TENNIS SCENE

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19457, 22 December 1934, Page 4

TENNIS SCENE

MENZEL IN BRISBANE. CROWD CALLED CANNIBALS. * A Australia this year has had a plethora of lawn tennis players, attracted mainly by the national championships, forming part of the Melbourne Centenary sporting features. British, South African, French, Italian, 'Spanish,, and 'Czechoslovakian representatives are matching racquets with Australian champions. 'Roderick Menzel, the Czechoslovakian, is one of these, writes the Sydney correspondent of the Wellington Post. So far in Australia Menzel has not reproduced his best European form. Handicapped by an initial ankle injury, Menzel has found Australian conditions unsuitable both to his play and his temperament. He is 6ft 3in iD height and of angular build. His movements on the court and some of his strokes are unorthodox, and Iris peculiarities have often excited the laughter of the crowds. Reacted on Temperament, This in turn has reacted on Menzel’s temperament, and / his tantrums have at times earned him the hostility of sections of the crowds before whom he has played. At his appearances

during the New South Waie* championships in Sydney recently, there were several “incidents” with Menzel as the chief actor, and once after a vain protest to officials, he threatened “to take the next boat home.” It was left to the Brisbane crowd to stage a really hostile demonstration against Menzel at an exhibition tournament there last week-end. The laughing, jeering, and booing of portion of the 2000 spectators so upset Menzel that he exclaimed: “They are cannibals! I cannot play with them carrying on like this!” “I have never in all my experience of tennis crowds encountered anything quite so bad,” said Menzel afterwards. Maier, the Spaniard, also deplored the disgraceful exhibition, but he said that the trouble was that Menzel did not understand the Brisbane crowd, whereas the crowd did not appreciate the fact that Menzel was perhaps the most temperamental player In big tennis.

The crowd was particularly amused when a crying baby in the stand earned Menzel's disapproval. The spectacle of the 6ft 3in giant stopping play and asking that the baby should be removed was responsible for roars of laughter. Menzel seemed to ignore the early laughter, hut in the doubles with Maier he showed resentment in no uncertain manner. Even applause during rallies caused .him/ to ejaculate in hy> own language, and when the crowd again laughed he appealed to the umpire and made his remarks about cannibals to an official, lie was obviously distressed, and Maier’s concentration was also affected, 'but a portion of the crowd made no allowance. 'A number whistled.

and uncomplimentary epithets were directed at Menzel. Reminiscent of Prague. “Mr Youdale. manager of the Australian Davis Cup team, said recently that the ’Czechoslovakian crowds upset Crawford and others in Prague," said Menzel in an interview later, “but I say definitely the crowds at Prague and Paris cannot be compared with the crowd to-day. We have been invited to Australia, and are anxious to reveal our best form. Yet the orowd will not let jus. They will not even show us any respect. It is Impossible to concentrate while they are whistling and howling." Mr C. A. Edwards, who was umpiring during Menzel’s two matches, said that the crowd, with the exception of a few irresponsibles, who were to be found everywhere, did not behave in a manner likely to upset 'Menzel and Maier. Menzel seemed to think the crowd was against him, but aotually they cheered him Just as heartily as they did Moon and Cummings, the Queensland players. While the laughing was to be regretted, because it undoubtedly affected all placers on the court, much of it could not be avoided, for the visitors had mannerisms which sometimes were amusing.”