LAWN TENNIS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 700, 28 December 1909, Page 6

LAWN TENNIS.

CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT. FIRST DAY'S PLAY. (By Tolegraph.—Press Association.) V Auckland, Decemher 27. Tho New Zealand Lawn Tennis Asso ciation's twenty-fourth annual champion ship tournament was oponed at the Edei and Epsom Club's ground to-day. Th weather was agreeable for tho morning* play,; but in the afternoon tho sky va overcast, and a strong south-wester in terfored somewhat with the competitors Tho courts woro in excellent order. Not withstanding the' many- counter-attrac tions, the attendance was large through out tho day.' Tho management of thi tournament; was well carried out. / largo -number of matches wsro got off and providing tho rain keeps off it ii practically certain that all the event will be finished by Wednesday afternoon For tho most, part the best players wer< dTawn to meet 1 the inferior, and, in con sequence, thert;. were few exciting con tests. In the rumen's singles the closesl game was between S. Upton (presenl Auckland champion), and G. S. Prouse of Wellington. Both: players kept on ;th( baekline throughout, And the spectator! were, treated.-..t0 ■'a . lively exhibition of hard' driving. :,; Uptbn gradually ■ wore his man 1 down, and annexed the fifth sel easily.-",- •• - - ■'. A. • F. Wilding had an easy win from ono of'the local, leading players, W. A Brown. The champion took things c little easily,in the first set, and his-op-ponent secured a couple -of games. Tht last two sets were taken very easily by the Christchurch player. Grossman,' one of Auckland's" leading exponents, easily disposed of F. Wilding, sen., in straight sets. Blair, Brown, Hawkins, and Fisher (the Wellington cracks) all had comfortable wins, and displayed good l form.: Peacock's game was erratic. He 'will require to steady' down a lot to meet. with_firrther successes. In the ladies' singles Miss Nunneley has reached the semi-final. Miss A. Gray and Miss R. Wellwood had a strenuous struggle, the former just managed to win. ■ In the men's doubles; Harman' and Collins had' ;an' easy victory in ' the first round, but went out. badly in the second a.d: The Wildings are'in. the semi- , and will, probably -have a closo match - with Brown and Blair. - Keith and Miss Grav had an interesting. tiittls for the first two sets with H. •Browii;and Miss R. : Wellwood. The Auckland ,pair got-away with the final set easily, . : The' following are', the details of the Play:— Hen's Championship Singles. First Round. Webber beat Duthio, -6—4, 9—7. 6-4 9-7, 3-6, 6-2. , h. Peacock: beat,. Shirriffs, ■ 6—3, • 6—2, 3—6. 6 —3. * ' ;• . ; ' ' . .'' Robson beat Maddison, 6—2, 6—l, 6—o.' Blair, beat Mowbray, 6—3, 6—2, 6—2. • A. F. Wilding beat W.: A. Brown, 6r-2, 6—o, 6 —o. • . Hanna beat Smith, 4—6, 6—3, 6—4, G—4; H.: W. Brown beat A. Hickson,- 7—5, 6-rl, 6— v Grossman beat-E. Wilding, senr., 6—2.: 6 —3, 6 —o. • -. • F. M.vß.. Fisher ,beat T. R. Grigson, 6-0, 6-r2, 3-6, fr-1. . " : - S. Upton beat G. Prouso, 6—li 6-4. 1-6,2-^6,6-2. Hawkins-beat Hunt, 6—l, 6—3, 6—l. - Henderson, a byo from QuilL Ebbett beat Black, G-70, 6—4, 6—2. - Ladies' Champiorunip Singles. First Round.' ' ' ' 1 : Miss.Travers boat Miss G. Gorrie, 6 —4. ' ' , ■Miss Williams beat Miss Dimant, 6—3, 6-1. Miss Nunneley bea; Miss M. Cooper, G—o, - G—l. ■ ■ Miss Powdrell-'beat Miss P. Gorrie. 6 —o,■ G —l. . . - 1 .. •"•Miss Baird beat Miss B. Cock, 6-4. 4 —6, 6 —3. • • • ' Miss A Gray beat Miss R. Wellwood. l 4 —6, 6—4, 6 —4. Miss Batham beat Miss K. Braithwaite. 6-2, 6-3. . Miss',' E.v Wellwood beat" Mrs. Cooper, B—6, 6—4. .-•'.■ : " . ' Second Round, i Miss,-Nunneley-beat Miss '.E. Wellwood, 6 —l, 6—2. •. . ' .. Miss Nunneley is riow in'the semi-final of this event. .' , ! ' Men's' Championship Doubles, ' First Round. . Moody- and Robson beat Baker and Black,■ 6—3,. B—6, 7—5., ■ Harman and Collins: beat Hiinna arid Hunt, 7-5, G-3, 6-4. ; . ; ' Mowbray and Duthie beat Ebbett and Webber, 6-3, 6-3,' 5 —7, G—l. i; Dr. Keith ..and Heather beat W. . A. Brown and A. Upton, 6—4, (?—2, 6—4. ; F. Wilding, and A. F- Wilding beat H. Henderson : arid Maddison, 6—o, 640, 6—3. • :Eisher«and Peacock'beat Shirriffs'and Smith, 6-0, G-0, G—l. . :J:, ,■ Grjgson and Alan Brown boat Jlorpelh and Hawkins, 6—4, 4—6, 6—2, 6—3. H. W. Brown and Blair' beat Hickson and Grossinari,"lo—B, 6—3. ; . ' ' Second Round. Fi Wilding and A.' F. Wilding beat Dr. ICcTtlTarid. Heather, 9—-7, 6—4, 6—l. sT&ody and Robson . beat Haxman and, Couins, 6—3, 6—2, 6—2. < Ladles' Championship Doubles. First Round. .. ; .' , ; . Sfisses Gray and Powdrell beat Misses P. Qprrio and M. Cooper, 6—o, 6—l. Misses Nunnoley and Braithw-aite beat Misses Baird and E. Welhtood, 7—5, 6—3. • Mrs. ' Cooper' and Miss Williams .beat luisscs Eva Wellwood and E. Imnc, 6—4, 6 —l. ■ • ■ 1 Combined Championship Doubles. - ' - - , 'First Round! , Miss Braithwaite and'-. Peacock heat Miss M. Cooper and Hunt, 6—l, 6—3. . Miss Travels and Fisher, beat, Miss P. Gorrie and Heather, 6—4, 6-rl. . Second Round. Miss Gray and Dr. Keith beat Miss R. Wellwood and H. W. Brown, • 6—4, 6 —B, 6—2. Miss Powdrell and Hickson' beat Miss E. Martin and Hanna, fi—l, 6—o. . - Miss Nunneley and A. F. Wilding beat 'Miss G. Gorrie and S. Upton, 6—o, 6—2.' Miss Williams: and. Blair beat..Miss Neville and Shirriffs ; &—l, 6—2. Miss Biss and Henderson boat Mies E; Wellwood and Maddison, 6—3, 7—5., NOTES ON THE PLAY. (By Telegraph,—Special Correspondent.) , ; Auckland, December 27. » .There was a good" attendant at ..the' : championship meeting to-day, about six, hundred people being present. The'arrarigeinents for both players' and spectators were most complete, and reflect great credit on ' tho management committee.. The courts aro in splendid condition, i and are wearing ; well. Forty-two matches were./got off, leaving about the same number to beplayod to complete the tournament. : Parker and Quill had beeiL drawn in '.the singles; in anticipation of their arrival. from /Australia,, but they failed .to appear. • A. F. Wilding is competing, and much interest was shown in nis matches, bui lie has riot met anyone to shake him up yet; X ;i. : . ■" ' The play-so fax has not/been of tho brilliant order.Thero'huve beon sovera.l surprises, the more nt.iteablo being the defeat of Miss R. Wellwood by Miss Gray, and of Miss R.'Wellwood. and-Harold Brown by Miss Gray and Dr. Keith. • The men's singles- provided,little of interest. . The .best match . was between Upton, the present champion of Auok-' land, arid Geo. Prow. Both- players played' the' , back-line game, , and \somo splendid. driving was witnessed. Upton took the first-two sets after hard games., Then Prouso answered by taking the next two rather easily, but failed badly in tho fifth set. Blair settled" Mowbray comfortably. Brown started badly against Hickson, but,finished;in his best style. : Peacock: and Fisher were.: .never, troubled in; their sirigles against Shir-rifle-and :Grigsbn.^■■'•■''. [ Hawkins won in his usual style by run-ning-'His opponent off his feet. |- In the men's doubles Fisher and Peaconk and Blair and Brown won threo • sots' straight. The best of tho. doubles was between, the Wildings and Dr. Keith and Heather. Keith played: a fine heady, game, and made tho most brilliant strokes of tho afternoon.. Wilding did not'warm .UK lo the game at all during the d 4?« >

. The ladies' singles and doubles supplied .the most • interesting matches. Tho surprise of the day was the defeat of Miss Jtiiby Wellwood by Miss Gray. The first : set was won by ;Miss Wellwood, whose driving was poweff&l and well judged, and she led .4 to lin .the .'second set, but then followed some brilliant play on the part of Miss Gray. She volleyed and smashed splendidly, and Miss Wellwood was unablo fp . pass her. Miss Gray took -/ five games running in the second set, and - captured the third set at Miss. ! -Travers and Miss J. Gorrie had a long ■■ match, 1 but the Wellingtonian's driving was too solid and safe. By an unlucky 3 draw, Misses Williams and Dement had i to meet each other, and tho result was a foregone conclusion. Miss • Batham went on feeling a bit nervous about meeting j Miss Braithwaite, but by good length side- .■ line drives sho-raore than held her own, . and won comfortably. Miss Nunneley j has .reached the third round, defeating both Miss Cooper. and Miss, Eileen Wellwood without much trouble. Miss Cock j had a hard three-set go with Miss Baird, I but the second set. was a long one, and Miss Cock was too distressed in the third ' t to put up a;good fight. - , In the doubles Misses Nuhneley 'and , Braithwaite were hard'pressed bv Misses . Baird and Eileen Wellwood. Tho fea- ! ture of this game was the fine net play of the three, Hawke's Bay ladies. Miss | Nunneley kept on the back line, and her i powerful driving undoubtedly won the match,' although her service was weaker l, than usual. Misses Eva Wellwood and Irvine were not up to championship form,, and Mrs. Cooper and Miss Williojns had, an easy win. ' .■ In the combined doubles the performance of Miss Ruby Wellwood and Harold Brown was most disappointing. Brown was - out of position all through the' match, and failed to give his-partner afair chance.. Miss Gray and Drl Keith' played a. heady game, and won'a well-j deserved victory. Miss Braithwaite and ! Peacock,-Miss Travers and Fisher, Miss Nunneley and Wilding, and Miss Williams and Blair had easy and uninteresting wins.