TESTIS CHAMPIONS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1635, 30 December 1912, Page 5

TESTIS CHAMPIONS.

FINALS AT HASTINGS

SWANSTON DEFEATS FISHER,

MISS GRAY WINS OUT.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Napier, December 29. Splendid weather again, prevailed for the New Zealand tennis championships on the Hastings courts. Tho attendance of the public was again largo, and the play «aa followed with tho keenest interest. Tho programme consisted of the semi-finals and finals, and there were some fine exhibitions of tennis.

Tho day held surprises in store. The first came with the final of the Ladies' Singles Championship. Miss Gray and Miss Hartgill had a great battle for tho championship. A great deal of attention was given to this game, and generally it was expected that Hiss Hartgill would win. Her play throughout the tournament was such as to mako her a big favourite for the event, but Miss Gray surprised her friends. Miss Hartgill drove with a strength and 'vigour which is characteristic of her stylo, but Miss Gray s'-tt everything back with heart-breaking preoision. "Hot stuff," "slack stuff,*' or "soft stuff," it all went back. Miss Fartgill was brilliant. Miss Gray displayed no brilliance, except that she met all her tpponent's brilliance by steady, accurate return shots. Miss Hartgill is used to winning her 4 games by brilliant "killing" shots, while Miss Gray is a steady plodder. The first, game went to Miss Gray 6—2. The powerful driving of Miss Hartgill won her the next set, 6—4. In the third set, Miss Gray got two in, and then the score was evened up. The games were then made three all, and finally went from 4—3, 5-3, C—3, in favour of Miss Gray. The new champion was heartily applauded. A Second Surprise,

The second surprise came in the Wen's Singles, when Swanston defeated Fisher handsomely, amidst wild applause. Fisher was the player of outstanding merit in tho tournament. Except for the occasional missing of easy shots, his plav was splendid, and his volleying and "hilfvolleying something to sit up and vrite home about, therefore, he was a hot favourite for tho championship, although it was recognised that in Swanston he bud a tough proposition. But form must tell'in the end. A Cabinet Minister, cannot keep ' fit" like the man who devotes himself to consistent training, and Fisher was pl«yed to a standstill, He quickly ran the score 2-1 in the first set, and then Swanston started to come at him, putting in brilliant side-line shots, but faulty in length, and as a result Fisher carried to i—2, and by a fine exhibition of volleying won the 'set, G-2. Fisher took the first game in the next set easily. The next went to Swanston, who was driving with rare length. Fisher did fine placing and cross-court volleying. Tin's order of play practically held until tho end of the set, which Fisher again annexed. In the third .set Fisher began to show signs of tho wear and tear of the tournament, while Swanston was as fresh as a daisy, and drove with confidence and precision. Fisher played many magnificent shots, but he began to lose his length, and the set went, to Swanston. From then on Fisher was. a beaten man. Swanston's long drives kept him moving, and he could hardly crawl by the time the final was over, while Swanston could have played on another rubber with comfort. The winner was cheered. and carried Ghouldor high from the grounds.

Combined Doubles. In the combined doubles the semi-final between Ollivier and Miss Hartgill and Brown and Miss Gray was very attractive. Miss Hartgill's play was again 6plendid, and her strong forehand driving nad excellent length. Ollivier's play had not improved on yesterday, and he did not 'appear to be up to his past form. Brown improved.on yesterday, and put in a vigorous fighting game. His overhead work and driving were good, but his serve was erratic. .'Miss Gray was .outclassed!by her opponent, but several of _ her drives were loudly- applauded. At ono stage of the game Brown and Miss Gray looked like winners, but Miss- Hartgill's splendid driving told its talc.. The Men's Doubles. The final double between Fisher and Brown and Ollivier and Goss for the championship was watched by a large number of people, and at times there was much 'cheering, and applause! Ollivier and Goss proved victorious, but the battle was a good one. Fisher,again played a good game, and. his volleying • and halt-volleying was exceptionally fine but Brown was weak in tho combination. , He put his heart into the game and marie many brilliant shots but his work was erratic. Ho put a lot of stuff into the net and over the •border and his service was faulty. Brown is' always popular with the spectators but it is plain enough that he does not play nearly as \vell in double harness as he does in a single. The veteran Goss played his game with hardly a fault. ' His support of the ex-champion'Ollivier was capital and he proved the wisdom of avoiding mistakes. . Ho is a player like: Miss Gray who believes in (getting his ball back all tho time. All the same ho can serve out "hot stuff" when the occasion demands. Ollivier played a good game, and many of his shots were. so convincing that no attempt was made to return them. The first set went easily to Ollivier and Goss. Although there was some good play on the other side, tho score ended 6—3. The second sot started very evenly, and eventually reached 2—l against Fisher. The record then rose to 4—l in favour of Ollivier; Fisher and Brown, won the next game, but in the following Brown served two double faults, and Ollivier and Goss scored a loose game. In the second set Fisher and Brown.started off in a way that meant-a win, and they carried the score to 3—l, but Brown was erratic in his play. Notwithstanding the fact that Ollivier put out several shots he and his partner annexed another game, and finally the scoro rose to 5 all, G—s, 7—5,.in favour of Ollivier. and Goss. The match ended 6—3, 6—2. 7-5. . The results were as follow:—

MEN'S SINGLES. Swanston-beat Brown; 6-2, 6-2, 6-2. Swanston .beat Fisher, 2-6, 1-6, 6-2, 6—3. [The result of the final game has not been transmitted.] LADIES'SINGLES. Mies Gray beat Miss Trayers, 6-0, 6-2.-Miss Hartgill beat Miss Clark, 6-4, 6— i. ■ Miss Gray beat Miss Baird 6-4, D-4. ■ Miss Gray beat Miss Hartgill, 2-6, 6-4, 6_3 ' COMBINED DOUBLES. Ollivier and Miss Hartgill beat Brown and Miss Gray, 6-3, 9-7. Eishor and Miss Travers beat Margoliouth and Miss Clarke, 6-2, 6-3. The final will be played to-morrow, NOTES ON THE PLAY. MISS GRAY'S VICTORY. BRILLIANCE V. ACCURACY. Hastings, December 29. The finala in the New Zealand championship tennis tournament on Saturday provided plenty of interest in the case of the singles with a certain amount of excitement. ■ ~ , ~ Tho first event to be decided was the ladies' singles, in which Miss Gray, ot Auoklan<i, met Miss Hartgill, of Dannevirke. This provided a most excellent contest, and Miss Hartgill proved herself a worthy opponent for the lady who had so decisively beaten Miss Travers the day' before. Sho played the more attractive tennis, serving overhead with a very fast and accurate serve, and driving hard at every opportunity. Miss Gray, who had gone up to the net against. Miss Travers staved on the back line in this contest, relying on her accuracy to beat her opponent. This method proved satisfactory, although for two sets there was practically nothing between the two players In the deciding set. Miss Hartgill continued a forceful, dashing game, but her drives began to find the net, whilst Miss Gray, playing coolly, and with great consistency, sent everything back. After three-all had been called, the Dannevirke player went off, and Miss Gray ran out a winner with the. next three games. Both the chanmiou and the runner-lip were heartily applauded for their exhibition. Fine Work in the Doubles. Next followed tho men's championship doubles, to .which Fisher aad Brown_

fought out the final with Ollivlor and Goss. Tho Christchurch, men played a Bound gamo, and won in three straight sots a 9 a result of their excellent combination. Ollivier showed eomo of his best form, serving well throughout, and getting in sorao capital drives. Almost invariably ho served outright when serving to Brown. Goss, who is always-,hap-piest in doubles, had a full share in the victory. He displayed fino judgment throughout, and his icork at tho net was very effective. Fisher and Brown wore by no means well Euited, and though tho individual play, of each was probably good enough to win their combination was defective. Fisher again played a great game, and delighted the spectators with tho vigour and variety of his attack, but ho was not so accurate as in his doubles match the previous day. Brown, on the other hand, showed vast improvement. Ho lobbed excellently;- and occasionally got in some brilliant work from the ground and at the net. As a .whole, however, ho was scarcely strong • enough for the. opposition, who took every opportunity to keep him in action. The extreme weakness, ot his second servo was also a deciding factor in the game. . Tho Christchurch pair won tho nrst two sets at G-3 and G-3. After many hard-fought rallies in tho next they had a commanding lead at 5—3, but here Fisher and Brown got nicely going and made tho score 5 all. The next gamo with Brown serving, was a very long one, in which both Ollivier and Fisher found the net frequently. Ultimately the Olli-vier-Goss pair won. Goss had tho next serve, and using his opportunity to tho full tho game was quickly won and the championship decided. Both winners were heartily congratulated, and Goss, who is quite a veteran, came in for special encomiums on his well-deserved honour. In tho ladies' doubles Misses Gray and Travers met Mrs. Maddison and Miss Wellwood. .The two local players gave an excellent exhibition, but they wero obviously overmatched by the other pair who won comfortably in two straight seta. Swanston's Great Day.

Within a quarter of an hour of the men's doubles championship, in whioh Fisher had done an immense amount of work for his side that player was called upon to meet Swanston in the championship singles. The circumstances, were particularly unfortunate for Fisher, who competed at the tournament practically untrained, whilst his opponent looked fit for, a Marathon, and moreover started tho match quite fresh. The match naturally resolved itself into one of skill .versus stamina, and in a unique contest the latter won. For two seta Fisher had his opponent constantly on the run from one end of the base-line to the other. After a few well-placed shots Fisher would run to tho. net and from there volley to whichever corner was most remote from his nimble opponent. Swanston would dash for the ball, get in a splendid return, made while going at full steam ahead, only to bo beaten by a short one . over the - net. Yet a continuity of > these trying bursts in. no degreo damped Swanston's ardour. He was always at his post waiting, and impatient to serve or to receive. The points almost all went against him, yet never for a moment did he lose an opportunity to forco the price, even the two-minutes' interval between the sets seemed interminably long to him'.

Despite if all, Swanston never got a chance until he had lost two sets, 6—2 and 6—l, and also tho first game in the third 6et. It was at this stage that Fisher commenced to fail. At no time had he been quite. so deadly as on the previous day, but he had been sufficiently superior to keep his. opponent right on the back line. _ Playing with consummate generalship, he _had used every art to conserve his condition, but despite this he commenced the third set an obviously tired 'man. He took tho first game on. his own serve, but in the second his accuracy went off. After making fino opportunities, he missed several easy shots. Swanston chose this moment, most inopportune for his opponent, to try some volleying on his own account. He started Fisher on the run, and that was the beginning of the end. Swanston took the second game off his own serve, and with the next made the score 2—l in his favour. In the next game Fisher placed beautifully, and without.much exertion took' the game. In the next ho lost the lead by putting a couple of shots in the not. At this stage he apparently decided to let. the set go, and stake his all on the next set. Swanston therefore ran out a winner at 6—2.

The fourth, set found Fisher still making a desperate bid for the championship. After the brief respite lie completely outplayed Swanston, and' took three games consecutively in short order, but it-was an expiring effort. Swanston took the next oft' his own. serve. Tho fifth game was hardly fought, deuce being called three times., Fisher was foot-fa'ultcd, and then made his first doublo fault. Swanston -ultimately took, the game with a very fine drive. From this on Swanston had matters quite his own way, and, although Fisher mado spasmodic efforts to stem the - tide, he realised that his chance had gone, 'and he did not offer any serious opposition. The match was quite a remarkable one. So long as his condition lasted,- Fisher gavo a brilliant exposition of tennis, whilst Swanston, on tho other hand,_ displayed amazing tenacity and unfailing grit. He took-the earlier reverses with the inmost coolness, and at the first signof his opponent's' weakening he was after the soft ones with the keenest zest. Ho played accurately throughout, drove well, and punished weak shots with unerring vigour. '■'■,-

ASHBURTON TOURNAMENT. (By TeJograDh.—Press Association.) Ashburtoh, December 28. The Ashburton Lawn Tennis Club's annua! tournament, which was commenced on 'Boxing Day morning, was concluded successfully late this afternoon. , Thero were 200 entries, and play throughout was interesting. The weather on Thursday and Friday was ideal for tennis, but to-dny's somi-finals and finals were fought out under fatiguing conditions with _ a nor'west gale blowing, and a scorching sun, the temperature in the shade at 2 o'clock being 89 degrees. The results of the final games are as follow:— Men's Singles (South Canterbury Championship).—P. G. Greenwood (United Club, Christchurch) beat W.. Pearce (Temuka), 1-6, 7-5, fi-4. Men's Doubles (South Canterbury Championships).—Greenwood and White-Parsons (Christchuroh) beat Pearce and M'Cnskill (Temuka), 7-5, 6-4. " ' ladies' >Singles (South Canterbury Championship).—Miss H. M. Cotton (United, Christchurch) beat Miss E. Scott (Rangiora), G-2, 7-5. Men's Singles Hnndicnp (first grade).— R. A. Wilkie beat C. H. Amos, 9-3. Men's Singles Handicnp (second grade). —T. M. Baines beat C. S. Harper. 9-2. Ladies' Singles Handicap.—Mins H. M. Cotton beat Miss J. Campbell, 9-3. Men's Doubles Handicap.—Bray and Wilkie beat Cuff and Hobbs., 9-1. Ladies' Doubles Handicap.—MissesCampbell and Black (Dunedin) beat Misses Miles and Blo.vam (Timaru),- o—B. Combined Handicap.—Sheppard and Mips Borthwiek beat Bray and Miss Black, 9-7.