SCIENCE AND FUN

Chronicle (Levin), 5 February 1947, Page 2

SCIENCE AND FUN

Visit by Davis Cup Stars WELLINGTON, Feb. 4. Brilliant tennis was seen this nrorning on the Mitehell Parlc courts, Lower Hutt, and it was made all the more enjoyable by the fact that it was mingled with a certain amount of badinage and by-play. The occasion was the flying visit of the American donbles cham- ] -.pions and Davis Cup representatives Gardnar Mulloy and Billy Talbert. The visitors were see'11 in singles and doubies matehes against selected New Zealand opponents. The conditions for the exhibition could not have1 been oetter. The weather was line, warm and cairn, and the court, though firmly carpeted with grass, was very fast. Though the exhibition was staged at an awkward time for a working population it attracted an exceptionally j large gallery. Hundreds of cars were S parked near the cougts and a lengthy j queue waited outside the gates when 1 the Americans arrived shortly after I 10.30 a.m. The original arrangements l had provided for the visitors arriving last evening after flying from Aus1 tralia via Auckland. However, they ] spent last night at New Plymouth, : whence they flew to Wellington this j morning. They were due to leave , i again this afternoon for Auckland to j I resume their trip home. While the 1 j spectators were waiting for the Ameri- | cans to change, a brief but entertain- ! ing exhibition was givcn by the New Zealand champions, O. M. Bold and G. j | llobson, against R. S. McKenzie and J. j ■ Gunn. . | McKenzie and Gunn then took the; court against Mulloy and Talbert. Talbert, the comedian of the party, enter- | tained the crowd with some unortho1 dox strokas during the preliminary j knock-up amd later 011 his asides, mami ly at the eAje'hse of the baii-boys, kupt. the crowd^i a rare humour. Mulloy also showjt that he had a humorous strain in M|m, and he nearly brought the house 'ilbwn when he repeated nis j much publicised remark to a linesman, "Did the dust get m your eyes?" McKenzie opened his service with the sun at his baclt and took the iirst game for -the loss oi only one point due to a double fault. Mulloy started his service with a double, but with the score standing at 0 — 40 he unloosed four scorching services. The Americans then linished off the game after a brisk I raily. The New Zealanders recovered to 30 all after (lropping ilie nrst two points 011 Gunn 's service, but that was ns fnr as t.hfiv c.ftiihl »>n. Talbert took

his game to 15, liuishiug with an ace at Gunn 's expense. klcKenzie continued to win his service, and . Gunn also had oue success on service, but the set went to the Americans 6 — -4. The visitors also took the second set 6 — 3. The two New Zealanders, who may be the strongest doubies combination available in tlxis country at present, gave a really iy'st-class performauce. There was 110 doubt that they were.outgunned, and when it came to a pinch the Americans were generally able td collect what points they needed. 1 All the sarne, both Gunn, who gave one of his best displays, and McKenzie frequentlv delighted the crowd and scorod off their opponents by brilliant stroke play. They both volleycd well, * and, when the rare opportunity come, liit smashes foi* winuers. Ouce, with Mulloy serving, the Americans tried the tandem formation, but McKenzie scored a clean winner straight dovvn the line before Talbert could get across to cut off his return.

High-speed Singles. | When Muiioy aua Talbert commenced their singles exhibition one ixnmediate difference from the staudard New Zealand singles game was imniediateiy apparent. This was the speed at which tiie play took jjiace. Though liit with apparenlly effortless ease, the "ba.ll crossed and re-crossed the net at treniendous pace. Not only that, it was hit with remarkable accuracy iu resjject to both lengtli and direction. Time after time cualk rose 111 the air as the ball hit either side line or bas.e line. Generally it skimmed the net with only an inch or two to spare, and iu these circumstances any attempt to approach the net was extreniely hazardoUs for either player. Another factor affecting this department of the game was thgt Mulloy and Talbert are old acquaintances on the court. Naturally it was difiicult i'or one to outwit the other. Nevertheless, there were odd occasions vvheu an approach to the net was made and which often led to " a neat drop shot or a crisp volley. One impressive feature was the fact that both Americans sliowed ability to hit 4lie ball with equal facilitv on either wiug. The backliand was hit i vs'itli the same fluency as the forehand and with the same controi over the , ball. Also noticeable ivas the manner l in which n.anv scorching drives hit to ! the corners were retr'ieved, by a com- | bination of speed, anticipatioii aiid3 rcacli. Both the Americans are coinparatively long-limbed. Tajbert took the (irst set for the loss of three games, and in the second stet liir recov ereu ! after failing 0 — 3, to win at 7 — 5. ,