KEEN INTEREST TAKEN IN TENNIS TITLES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 7, 9 January 1946, Page 8

KEEN INTEREST TAKEN IN TENNIS TITLES

N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIPS AT AUCKLAND (P.A.) Auckand, Jan. 8. The stands were again packed at the Stanley Street courts to-day when the New Zealand tennis championships entered into the third day. An early overcast sky soon broke tine and clear. Keen interest was taken in the men’s singles matches during the morning, in which Painter (Wellington), North Island champion, eliminated Bedford, an Auckland seeded player. O. Bold (Hutt Valley) went down to J. T. Mayson (Auckland) only after a three-hour contest, while N. V. Edwards (Hutt Valley), the 1939 New Zealand champion, continued in brilliant form to enter into the last sixteen.

Miss M. Kerr (Otago) played attractively to take the first set from Miss M. Beverley, the 1937 national champion, but the latter was too strong. Miss J. McL. Wallace (Auckland) surprised by eliminating Miss B. Potter (Auckland), a seeded player, in straight sets. Miss Wallace played right up to her best form, but she will have a harder match against Mrs. McVay, North Island champion, whom she meets on Wednesday.

The tennis was again of a high standard and the unprecedented interest. in the tournament is evidenced by the fact that all reserved seats for the final day were sold within a few hours of the plan opening this morning. However, arrangements have been made for an additional stand to be erected and this, together with unreserved portions, will provide accommodation for a further 1250 spectators on Saturday. MISS BEVERLEY EXTENDED

A game which attracted a good deal oi attention was the ladies’ singles between Miss Beverley, winner of the Auckland championship in 1937-38-39-4G, and the New Zealand championship in 1937. and Miss M. Kerr, Otago champion. With Miss Beverley suffering from the a tier-effects of influenza, it was anticipated that" she would be fully extended by the southerner. Such proved the case. In the first sei. Miss Beverley played without confidence and, keeping the ball in play by returning steadily and consistently, Miss Kerr led 6-5 and eventually won 8-6. It was a different story in the second set, however. Miss Beverley had warmed up and took complete charge. Whereas the first set had been played almost wholly from the base-lines, Miss Beverley advanced to the net with great success in the second, forcing her opponent into errors by cutting off returns, and with accurate overhead work Miss Beverley had the visitor continually on the run. After taking the first four games in a row' the former champion won the set at 6-2. When the players resumed after a spell it v as again a case of Miss Beverley’s stronger and superior all-round play. Miss Kerr mixed brilliant, shots with poor ones, the latter mostly as a result of the Aucklander’s persistent attack. Miss Beverley won the deciding set without the loss of a game. Miss L. lE. Adams (Herne Bay) was expected to make a good showing

against Miss Attwood, Auckland champion. The latter gave her opponent little chance from the start. Brilliant placements on either hand saw Miss Adams continuously on the run, and she was frequently passed on the base-line with fast, deep drives which she had no hope of returning. Miss J. McL. Wallace created a surprise by defeating another Aucklander, a seeded player at that, Miss B. Potter, in straight seis, jne latter led in the first set 3-2, the games having gone with the service to that stage. Miss Wallace won her next service and then took the following three games in a row to win the sei. Maintaining her confidence. Miss Wallace continued to outplay her opponent bv winning the next four games, making it eight on end. Miss Wallace clinched the match at 6-3 with the loss of only one point. The winner demonstrated that she is improving her all-round game with tournament experience. FIVE-SET MATCH

In a five-set match which lasted over three hours but which never reached brilliant heights, Mayson (Auckland) defeated the Hutt Valley Wilding Shield player Bold, 6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. The first set was characterised by steady play on the part of both, points coming from errors made rather than winning shots. In the second and third sets, Bold got more cn to his game and, stroking cleanly backhand, had Mayson on the run. The latter made several winning shots with his forehand but in the main lost more by errors. Bold smashed well on frequent visits to the net, and at the interval was definitely on top. Upon resumption, Mayson began to hit a better length ball, going to the net more often to place Bold on the defensive. The fifth set sparkled briefly when Mayson led at 5-3, Bold picking up two almost certain winners close to the net to make the score 5-4 after Mayson had the match point. It was a contest noted for steady play rather than its brilliant rallies, neither playing having consistent length and being more content. to play a base-line duel. Painter, the North Island cham-

pion. who was not seeded in the draw, eliminated Bedford, an Auckland seeded player, in four sets. Painter always impressed more than Bedford, who allowed doubtful umpire decisions to unset him more than necessary. Bedford lacked length and there was only one result. Painter swung Ihe ball about admirably from forehand to backhand and always appeared to have control of the contest, as his opponent was more content to remain on the defensive.

Edwards (Hutt Valley;, winner of the New Zealand title in 1939, had an easy straight-set victory over Renouf (Wellington). The latter won one

game in the first set, two in the second and one in the third. These losses, so far as Edwards was concerned, were mostly a result, of his being able to take risks and afford a few concessions in points. Edwards was very accurate with placements to both corners, and it was only his driving over the side-lines that gave his opponent an occasional point.

The match in the afternoon between McKenzie (Hutt Valley) and Mrs. 9 McVav (Wellington* and Charters and Mrs. Graham (Hutt Valley) was watched by a large gallery. The fofrmer pair were too powerful, winning in straight, sets. Charters played too much on the defeensive and left a lot to his partner. Mrs. Graham served strongly at times and defended well with good lob returns. She stood too near the sideline when her partner was serving, thereby leaving the opposition plenty of open court in which to place volleys and smashes. LADIES’ DOUBLES CONTEST

An interesting contest took place on the main court between two pairs in the ladies’ doubles, Mrs. Hart and Mrs. Donnithorne (Canterbury) and Miss Potter (Auckland) and Mrs. Cyles (Wellington). The Canterbury

combination dominated the first set to v. in at 6-2. They led in the second 4-1 and looked likely to finish the match in straight sets A change in tactics by Miss Potior and Mrs. Gyles then placed a different, complexion on the set. They went to the net more often than formerly, and accurate

volleying and placing found gaps in the defence, with the result that they won 9-7. The Canterbury pair were again in the ascendancy after the interval and held a lead of 4-1, only to lose the next two games, chiefly through nettings from the base-line. Their opponents erred in uo- ’-aldug up a forward position ana netted o” outed from mid-court or base-line to leave Canterbury winning 6-3.

One of the most exciting doubles I seen.so far at the tournament was; that in which Robb and Painter (Wei- j lington) narrowly defeated the Auck-I land pair, D. P. Smith and Lusk, 4-6,; 6-2, 6-3, 7-5. "'here were many bril-! liant rallies in this contest, especially in the last set, when smshes to any cne of the players’ feet were picked up from short returns over the net. Smith and Lusk led 4-2 in the fourth set but could not hold off their opponents, who won the next two I games, lost the next, and won the fol- ' lowing two. In the eleventh game. • there were six deuces. i HELD GALLERY’S ATTENTION

Once again the last match of the day held the gallery’s attention, O. Boid (Hutt Valley) and Robson (Otago) just managing to last out in a marathon four sets which took 61 games to decide. The veteran pair, Hawkesworth (Wairarapa) and R. Ferkins (Wellington), put up an excellent performance to hold their .youthful opponents to such close scoring. Bold and Robson vied with each other in their smashing of the many lobs put up against them, and Ferkins brought off some magnificent retrieving shots after Hawkesworth had been lobbed, with both at the net. At times all four players were in the net area, until a well-directed lob sent one of the pair scurrying to the baseline. Although defeated, Hawkesworth and Ferkins were not disgraced

and it was a close call for the winners, who did not look as though the fifth set. would end in favour of them. The scoring was 6-3, 8-6, 9-11, 10-8. Results are:— MEN’S SINGLES

Third Round: Lusk (Auckand) beat Hayr (Auckand), 6-0, 6-0, 6-0; Livingstone (Waikato) beat Charters (Hutt Valley). 5-7, 3-6, 6-1, 6-3, 6-4; Edwards (Hutt Valley) beat Renouf (Wellington), 6-1, 6-2, 6-1; Hamilton (Wellington) beat Robinson (Auckland), 6- 6-4, 6-2; Painter (Wellington) beat Bedford (Auckland). 7-5, 3-6, 6-2. 7- Mayson (Auckland) beat. Bold (Hutt. Valley), 6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4: Robson (Otago)* heat Radonicn (Auckland), 6-2, 6-3, 6-2. LADIES’ SINGLES

Third Round: Miss Beverley (Waikato) beat Miss Kerr (Otago), 6-8, 6-2, 6-0; Mrs. Graham (Hutt Valley) beat Miss W. Smith (Northland), 6-2, 6-2; Miss Attwood (Auckland) beat Miss L. Adams (Auckland), 6-2, $6-1; Miss M. Adams (Auckland) beat Mrs. Donnithorne (Canterbury), 7-5, 6-3; , Mrs. Robb (Wellington) beat. Miss | Hansen (Auckland), 6-4, 2-6, 6-0; Mrs. Hart.(Canterbury) beat Miss Snelling' (Wellington), 7-5, 4-6. 6-2; Mrs. McVay (Wellington) beat Mrs. Kennedy ; (Hutt Valley), 6-0, 6-1; Miss Wallace (Auckland) beat ‘Miss Potter i (Auckland). 6-3. 6-3. MEN’S DOUBLES 1 Second Round: Bedford and Kerr- ' Taylor (Auckland) beat Williams and , Weston (Auckland). 6-2, 6-4, 6-2; P. Smith (Northland) and Barry (Auckland) beat Broun and Kelly (Auckland), 6-1, 6-2, 6-1; O. Bold (Hutt Valley) and Robson (Otago) beat Ferkins (Wellington) and Hawkesworth (Wairarapa), 6-3, 8-6, 9-11, 10-8; Livingstone and Roach (Wai-l-at.o> beat Sawyer and Litherlana (Auckland*. 6-1, 6-3, 6-4; Robb and Painter (Wellington) beat D. P. Smith and Lusk (Auckland). 4-6, 6-2, 6- 7-5. LADIES’ DOUBLES Third Round: Mrs. P. Smith (Auck’and) and. Miss Beverley (Waikato) beat Misses Johnson and Redwood (Auckland), 6-1, 6-1; Mesdames Donuithorne and Hart (Canterbury) beat Mrs. Gyles (Hutt Valley) and Miss Potter (Auckland), 6-2, 7-9, 6-3; Mrs. Robb and Miss Snelling (Wellington) beat Misses M. and L. Adams (Auckland), 6-1, 7-5. COMBINED DOUBLES Third Round: Gunn (Auckland) and Miss Beverley (Waikato) beat Barry and Mrs. Smith (Auckland), 7- 6-3; McKenzie (Hutt Valley) and Mrs. McVay (Wellington) beat Charters and Mrs. Graham (Hutl. Valley), 6-2, 6-3.