SEMI-FINALISTS FOUND

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 9, 11 January 1946, Page 6

SEMI-FINALISTS FOUND

TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS AT AUCKLAND EXCELLENT PROGRESS MADE (PA.) Auckland. Jan. 10. The fine weather which has prevailed almost throughout the week has enabled the officials controlling the New Zealand lawn tennis championship tournament at the Stanley Street courts to make excellent progress. The result is that the finals of the combined doubles will be played to-morrow afternoon and semi-finals in all other events will be decided during the day. This will leave only the finals in the men’s and ladies’ singles and the men’s and ladies' doubles to be played on Saturday.

There was another very large attendance at the courts to-day. In view ol the bigger crowds expected to-morrow and Saturday a large auxiliary stand was erected by voluntary labour last evening alongside the No. 2 court. Her Excellency, Lady Newall, wife of the Governor-General, accompanied by Miss Walton, attended for two hours this morning and enjoyed the tennis. She witnessed the only surprise in the quarterfinals of the men’s singles, the defeat of Brown (Canterbury) by Roach (Waikato) after a five-set contest. Lusk (Auckland) did well to take the first set from McKenzie (Hutt Valley), the latter being perhaps the most favoured aspirant' for the title. Painter (Wellington) and Gunn (Auckland) won their respective matches in straight sets against Robson (Otago) and Hamilton (Wellington).

In the semi-finals of the men’s singles, McKenzie will play Roach and Painter will meet Gunn. The semi-finals of the ladies’ championship will be played between Miss Beverley (Waikato) and Miss Attwood (Auckland) and Mrs. Robb and Mrs. McVay, both of Wellington. The following were the results of to-day’s matches:— MEN’S SINGLES Quarter-finals: McKenzie (Hutt Valley) beat Lusk (Auckland), 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4; Roach (Waikato) beat Brown (Canterbury), 6-2, 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1; Gunn (Auckland) beat Hamilton (Wellington), 6-1, 8-6. 6-1; Painter (Wellington) beat Robson (Otago). 6-3, 6-1, 6-4. MEN’S DOUBLES Quarter-finals: McKenzie and Edwards (Hutt Valley) beat Bedford and Kerr-Taylor (Auckland), 6-3, 6-0, 6-0; Mayson and Gunn (Auckland) beat Smith (Northland) and Barry (Auckland). 6-0, 6-1, 4-6. 6-4; Bold (Hutt Valley) and Robson (Otago) beat Renouf and O’Connor (Wellington), 4-6, 6-3, 9-7, 6-3; Robb and Painter (Wellington) beat Roach and D. Livingstone (Waikato), 6-1, 6-8, 4-6, 6-2. COMBINED DOUBLES

Semi-finals: Gunn (Auckland) and Miss M. Beverley (Waikato) beat Bold (Hutt Valley) and Mrs. Hart (Canterbury). 5-7, 6-3, 6-2; McKenzie (Hutt Valley) and Mrs. McVay (Wellington) beat Mayson and Miss Attwood (Auckland), 6-3, 6-2. LUSK ELIMIN ATED

Another large gallery was present lor the first match of the day, between McKenzie (Hutt Valley) and Lusk (Auckland), the former winning 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-;. In the first ret Lusk set about his task with plenty of vigour and after the score was 3-all he outplayed McKenzie with good length drives to either hand. Lusk’s backhand obtained excellent length and with the heavy cut h* 1 applied to the ball he had McKenzie worried. Neither player seemed inclined to come into the net and the set went to Lusk mainly on a baseline duel. In the second set Lusk was still playing well but McKenzie was beginning to play better. His drives were obtaining better length and he varied this by visits to the net to smash decisively. Lusk’s service, which had been a source of strength to his attack, began to go off, and by missing with the first ball he allowed McKenzie to come in with forceful forehand drives. The Hutt player assumed a commanding lead end, playing with confidence, took the set 6-2. McKenzie took complete charge in the third set as Lusk tired.

His forehand drives allowed him to smash winners at the net, even though Lusk’s backhand on occasions still caused him some difficulty in returning a heavily-cut ball. McKenzie soon assumed a 5-1 lead in the final set, though in attempting to speed the finish up he made a number of errors, allowing Lusk to come up. to 5-3. At this stage McKenzie had two match points, which Lusk saved to take another game. The ninth game went to McKenzie on his service without much trouble, and a very interesting game ended at 6-4. McKenzie meets J. Roach (Waikato) in the semi-final. Painter won in straight sets from the 19-year-old Otago representative, Robson. The latter started nervously and could do little right, with the result that Painter ran to a 5-love lead. After his poor beginning Robson suddenly got right on to his game and won three in a row. His length was excellent, and he passed his opponent with brilliant placements, both straight down the sidelines and across the court. The ninth game went, to Painter for the first set. Robson could do little correctly in the earlier stages of the second set. and he was again down love-5, Painter eventually winning with tne loss of but one game. The Otago youth gave his best exhibition at the opening of the third set. He displayed a good variety of shots in taking the first three games. His well-disguised angle returns left his opponent helpless. Unfortunately, Robson could not sustain his effort and, as in the preceding sets, he lapsed into inconsistency in regard to direction, length and height. Painter drew level at 3-all and after 4-all had been called Painter won the following two games for set and match. Painter's anticipation was excellent and he covered the court, in effortless manner. He played both forehand and backhand shots gracefully, and the points that were recorded against him were mostly the result of strokes which would have left most champions standing. SELDOM BRILLIANT The contest in which Roach (Waikato) eliminated Brown (Canterbury) seldom reached brilliant heights. For the most part the players were very careful, being content LG pat the bah back instead of putting vigour into their drives. In the first tnree sets there was very little net-

work, the pair being content to remain near the baselines. Brown made many good placements with his opponent out of position and lobbed well when Roach advanced to the net. When the match was transferred to No. 1 court similar cautious tactics were adopted. Roach took the lead at a vitai stage in the fourth set to lead 3-2. Brown played some indifferent tennis from then on. He lost the set at 4-6, and in the deciding set won only one game, the sixth. In this he struck a really brilliant patch but otherwise he netted easy returns or over-hit. His form puzzled the spectators and was much below expectations. He was too tired to chase returns very often. Gunn (Auckland) defeated Hamilton (Wellington) in straight sets in a match which Gunn dominated practically throughout, although Hamilton fought back extremely well in the second set, which he lost 6-8. He found difficulty in returning forehand drives which Gunn placed to the corner of either hand. Gunn now meets Painter in the semi-final and the North Island champion will have an opportunity of playing him which was denied Painter when Gunn defaulted to him In the semi-finals of that tournament at Hastings. DEVASTATING OVERHEAD As expected, McKenzie and Edwards (Hutt Valley) had matters all their own wav in defeating the Auckland pair, Bedford and Kerr-Taylor, in straight sets. The winners dominated play throughout with beautifullength ground strokes, wh\le overhead they were devastating. Bedford and Kerr-Taylor were hopelessly outclassed, having no answer to the superb combination of the winners. McKenzie and Edwards were up in the net area at every possible opportunity, presenting an unbroken front, which was extremely difficult to pierce. Short lobs were quickly dealt with and the Hutt pair look to be in a class by themselves. The score-sheet in the men’s doubles match between Bold (Hutt Valley) and Robson (Otago) and Renouf and O’Connor, both of Wellington, really tells the story of their four-set contest. Every point, every game and each set had to be fought for. There was some excellent volleying bv all four. Bold lobbed well to the back line when his opponents advanced to the net. Renouf’s smashing was very good. Bold was inclined to do too much, frequently invading his young partner’s court. ' SMASHED A RACKET

Robb and Painter (Wellington) defeated Roach and Livingstone (Waikato) after live strenuous sets. In the first set the Wellington pair played orthodox tennis, pulling in some very effective volleying al the net. The Waikato combination played to Robb in the second set and tossed up a number of good-length lobs from the base-line. In smashing one of these Robb broke a racket, but having to use a new one did not affect his play, which appeared to improve if anything. Robb struck a good length in the third set while Painter, who played solidly throughout the whole contest, brought off many spectacular half-volleys from smashes. Roach played best of the Waikato pairr and as the contest advanced into the fifth set his volleying and smashing were particularly good, especially on the backhand. Robb and Fainter were superior in the concluding stages, Roach and Livingstone •saving five match points before the end came.

Mayson and Gunn had a very easy win over P. Smith (Northland) and Barry (Auckland), even though they lost the third set 6-4. In the first two sets they outclassed their young opponents, who lacked mobility despite their youth and left many openings of which Mayson and Gunn look full advantage. In the third set Gunn and Mayson appeared to slacken their efforts and lost tne set when it seemed that by keeping up the previous pace they might have finished the contest in three sets. Il was dull, uninteresting tenn’s and witli no question about the result at any time. This particular match was marred by many doubtlui decisions and wrong calling by the umpire. INCESSANT ATTACK Gunn (Auckland) and Miss Beverley (Waikato) entered the final of the combined doubles when they defeated Bold (Hutt Valley) and M/s. Hart (Canterbury). The first set Was the best, Bold and Mrs. Hart attacking incessantly, especially to Miss Beverley, who was not always able to return their severe drives and Boids smashes. From the second set onwards, Gunn became the dominant figure and, well backed up by Ills partner, the pair clinched the match at. 6-2. In the third set, Bold and Mrs. Hart fought hard right to the end, but they could make no impression on their worthy opponents.

McKenzie (Hutt Valley) and Mrs. McVay (Wellington) gave Mayson

and Miss Attwood (Auckland) no quarter to beat them without difficulty. Neither Mayson nor Miss Attwood could keep McKenzie a wav from the net, and with Mrs. McVay" backing up splendidly two sets were completed in quick time. The winners will now meet Gunn and Miss Beverley in the final