TOPS THE SEEDINGS

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30979, 8 February 1966, Page 19

TOPS THE SEEDINGS

The British Davis Cup player, R. Taylor, who did so well to beat F. Stolle, of Australia in a semi-final of the Wills international tennis tournament at Auckland at the weekend. heads the seedings for the Gold Leaf tournament at Wilding Park this week.

Before the week-end Taylor was still a doubtful entry for the Christchurch tournament but confirmation of his entry was received yesterday and his Auckland performance and the fact that he was also runner-up for the New Zealand title earlier in the month gave him top seed. Taylor played second to M. Sangster of the English Davis Cup singles last year and. although his ranking was fourth for 1964 be should be up to second or third now.

It is obvious the Canterbury association is hoping for a Taylor-L. A. Gerrard final. Although he lost to the leading Chilean, P. Rodriguez, in the Auckland tournament. Gerrard has been given second seed and Rodriguez third.

There is more basis for this than any hope for a New Zealander in the final. When Gerrard suffered cramp in the Auckland match he was in control and looking set for a win. Also. Gerrard was the winner of the same tournament in Christchurch • last year when he beat the

Frenchman; P. Dann on in the final. The Spanish junior, Jose Gisbert, brother of the Davis Cup player, Juan. Gisbert, has the fourth seed and the other four are New Zealanders.

One defection from the players who were thought to be coming at the end of last week is the British West Indies champion, R. Russell, who has returned home from Auckland.

Heading the women’s singles field is the Australian Universities leading woman. Miss A. Jenkins, a semi-finalist in both the New! Zealand championships and i in the Wills tournament at; Auckland. Second is Roderi-| guez’s wife, formerly Miss! Michele Boulle, of France. Taylor was a beaten finalist in all three sections of the Auckland invitation tourna- j inent on Sunday. The doubles here could bring another interesting clash between Taylor and Roderiguez, seeded first, and Gerrard and his young partner, B. E. Fairlie, seeded second. The visitors won the semi-final at Auckland before losing to Emerson and Stolle. Entries for the five section are:—Men’s singles 20, [women's singles 16, men's ll, women's doubles :eight, and mixed doubles 16. i The tournament committee ; intends to arrange its proI gramme so that one or two • feature matches are played ion Thursday and Friday in 'the lunch period from noon

until 2 p.m. All finals will be held on Sunday. Seedings are:— Men's Singles.—R. Taylor (England) 1, L. A. Gerrard (Auckland) 2, P. Roderiguez (Chile) 3, J. Gisbeijt (Spain) 4, J. B. Souter (Wellington) 5, R. N. Hawkes (Wellington) S, J. Lockington (Auckland) 7. R. G. Clarke (Wellington) 8. Women's Singles.—Miss A. Jenkins (Australia) 1, Mrs M. Rodriguez (France) 2, Mrs E. Stephan (Auckland) 3. Miss S Clement (Auckland) 4. Men's Doubles.—Taylor and Roderiguez I, Gerrard and B. E. Fairlie (Auckland) 2, Gisbert and P. Beecroft (Auckland) 3, Souter and Clarke 4. Women’s Doubles.—Mrs Roderiguez and Miss Jenkins 1. Miss Clement and Mrs Stephan 2. Miss D. Smith and Mrs M. Rennie 3. Misses J. Bishop and M. Greeniwood 4. ! Mixed Doubles.—Roderiguez land Mrs Roderiguez 1. Gerrard [and Mrs Stephan 2. Hawkes and i Miss Jenkins 3. Gisbert and Miss i Clement 4. Draws for singles: Men's Singles Top Half. —Taylor a bye: .1 , Martin (Canterbury) bye: Beecroft bye; Souter v. L. W. Watkins (Canterbury): I. Stanton (Canterbury) v. J. Mitchell (Canterbury): J. Lockington bye: P. Angland (Canterbury) bye: Roderiguez bye. Bottom Half. —Gisbert bye: L. Legge (Canterbury) bye; Clarke bye: R. McCutcheon (Canterbury) v. B. Fairlie (Auckland): Hawkes bye: W. Lewthwaite (Canterbury) bye; B. Crofts (Canterbury) bye: Gerrard bye. Women's Singles Miss Jenkins v. Miss R. Legge (Canterbury); Mrs B. Leopold 'Canterbury) v. Miss D. Smith (Canterbury): Miss J. Habgood (Canterbury) v. Miss S. Field (Canterbury); Miss- C. Andrew (Canterbury) v. Mrs Stephan: Miss Clement v. Mrs P. Boatwood (Canterbury): Mrs Rennie v. Mrs L. Buxton (Canterbury): Miss M. Greenwood (England) v Miss R. Dillon (Canterbury): Miss Bishop v. Mrs Roderiguez.