Gerrard Now N.Z.’s Last Hope

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30976, 4 February 1966, Page 3

Gerrard Now N.Z.’s Last Hope

(N.Z. Press Association)

AUCKLAND.

Only one New Zealander survived after the second round of the men’s singles in the" Wills international lawn tennis tournament at the Stanley street courts, Auckland, yesterday.

He is the former national champion. L. A. Gerrard, who will join four Australians, an Englishman, a Chilean and a Spaniard in the quarterfinals, which will be played today.

The other seven quarterfinalists are R. A. Emenron, F. S. Strife, R. Ruffris and P. Keller, all Australians, R. Taylor, of Britain, P. Rodriguez (Chile) and J. Gisbert (Spain). Overseas players featured in all eight of the men’s second round matches yesterday and only Gerrard was capable of registering victory against one of them* although J. E. Robson (Auckland) and J. B. Souter (Wellington) both went dose, going down after long fivesetters.

Gerrard eliminated the British West Indies player, R. Russell, after a four-set contest but never really looked as if he would lose the affair. He will meet Gisbert in the quarter-finals.

Robson had a great struggle with the Australian junior, Ruffris, who has just been named as a member of

the Australian touring team to play in Europe and the United States. Robson won the first set but Ruffris was too fast around the court and gained a 2-1 set advantage at the interval.

A refreshed Robson fought back to take the fourth set easily but he trailed ail the way in the fifth and final

set, although managing to level the score at 4-4. Souter had the edge in the early part of his contest against the Australian University player, P. Keller. He led two sets to one before

losing his grip on the game.

Souter threw away his chance of being the second New Zealander in the quar-ter-finals when he lost the fourth set after leading 4-1. Souter again had chances in the fifth set when he led 3-2 and 4-3 but Keller took command again.

R. G. Clarke, of Wellington, was another New Zealander who went close to winning but could not cope with the experience of his opponent, Rodriguez. Clarke took the first set

but once the Chilean decided to go for his shots in the next three it was a different story.

Five overseas players and three Aucklanders remained in the last eight of the women’s singles. They were the Wimbledon champion, Miss M. Smith, Misses L. Turner, A. Jenkins and K. Melville, all of Aus-

tralia, Mrs M. Rodriguez (France), Mesdames J. Bignell, E. Stephan and Miss B. Vercoe, all of Auckland.

Mrs Rodriguez had a long battle against Mrs Heather Robson (Auckland), before emerging the victor, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5. Results:—

MEN’S SINGLES First Round.—J. H. Lockington (Auckland) beat A. S. Burns (Auckland), 6-3, 3-6, 7-5. 6-3. Second Round.—R. A. Emerson (Australia) beat D. Simmonds (Auckland), 6-2, 7-5, 6-3: J. Gisbert (Spain) beat B. E. FacrMe (Auckland, 6-3, 7-5, 6-3; P. Rodriguez (Chile) beat R. G. Clarke (Wellington), 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-3; L. A. Gerrard (Auckland) beat R. RusseM (British West Indies), 7-5, 4-6, 6-0, 6-1; R. Taylor (BM-

tain) beat Lockington, 6-4, 6-2, 6-0: R. Ruffels (Australia) beat J. E Robson (Auckland), 2-6, 6- 6-1, 1-6, 6-4: P. Keller (Australia) beat J. B. Souter (Wellington), 3-6, 2-6, 6-3. 8-6, 7- F. S. Sto-lle (Australia) beat B. Young (Auckland), 8-6, 6-3, 6-3.

WOMEN'S SINGLES First Round.—Miss M. Smith (Australia) beat Miss A. Glenie (Auckland). 6-1, 6-0; Mrs E. Stephan (Auckland) beat Miss H. Ward (North Shore). 6-1, 6-1; Miss A. Jenkins (Australia) beat Miss C. Fleming (Auckland), 10-6, 6-2; Mrs M. Rodrtguez (France) beat Mrs H. Robson (Auckland, 6-1, 3-6, 6-5; Mrs J. Bignell (Auckland) beat Miss S. Clement (North Shore), 3-6. 6-4, 6-5: Miss B. Vercoe (Auckland) beat Miss P. Rogan (North Shore), 6-3. 6-3; Miss L. Turner (Australia) beat Miss M. McKegg (Northland). 6-2, 6-3: Miss K. Melville (Australia) beat Miss Deirdre Kerr-Taylor (Auckland), *6-2, 6-0.

MEN’S DOUBLES First Round. —Emerson and StoCle beat R. J. Keenan and Young, 6-2, 6-2, 6-3: K. Long and D. Cassidy beat C. Pascoe and B. Wong. 6-1, 6-3, 6-0: P. B. Becroft and E. D. White beat F. Schwanner and I. Beverley, 3-6, 6-3, 6-0, 6-4; Russell and Gisbert beat Souter and Clarke, 5-7, 2-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-4.

MIXED DOUBLES First Round. —Hawkes and Mss Melvitte beat Fair-lie and Mrs Bigneii. 3-6, 6-2, 6-3; Robson and Mrs Robson beat J. Fergusson and Miss McKegg, 6-0, 6-2; Keller and Miss Jenkins beat Burns and Miss Glenie, 6-2, 7 ’ s ’ WOMEN’S DOUBLES First Round.—Misses Smith and Turner beat Misses KerrTaylor and Ward. 6-2, 6-1.