LAWN TENNIS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 701, 29 December 1909, Page 3

LAWN TENNIS.

CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT. FINE GAME WILDING | AND TEACOCK. ■ - (Dy Telegraph.—Press Association.) I Auckland, December.2B. I Good progress was made, with tho New I. Zealand championship tournament to- | day. A strong wind again blew across tho courts, interfering somewhat with the play.-The attendance was largo, and ,thero wero many interesting matches. The one ..that attracted most interest was that between A. F. ■Wilding' and, J., C. Peacock in' the semi-final of tho men's singles,, tho former being tho winner. Tho first set was very keenly contested. Peacock led 2—l. Wilding got home some lvell-placed drives, and took tho | lead, '3-2 and 4 all. Then Wilding again led 5—4, tho winner lost hia serve, getting . homo two aces. Peacock sent in some hot American serves, and took tho game to W' and led 6—5. Wilding led 10—15 in tho twelfth game, but his opponent pulled up to deuce, but to no purpose, and then 6 all. Wilding never had Peacock racing from one corner of the court to the other after hard cross corner drives. The winner took the thirteenth and fourteenth games, and tho set, after a brilliant struggle. Wilding was foot faulted by the umpire towards the end of the second set. This incident excited a lot of:.'comment."../.amongst /the spectators. Wilding ran away with the first four games of the second eot, and Peacock showed signs of tho strain of the first set. In the fifth game Wilding lost his serve to Peacock, only getting homo one stroke. The winner led 5—2, and took the next game without much effort, and the set 6-0. The third and final sot was never in doubt. The winnor repeatedly coaxed his man ont of position, and finished up most of his rallies with short dropping • cross court volleys. ,The Wil'ding-Blair match provided much interest. Ti'e Wellingtonicn was at his best in the third set, which he took fairly easily. Blair's fine, attractive style came in for much admiration. Peacock easily disposed of the veteran Harman, who-was not at his best in this match. , Hawkins had a long match with Dr. Keith,' lasting over three hours. The Wellington man gradually wore his opponent down after rathor a tame contest. Fisher should dispose < of Hawkins in tho semi-final. In the ladies' singles Misses Travers and Williams had a long game. Tho former's steadiness enabled her to win. In the'men's doubles Fi6her and Peacock are in, the final, and will plav off with the winner of the Brown and Blair v. P. and A. F. Wilding match. Misses Gray and Powdrell disposed of Misses Travers and K. Wellwood, after a brilliant c&ntest for tho first two sets. Last year's champions had the second sot almost won on several occasions, but determined play by the losers upset their calculations. Misses Gray and Powdrell play the final off with Misses Nunneley and Braithwaito. Miss Nunneley and A. F. Wilding should annex the combined doubles. The following are tho dolails of to-day's play: Men's Championship Singles. ■ Second Hound. R. D. Harman beat H. J. Wobbor, 6—4, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3. J. C. Peacock beat H. L. Eobson, B—l, D-0, 6-<l. A. -F. Wilding beat J. C. Blair, 6-2, 3-2, 3-6, 6-3. H. W. Brown beat P. Hanna,' 6-2, 3-1, 6-1. G. .Ebbett beat Grossman, 6-3, D-2, 3-1. F.'M. B. Fisher beat S. Upton, 5—7, ?-5, 6-2, 6-rl. li.' Hawkins beat Honderson, 0-0, 6—l, 3-3. Dr:,Keith boat Alan Brown, 6-4, 6-3, 3-3. ' Third Round. J. C. Peacock'beat R< "D. Harman, ""a.' F. -Wilding beat H. W. Brown, 6-4, 1-3,6-1) , ■ , F. M. B. Fisher beat G. Ebbett, 6-1, i—4, retired. L. Hawkins beat Dr. Keith, 2-6, 3-6, ■Ai, 7-5, 6-4. . , Semi-Fwal. -A. F. Wilding beat J. C. Peacock, fh-6, t-2, 6-0. ' • The winner of the Fisher-Hawkins natch plays Wilding in the final. Ladies'* Championship Singles. , Second Round. Miss Travers beat Miss Williams, B—6, 0-B.' Miss Powdrell beat Miss Baud, 6-0, —2. ■' . MissvGray beat Miss Bathara, 6—3, -2. \ "In the semi-final Miss' Gray plays Miss Innnoloy, and' Miss Travers meets Miss' 'owdroll. i Men's Championship Doubles. Second Bound. Fisher and Peacock beat Mowbray and )uthie, 6-0, 6-2, 6-2. H. Brown and Blair beat Grigson and Jan Brown, 6-4, 6-3, 7 T 5. Third Round (Semi-final). Fisher and Peacock beat Moody and tobson, 6—2, 6—l, 6—3. Ladies' Championship Doubles. First Round. Misses Travers and R. Wellwood beat lisses B. ■ Cock- and Batham,' 6—4, .6—4. Second Round and Semi-final. Misses Gray' and Powdrell beat Misses "ravers and Wellwood, 7—5, B—lo, 6—l. Misses Nunneley and Braithwaite beat Irs. Cooper -and Miss Williams, 6—3, Combined Championship Donbles, First Round. Miss Baird and Webber beat Mrs. !oopor, and Grigson, 5—7, 6—3, 9—7. Second Round. Miss Ellon Wellwood and Ebbett beat liss L Cooke and Harman, 7—5, 7—5. Miss I Braithwaito and Peacock beat lis-, Baird and Webber, 6—2, 7—5. ' Mis 3 Travers > and Fisher beat, Miss !ock and A. Brown, 6—2, 6—3. Third Round. Miss Williams and Blair beat' Miss C. Siss and Henderson, 6—3, 6—o. , NOTES ON" THE PLAT. (By Tclcsraph.-Speciai Correspondent.) Auckland,: December 28. As tho day was gloomy, and a strong outherly was blowing-'across the courts, ewer matches were played in the tennis ournament to-day, tho committee decidng to keep tho finals back until tolorrow. After yesterday's weeding-out, he matches were of a higher standard f play. The attendance was as good as estordny, notwithstanding the threatenng weather. In the men's singlos, Fisher is in tho asy half of tho draw, and has reached he fourth round, and meets Hawkins toaorrow. ' In the second round he mot Upon, and started well by winning tho first hree games easily, two of them being ovo games. Then Upton opened out, and >y sorao beautiful driving secured the cad at 5—4, and after some quick, short allies 6ecured the sot at 7—5. Tho secind set saw both players on mettle ind'Fishor secured a lead of 5—2. Then Jpton evoned, only to loso the next twe lames. In the eleventh game of this sol ho umpiro made n bad mistako by foot ai'lting Fisher, who was well behind tin ino, and had not moved a foot in hi< lelivery. This v meant a game to Upton Phis and other misunderstandings causec he match to be stopped. On rcsumint ilny, Fisher romped over his opponent aking twolvo games to three. Tho hardest fought match of tho tour lament was between Hawkins and Dr Ceith. This match resolved itself inti he survival of the fittest, It took fiv< ets to decido it, and after two and i ialf hours', haul driving, Hawkins finish ■d a 'winner. Keith took tho first twi ids boforo Hawkins settled down, am hen hard fight for every ace ilawkins never played bettor this season ind his passing drives forced his oppon ■nt to play a back-line game, at whicl Jawkins was tho bettor. A result of the draftings is that Blaii 3rown, and Peacock have mot Wildinf ind tho winner of Fisher v. Hawkin vill moot him to-morrow. Blair playc i splendid gfljno against tno rh.unpioi ind his win in the third sot was the r< ,ult of fino side-line driving and som williaut smashing. H« played Wil<

ing's service with ease, and Us own serI..vice ,was so fast and,well, played- that;on several- occasions/Wilding failed to reach | the ball.. . >;.-.-. - : ; ' Brown wa6 not so successful in - _his meeting with the champion, and failed to put.up o. good'fight. .: ..->■'''••, Wilding's defeat of ;Brown placed him in the'fourth round, w.h'ere ke'met Fed-, cook.' This 1 match furnished some brilliant play. <.On starting, Peacock' 6 backhand drives; we're weak, -but his glancing volleys were brilliant. - In the first set Peacock led at G—s, and was near set twice, but Wilding 'saved and won, &-6. Then Wilding opened but and won the next two sets. comfortably. In the men's: doubles Fisher and Peacock have. reached the final, and wait for the winners of Brown and Blair v. Wilding.and Wilding. * : Brown and Blair met Grigson and A. Ci Brown in the third round, and won in. thfe-ysots. A'.. C. Brown played a strong game, hissmashing being/particu-' larly powerful.'.. : '' '"'■'.". " Tho ladies' events provided some hardfought matches. The best of the singles \ns . between Misses, Travers and Williams. .'I Some splendid driving was seen in this match. Miss Williams was the more aggressive, and put in; some good net play. Most of the games were long deuce' games, and the scores, B—6 and give a fair indication of the play. ..Miss Powdrell easily .disposed of Miss ,Baird,' and ' her... meeting-'with' Miss Travel's !to-morrbw\ should, give, a,; fine game.; '■''-■, Miss Gray is ,in . splendid form, and Miss Batham was unable to extend her at'all. 'Miss Gray is :• the best lady ..volleyer at the tournament, and her . meeting'. with Miss Nunnelly is being- looked forward to. ■ ."The finest .ladies','game seen," is the generar verdict of the ' double 'between Misses Gray . and -Powdrell and Misses Travers ' and'-Wellwood. The driving of Misses Powdrell and Travers, the smashing : of: Miss Gray, and the tossing and volleying of Miss Wellwbod were all features of this match.' The first set was a ding-dong go.to the finish, Misses Gray and Powdrell just winning. Then followed a harder-fought eeCwhicb. was won by' Misses Travers and Wellwood at 10—8; but the last set saw the losers worn out, and Miss .Gray waf able to' get in some good net play. The winners,. Misses Gray and Powdrell, will now meet Misses Nun- ; neley and Braithwaite in the final.- On form, shown so far, the former pair should ■win.:' .' .■•• ■.'.' "•■ 'Misses Nunneley and Braithwaite easily defeated Mrs. Cooper and Miss Williams.' ~'. Fisher and' Miss Travers are showing tine form in the combined doubles, and their meeting with. Wilding and Miss Nunneley to-morrow'; should be worth watching! The winner's of this match will meet Blair and Miss Williams, who are . in the'semi-finals. ; ' ; ' 'Peacock and Miss Braithwaite should 1 work out to the'final-in the top half of ■ the draw, .Keith and Miss Gray, being the only .pair likely to push them.