanders give tournaments in Christchurch. A reason for this lies in the more difficult climatic conditions prevalent in Auckland. Notable Absentees. There is no outstanding candidate for the men’s singles title, and this is in great measure due to the absence of seven of last season's most prominent players—G. Ollivier (holder), N. R. C. Wilson, I. A. Seav, K. T. Walker, D. G. France, L. G. Knott and A. W. Sims. Ollivier has relinquished his amateur status, Seay and Walker are incapacitated temporarily, and Don France and Wilson are unable to obtain leave. Knott is in Australia, and Sims appears to have given up championship tennis. The absence of these players has naturally affected the standard in the men’s singles, but the Dominion possesses so many first-class plaj r ers that there remain several of sufficient calibre to provide a very fine competition.

Sturt. The meeting of this pair with France and Angas should provide some of the best tennis of the meeting. Bartieet and Laurenson should reach the .Inal, but will have to be at their best to defeat Lowry and Glanville, a pair of experienced players. The contest should be very even, but the writer favours Sturt and Malfroy, mainly because these, two young players adopt very aggressive tactics la doubles play. High, Standard Of Ladies’ Play.

New Zealand is very strong in the standard of women’s tennis, and the Auckland tournament should be outstanding for the fact that all the leading women players in the Dominion are engaged. A New Zealand ladies' team consisting of say. Misses M\y Spiers, Marjorie Macfarlane and M. Trac> r , and Mrs R. P. Adams, would be capable of extending any Australian team of women.

Although the competition • will be keen and even, it is difficult to see Miss Speirs being defeated. The Canterbury champion has been the outstanding lady exponent of the game for the past few years, and she should prove successful at Auckland. Miss Speirs has an easy draw, and in the semi-final should defeat Miss Tracy without much trouble. The opposition will be provided in the final, where the winner of Mrs Adams and Miss Macfarlane will give the Canterbury champion a keen match. Women’s form is generally very consistent, and it is unlikely that any surprises will eventuate. Miss Melva Wake and Mrs W. Melodv are the competitors who may upset form. It is gratifying to state that Misses Speirs and Wake are not in the same half. Canterbury’s Prospect In The Doubles. Canterburv possesses excellent chances of annexing the women’s doubles championship, and Misses Speirs and Wake form a formidable combination which should prove sue-

The Men’s Singles Draw. Canterbury is represented in the men’s singles by D. F. Glanville, C.

Angas and A. W. Smithson. Glanville and Angas are well in the running for honours. Smithson is a young rankinglist player who should benefit by the experience. Auckland holds a strong hand with J. T. Laurenson (Waikato), E. L. Bartleet, N. G. Sturt, and A. G. Stedman. C. E. M&lfroy and Len France and Rhodes Williams are Wellington’s hopes, and M. L. Lampe (Wanganui) is the other entry of note The top half appears the stronger section. Bartleet appears the unlucky sufferer from the draw, and he will meet Angas in the third round, the winner to play Laurenson. The player who emerges from this section will be the favourite for the final. Bartleet, who has made many fine onslaughts on the title, appears to have a great chance this year, and if he succeeds in regaining his form of last season, he appears the outstanding competitor. He is now nearing the veteran stage, and Angas will provide stern opposition. Laurenson is a great match player, and if he obtains sufficient practice, will be one of the hardest to beat. In the same half, Lampe and Stedman are drawn, and the promising young Aucklander looks likely to reach the semi-final. In the bottom half, Malfroy and Sturt will meet for one semi-final, and France and Glanville should determine the bottom semi-finalist. It is unlikely that there will be any surprises in this

cessful, although thev have not played together and have different styles. Their progress to the final should not be a very difficult one. In the lower half, Mrs Adams and Miss Tracy appear

the outstanding pair, but the Misses Macfarlane will be hard to beat. Miss Marion Macfarlane is back from her trip to England, and it will be interesting to view her form after her experience abroad. Two young Canterbury players of promise. Misses May Andrew and M. Gibson (South Island champion), mav effect a surprise, and it is pleasing to note the keenness of these two young players.

half, but J. N. Lowry, E. W. Griffiths. V. ,R. Johns, and T. Rhodes-Williams are four competitors who will provide good matches. The latter recently de feated Wilson in a club match in Wei lington. Providing that Bartleet, Laurenson, Malfroy and Glanville arc in top form, they appear the most likely ones at the moment for the semi-final positions. On past form Bartleet and Malfroy would contest the final, and Bartleet should win. This, however, is a matter for conjecture, and in view of the evenness of the eight seeded players, one would be bold to predict the winner. Whatever the result, Auckland spectators should be assured of some bright displays, and some exciting matches should be staged before the decision is made. Men’s Doubles. The men’s doubles does not present a very difficult problem until the semifinals are reached. The seeded players, Sturt and Malfroy—and France and Angas (in the top half), and Bartleet and Laurenson (holders) and Lowry and Glanville (in t.he lower section), appear to be a class above the other pairs. Sturt has a new partner in Malfroy, and the combination should be quite as good as that of Knott and

Mixed Doubles. There are several even pairs in the mixed doubles championship, and Canterburv interest will centre in the activities of Miss Speirs and Angas. Jf this pair combining well they should go close to winning, but Angas will have to learn that Miss Speirs needs half the court. Miss Tracy, who won the title last year with Noel Wilson, is partnered by Malfroy, and the combination i-, R a formidable one. Miss Wake and Glanville are a second Canterburv combination, and their prospects cannot be ignored. Miss D. Nicholls and Sturt are a likelv pair, and Miss Andrew should partner well’ with R. ML. Ferkins, of Wellington. The event is an open one. and Miss Tracy and Miss Speirs may meet in the fin--

Junior Events. The draw for the junior events has

not been sent down, but it may lie presumed that the bulk of the entries come from Auckland. Canterbury is strongly represented by 11. A. Barnett, who won the boys’ championship last year. A promising player who is remarkably steady and experienced, Barnett should retain his title, and may also annex the doubles event.