A BRILLIANT SEMI-FINAL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1948, 3 January 1914, Page 12

A BRILLIANT SEMI-FINAL.

» * Great interest prevailed when A. 6. Wallace met F. M. B. Fisher in tho semi-final of the mc-n's championship singles (says tho Auckland "Herald'' ■in a report of Monday's play at tho New Zealand lawn teiinis championships). Notwithstanding that tho niatcli was played at 11 o'clock in tho morning, there was a good attendance of the public to witness tho match, which was looked upon an virtually the final. Popular opinion was all 011 Wallace's chances, for he had been playing so well during the tournament and had worked his way through the hard side of tho draw. On the other hand Fisher was known to bo very short, of practice and right .out' of condition. However, as 011 other occasions, Fisher soon showed what a dangerous phijw he is, and when he; ■warmed up to his sjaitie hp gave an "I exhibition "of line volleying and placing such as had not before' been seen at tho tournament-. Wallace established a: lead of 4—love,in the first set, Fisher playing very poorly, tho set going to Wallace nt, 6 —3. 'flic second set was sensational. Fisher made for tho netat every stroke, and had Wallace beaten all tho way. Wallace would make- a superhuman -effort to recover a well-nigh impossible, only to sen his opponent low volley his return right Gut of reach. The third sot saw Fisher less accurate, while Wallace pkyed superbly, and took .tho sot, 6—4. Tho nest sot went to 3 all, and Fisher easily won the nest threo games, his cross-volleying earning rounds of applause. By this time both players wero feeling the effects of tho not pace, Fisher more so than his opponent, Although Wallaca had been doing , the most of the running. By mutual consent a ton-mimit-o interval was taken before playing the fifth and deciding set. On resumption Fisher made gpocl use of tho spell by taking tho first three games. Wallace, however, opened out in great- style, and by brilliant play evened to 3 all, Fisher wits now finding his condition against him, and was nnablo to reply to Wallace's effort, the latter player ultimately winning at 7—5. The win by Wallace Was pstrcmely popular, tho spectators recognising "his liriiliant play throughout tho tournament and the iact that he had struck tho hard side of the draw anct successively defeated Swanston, Wilding, and Fisher.