LAWN TENNIS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 6 July 1925, Page 6

LAWN TENNIS.

WIMBLEDON TOURNAMENT. LONDON, Saturday. At Wimbledon in the semi-final of the men’s doubles, Borotra and Laeoste beat Morpurgo and Kehrling, 11/9, 7/9, 6/1, 6/1. It was a fierce battle of volleying, with all four at the net. Borotra once hit the ball clean through the net, the referee awarding him the point. The position was not realised until the end of the game, when a now net was erected. Borotra and Kehrling stood out. The former sometimes smashed from the baseline. The pace slowed after the first two gruelling sets, the Continentals deteriorating. Laeoste served brilliantly throughout. In the semi-final of the women’s doubles, Mile. Lenglen and Miss Ryan beat Mrs. Beamish and Miss Clarke, 6/0, 6/2. Mixed doubles. —Semi-final: Morpurgo and Miss Ryan beat Wheatley am Miss Lambert Chambers 9/7, 6/4. ■Men's doubles. — Semi-final: Hennessey and Casey beat Brugnon and Cochet, 7/5, 5/7, 9/7, 6/4. Men’s siugles.—Final: Laeoste beat Borotra 6/3, 6/3, 4/6, S/6. The. weather was overcast. The attendance was large, including His Majesty tiie King. In the mixed doubles the Britishers were within a point of set when they were 6/5. Wheatley was splendid all round except for «a tendency to doublefault. Miss Ryan’s net work was excellent 1 ut Miss Chambers was better on the base line. The second set produced brilliant tennis, of which Morpurgo’s groundwork and Wheatley’s smashing were the features. The struggle between the Americans and French in the men’s doubles was a ding-dong contest. The first four games went against the service, after which Casey got into his stride with his hurricane serving and won the games on his service to 5/5. The second set was almost a repetition of the first. In the third there was some brilliant net play, and racquet to racquet volleying. The fourth, was won from four all. Hennessey excelled in forearm strokes, and Casey in serving. The French were superior i noverhead play. The mixed doubles games was tame. Mile. Lenglen played with her usual brilliancy. In the ladies’ doubles Mrs. Beamish and Miss C-larko were outclassed; It appears' Borotra’« through-the-net shot, if observed, would have given the Continentals the set. Tiicy were 40 love and leading 5/4 in the first set. Borotra lost tho singles title to a better tactician. With the exception of infrequent excursions, Laeoste’s more accurate baseline play kept the holder from the net. Borotra was erratic in opening, mistiming his strokes, whereas Laeoste was very steady, particularly on the backhand. Borotra was many times foot-faulted. The first and second sets were marked by brilliant rallies, which had their climax in superb passing shots, Borotra, when serving, again made a hole in the net, though the ball did not pass through. The net was changed at the end of the set.

The champion recovered last year's dash in the. third set, though he was kept running to the 'baseline. In the fourth Lacoste continued to exploit baseline play with almost mathematical accuracy. He led 4/1 and then tho champion levelled at 4/4. Lacoste won against the. service and then on his own for the match. In the final of the ladies’ double 1 ' Mile, Lenglen and Miss Ryan beat Mrs. Bridge and Mrs. Mdlyuhain, 6/2, 6/2. —Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn. THE DAVIS CUP. ' HAVANA, Saturday. In the Davis Cup competition, Manuel Alonzo (Spain) defeated Banef (Cuba) 6/4, 6/1, 6/1. Flaquer (Spain) defeated Paris (Cuba) 6/3, 6/3, 6/2. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn,