QUIST IN FINE FORM

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 85, 4 January 1935, Page 9

QUIST IN FINE FORM

Melbourne Tennis Results (Received January 3, 10.20 p.m.) Melbourne, January 3. Play in the Australian tennis championships continued to-day. Results include: — Alen’s singles: A. Quist defeated Walton, 6-1, 6-2, 6-3; Stefani (Italy) defeated Frankenburg. 6-1, 6-1, 6-1; V. McGrath defeated Alackenzie, 6-0, 6-4. IVomen’s singles: Aliss Round (Britain) defeated Aliss Stevenson, 6-2, 6-3. Mixed doubles: Boussus (France) and Aliss Biekerton defeated Vroland and Aliss McCrae, 6-1, 6-3; Afalcolm and Airs. Alalcolm (South Africa) defeated Brugnon (France) and Aliss Bellamy, 6-4, 8-6. Quist was in fine form when he defeated. Walton, attacking on almost every point. Aliss Stevenson gave a good display against the world’s greatest woman player, but a tendency to net her returns cost her points. Aliss Round played mainly from the back court. Stefani had all his own way against Frankenburg, whom he virtually swept off the court.

OUT OF ALL EVENTS

Miss Hartigan Withdraws

Melbourne, January 3.

Acting on medical advice, Miss Harrigan, holder of the women’s tennis title, has withdrawn from all events in the championships. She was to have partnered Miss Dorothy Round in the doubles. Her place has been taken by Miss Coyne.

GREATEST OF ALL

Wallis Myers Says Tilden

Mr. A. Wallis Myers, founder ami chairman of the International Lawn Tennis Club, London, and one of. the leading authorities on the game, thinks that W. T. Tilden, is the greatest player lawn tennis has produced. Next to him he places 11. L. Doherty, Norman Brookes, W. M. Johnston, and R. Lacoste in that order.

Mr. Myers, who arrived at Sydney jecently, said that Tilden was a complete player, combining great physical reserve with variety. He always had his cannon-ball service up his sleeve, with which lie could win an important ace, calculated to win an important game. He could play on any surface in wind or rain, and could face any new, opponent without previous experience. Any of the other four players named might rise on occasions to the same heights as Tilden, but would not remain for a long period in the refined atmosphere. “Often I have been asked whether the standard of play is better than it was 25 years ago,” said Mr. Myers. “Tennis is not as sound and consistent as it was in the days of Brookes, the Dohertys, and Tilden. My own opinion is that, while there are many more first-class players now, the tennis at the very top is not as sound and consistent. Modem play is not as scientific and accurate as play in past years, and there are more loose shots. I saw Tilden win his six successive United States championships and his great duels with Johnston. Those were years when the winner of Wimbledon would go to the American championships and find himself- beaten on the second or third day, so marked was the superiority of Tilden and Johnston. That went on until Lacoste, probably the greatest student of lawn tennis tactics, and the man who took most pains over his play, discovered, after years of patient practice and observation, the secret of beating Tilden. When he beat Tilden, the latter was on the wane. It Is possible that neither Crawford nor Perry has yet reached his prime, and, on their present form, I think that Tilden at his best would have beaten either of them.

.Mr. Myers said the invitations of the Australian tennis authorities were only partly the reason why so many players visited Australia. So many fine Australian players had influenced them that, 'in accepting invitations, they wanted to know why Australian Players were so good. Australian players ranked high in world tennis, and he could speak from 30 years’ experience. He had seen Brookes play at Wimbledon in 1905 and Crawford in 1933. Coming to Australia was like chasing tlie rainbow to the end. Tennis, he sid had been checked in England in Ihe last few years, probably owing to the popularity of motor-cars and golf. There was an increased interest in big matches. As the knowledge of the public increased they were less inclined to go to smaller matches. The world’s best tennis players were frequently travelling, and it was rare now to get a concentration of talent other than at Wimbledon. Modern play was not as scientific and accurate as play in past years, ami there were more loose shots.