Tennis Topics.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XII, Issue IX, 3 March 1894, Page 198

Tennis Topics.

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'VANTAGE.'

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES. SINCE last week the following matches have been played off: — LADIES’. Miss Mowbray beat Miss Frost, 6—2, 6—l. Mrs Chapman beat Miss Rookes, 6-0, 6—o. This now leaves Mrs Chipman to play in the semi-final with the winner of Missßull—Miss Mowbray match. Whichever way it may result, the contest between these three remaining ladies will be close and exciting. MrsChapman’sand Miss Bull’s style of game is in many respects similar. Both have great persistency, and get back hard strokes astonish-

ingly. On this year’s form, however, I look to Miss Bullas the winner, should she be called on to meet Mrs Chapman. But before that happens Miss Bull has to play Miss Mowbray. Even here—bearing in mind the splendid tennis she exhibited in the match against Miss Nicholson—l am inclined to think Miss Bull will come out winner. Mies Mowbray is an experienced match player, but anyone who saw the match between Miss Bull and Miss Nicholson must have been struck with the almost faultless judgment and tactics shown by the winner. Whoever wins will only do so by a margin. MEN’S SINGLES. The second round had been completed when my last notes were printed, leaving Elliott, Gillies, Stevenson,

and Harrison to play off in the third round. The results of this left Gillies (who beat Elliott) to play Stevenson (who beat Harrison). This match was playid at the Eden lawns on Saturday, Gillies winning, 6—5, 6—4, 7—5. It is to be regretted that both a strong breeze and

bad umpiring should have prevailed to the extent they did. I hope the Association will make the latter an impossibility in the final to be played next Saturday. I don’t think that Gillies would have lost even in calm weather and with the other arrangements perfect, but this particular match was robbed of much of its interest for the reasons given. Gillies’ service and well-judged lobbing scored him repeated aces, while Stevenson’s good length returns won for him frequently. The obviously incorrect decision given against him when, in the second set, he was 4 to his opponent's 3 and 40 30 (a ticklish point in a set), seemed to upset him, his game, which had been steadily improving, becoming from this on careless and weak. The final to be plaved at Eden and Epsom grounds at 2.30 on Saturday afternoon will be a good match. Gillies is the strongest opponent Hooper has yet had to meet in defence of his championship. Both men play with judgment, and know each other’s games exactly. I select Hooper as the winner, but with the probability of a five-set contest. FEILDING. The Feilding Courts presented quite a gay appearance on Saturday afternoon, a number of players and spectators being present to witness the match between Feilding and Halcombe. Some capital play was shown by the ladies and gentlemen of both clubs, and although it was generally thought that Halcombe would prove victorious, it turned out the reverse, as Feilding won by thirteen games. It was decided that the winners should be those who first won 9 games. The following are the scores :—

Feilding. Halcombe. Barton v. Mildred 9 2 Dyer v. Lance 7 9 Brabant v. Strachan 9 5 Richmond v. Hartgill 5 9 Barton and Dyer v. Lance and Mildred 9 4 Brabant and Richmond v. Strachan and 1 Hartgill / Miss w i.ks v. Mrs Hartgill 4 9 Miss A. Fry v. Miss Richards 9 2 Mrs Wilks and Miss Fry v. Mrs Hartgilll and Miss Richards / Totals 67 54