TENNIS WAS WELL UP TO STANDARD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19267, 2 January 1931, Page 6

TENNIS WAS WELL UP TO STANDARD.

TOURNEY SUCCESSFUL FROM ALL POINTS OF VIEW Taken all through, the tennis at the New Zealand championships just concluded was well up to the standard of previous years, was the opinion expressed by Mr Reg Browning, secretary of the Canterbury Association, in an "interview to-day. Conditions at Wilding Park, he said, were conducive to good play and from all points of view the tournament was one of the most successful in his experience. “In the men’s singles,” said Mr Browning, “the play r as exemplified by Stedm<an, the champion, reached a standard higher than for many 3-ears past. Stedman, on his form against Angas, would have extended Ollivier at his best.” There were a number of other games of a high standard; for instance, the Stedma n - Patterson match, in which the Canterbury' player put up a meritorious fi£ht. Barnett’s Performances. Barnett’s position on the Canterbury ranking list seemed ridiculous in view of his performances. Barnett had always been regarded as a promising player and at the championships he showed distinctly that he was a verybrainy pla\ r er. The way in which he play-ed throughout was very fine indeed. Noel Wilson was the disappointing play r er in the tournament. He was capable of brilliant play, but has often let his supporters down with very weak shots. Women Below* Standard. “The women’s tennis,” said Mr Browning, “was distinctly below the recognised New Zealand standard. Mrs Dykes, who won the singles title, was not as good as she was as Miss Speirs. In her match against Miss Macfarlane, her courtcraft enabled her to win. Miss M. Myers came to the tournament with a big reputation, but she was disappointing. I don’t think her singles play has improved, but she is a better doubles player and was the deciding factor in winning the doubles with Mrs Meloly.” Good Doubles. Angas and Seay thoroughly deserved their victory over the France brothers in the final of the men’s doubles, and the standard of play was high. Len France, who played probably the best game of his career in the semi-final, was the weakest player of the four. The Canterbury pair played better together than was anticipated. Angas, Mr Browning considered, was a little the stronger of the two. In the combined doubles final, although Miss Andrew’s ground shots were not up to the standard of some players, she served well. A big factor in victory w-as that Seay came back from the net a few games before the end. Wilson was patchy, but Mrs Thomson was a wonder. Mr Browning said that Davys, of Wellington, was the most promising junior player he had seen, even including Barnett. His display against Mac Gibbon, a good player, was a treat to watch. Miss Reese and Miss Bishop, the two finalists in the girl’s junior singles, were very promising players. Both were pupils of Mr Geoff. Ollivier. The standard of play in the junior matches appeared to be equal to that displayed in previous tournaments. Absence of Players.

The opinion that the women’s play was below New Zealand standard is also shared by Mr W. N. Seay, a pastpresident of the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association. Mr Seay said that although Mrs Dykes played a good game against Miss Macfarlane, she did not hit with the same strength as in past years. The play of so many of the women lacked variety. The absence this yfear of some of the leading players weakened the men’s events. Stedman set a very high standard, and his exhibition of hard driving was one of the best that Mr Seay had ever seen. He not only drove hard and accurately, but he maintained the pace, and came into the net to smash everything loose. Born 'Player.

Barnett was a born player, and his performances throughout the tournament were wonderful. He was certainly a great find for Canterbury, and, indeed, for New Zealand. All needed was some more coaching, particularly in his service. Wilson and Don France, he thought, were below form in the singles.

Mr Seay said that the standard of the doubles play was good, but that there were more good matches at the championships at Wellington in the previous year. The fact that some of the combinations had been broken up probably had an effect.

When a tournament was limited to five days, said Mr Seay, it should be played at a place where plenty of courts were available, so that good progress could be made in the early rounds. It would have been better for the players and the management if the finals had been played on New Year’s Day, but. of course, there were difficulties in the way. Players desired to get away to compete in other tournaments. On the final day several competitors had to play two hard matches. In England America and Australia players were never asked to play more than one 5-set singles or doubles in a day. (A report of the concluding day’s play appears on page 15.)