LAWN TENNIS STARS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 258, 1 November 1932, Page 8

LAWN TENNIS STARS

AMERICAN VISITORS U.S.A. CHAMPIONS : | EXHIBITION AT AUCKLAND [ Per Piess Association.] AUCKLAND, Oct. 31. j i The American lawn tennis team | which is tu tour Australia and, later on, New Zealand, arrived in Auckland by the Niagara to-day and its members subsequently played exhibition games at Stanley Street in. the presence of a large gathering of spectators. The visiting party comprises Wilmer Allison (manager), H.. Ellsworth Vines, John Van Ryn and Keith Gledliill and Mesdanies Allison, Vines and Van Rvn. The Americans were met on board the Niagara and welcomed by Mr G. Gore, president of the New Zealand j Lawn Tennis Association, and Mr R. B. | Hardy, president of the Auckland Association directly the vessel berthed. Shortly after 2 p.m. the visitors were motored to the courts, “We did not expect to play here, but when we learned at Suva that the Auckland Association was so keen to see us in action we were only toa pleased to oblige,” said Allison. “When we left, home we thought we were in for a well-earned rest as we had had six or seven months of strenuous championship and Davis Cup tennis. However. wc gave exhibitions at Honolulu but not at Suva. We have a very hard tour ahead of us in Australia and it seems to me at present that it will have to be curtailed a little, more especially if we are to tour New Zealand on our way back. Vines, our leading player, is due back in America early in March, but if we do not get away ffrom Australia until the middle or February your public mav not see much of him. However, nothing defini ite can be said until I have consultec the Australian authorities. The programme they have mapped out for us includes five Test matches apart from championship play, anl this looks rather strenuous. I must say tne whole party is very pleased indeed to have the opportunity of coming to Nev Zealand and Australia.” The exhibition matches attracted a large crowd. The Americans, although obviously below form after the sea voyage. treated the spectators to some brilliant play. Results were:— Singles: Van Ryn beat Gledhill, 6—3; Vines and Allison, 7 all. Doubles: Allison and Van Ryn beat Vines and Gledhill, 7—5, 6 —2. About the Players Speaking of members of the team, Allison said that he did not .think Vines had yet reached his zenith. He won the world’s championship this year but as he is only 21 years of age, Allison expected him to rise to still greater heights. In such case he would "be unconquerable by any player at present taking part in the game. Regarding Gledhill, the American manager said this young player was essentially a doubles exponent. He, too, would improve in the next year or two. Mrs Van Ryn, who had been ranked among the first ten iu America for the past four years, would participate in matches in Australia. Allison is very hopeful regarding the success next year of the Americans in the Davis Cup contest. They w r ent very close to recapturing the trnghy this year, and thought the preient team would be equal to the task on the next occasion. Tn connection with the younger players coming on, Allison said he had great hopes of Frankie Parker, a lad of 16 years, who was already good enough to be ranked in the first ten lin the United States. “He is in the hands of Mercer Beasley, who is regarded as the world’s foremost coach,” said Allison. “Vines, Sutter (who will rank third in America this year) and myself have all passed through Beasley’s hands.” The visitors were entertained at an unofficial dinner at the Grand Hotel to-night, and were later the guests of the Auckland Aero Club at a dan*ce at the Mangere aerodrome. To-morrow they will be taken for a drive and will play golf in the afternoon. They will be entertained at dinner by officials of the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association in the evening and will sail for Sydney by the Niagara later. While the crowd was waiting for the Americans to arrive it was entertained to an exhibition game between the two Aucklanders, A. C. Stedman and N. G. Sturt. They played three sets, Stedman winning, 6—3, 6—o, 6 —l. Sturt was below form and was unable to hold t Ij e former New Zealand champion.