LAWN TENNIS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 106, 29 January 1935, Page 14

LAWN TENNIS

National Championship SURPRISE VICTORIES Comments on the Games (By “Forehand.”) No tenuis tournament ever goes through to the end without its surprises. The Ne.v Zealand championship tournament at Auckland was no exception—the outstanding oues being Eric Roussell’s defeat of Ewin, of Australia, Kay’s (Australia) defeat, of Don France, Miss Dulcie Nicholas’s easy win over Miss N. Beverley, of Matamata, and Auckland champion, and the first round defeat of Miss ■Shirley Whittaker (Australia) by Miss Beryl Knight (Auckland). Great credit is due to Mr. 11. N. Burns, secretary of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association, and his willing band of Auckland helpers, for the way the tournament was run. One heard isolated complaints of what some players referred to as “being driven to deith,” but on inves; tigation the complaints did not hold water. While there was some good umpiring, there was also a great deal of bad umpiring, and too many umpires preferred to keep the scores a close secret to themselves. But that appears to be a phase inseparable from any tournament.

The Big Attractions. The principal attraction was, of course, F. J. Perry, Wimbledon and United States champion. His presence must have been worth a grea'; increase in the gate to the N.Z.L.T.A.; and he tried to please the management in every way possible, being always willing and ready to take his place on the court at the time set down for his appearance. On the court he was the exuberant schoolboy, playiug tennis for thq, fu’i of the game. He was not all concentration. There was no need for him to be that, because the difference iii standard between him and the other competitors was so great that he could win the games just how and when he liked. Some of his finest shots were played after the bull had been called “out,” when he would hit it in his best vein just to show what he could do had he a mind to. One saw very little.of his volleying or smashing, as he merely enjoyed himself from the backline. I. H. Seay and E. L. Bartleet were allowed just so many games and no more. Had Perry wanted to win in three straight sets he could have easily done so.

Ewin a Disappointment. Ewin, of Australia, was a disappointment. The only thing outstanding about his game was his service—and that was easily the fastest of any player in the tournament. But it was not the most difficult to handle. Eric Roussell showed how it could be dealt with. At no' time in his match with Roussell did Ewin show that he possessed strokes or a knowledge of tactics that would make him a champion. He was also very inaccurate. Kay, of Australia, a left-hander, showed to very much better advantage. His service was not so fast, but it was better placed and much more difficult to handle. Also his stroking was in a class well ahead of Ewin and his tactics infinitely superior.

Had it been Ewin and not Kay that D. G. France had to meet France would have won. But Kay was quite a different proposition. He either forced France to tear along the baseline, or, if France came to the net, passed him with beautiful cross-court drives that clipped the sidelines. If France did get going and force Kay on the defensive Kay usually saved the situation with a perfect lob. Also one could never be certain the ball bad been placed out of Kay’s reach so fast does he move about the court. On the other hand he never appears to be bustled.

Roussell Covered with Glory. All hopes centred in France beating Kay, and while he played well, even brilliantly, in patches, he simply was not good enough to win on the day. His volleying and smashing, usually two of his greatest assets, let him down time and again after he had paved the way to the winning position with fast, well-placed drives. Nor was his service effective or reliable.

Throughout the tournament Eric Roussell covered himself with glory. He played much better than he had been known to play in Wellington this season. He beat Ewin because he stroked confidently aitiTcarefully, chose well his tipies to go to the net, where he volleyed soundly. When, after forcing him back, Ewin took the net, Roussell dislodged him with perfect lobbing. McL. Ferkins’s Game.

There is a tendency in Auckland to belittle the game of R. McL. Ferkins, who plays a steady placing game and can be aggressive from the net. His steadiness was too much for the erratic brilliance of Noel Bedford. Bedford has shown that he has a far better stroke equipment than almost any other New Zealander in the tournament, but he has yet to learn that blind hitting does not win matches.

Denis Coombe showed improved form through the tournament, the steadiness of his stroking, and the headiness of his tactics, earning him high praise from the spectators. He was content to keep the ball in play with depth and placement until he got the position he wanted, whsn he would hit hard to the opening and seldom miss.

Sturt’s Brilliant Tennis. It was unlucky for him that when he met Sturt the Aucklander should unleash such brilliant tennis for the first two sets, winning them before Coombe was able to get settled. Thereafter the battle between the two was even. Had Coombe not netted so many volleys when he came in after driving deep to the corners he might have won. Sturt, however, deserves credit for having played high-class tennis. He was a sound tactician. His forehand drive, played from close in to his body, with stiff arm and no swing-back to speak of, was functioning almost perfectly. G. A. Pearce (Otago), a left-hander, w.'ls,noted for his fast service, but the rest of his game -was not in keeping. His bi other. E. A. Pcatcc, is still in the doldrums. :An ex-Wellington junior, Dewar Brown, is showing remarkably improved form, his forehand driving being among the best of the tournament. Coombe had to be in his best form to beat ■ him. Brown’s chief weakness is his smashing. Points About Other Players.

J. W. Neale, who used to be in Wellington, played well against Roussel], but misses vital points through being in too great a hurry. D. I. Robertson, of Palmerston North, •'ought on fairly equal terms with A. 11. Cant, of Canterbury, but it was just another case of a player trying to force the pace against an opponent who is content to keep the rally going until, he gets his opportunity to hit for the winner. He will do better when he learns to let his weight go forward into his stroke instead of pulling away from the ball as he does at present. L. G. Knott, of Australia, has gone back in his tennis since he used to live in Auckland. He is neither so accurate nor so forceful. He is playing with his oldtime partner. N. G. Sturt, in the doubles, but the zest they had to win the New Zealand championships in 1920 is lacking. Their smashing and volleying is not decisive enough.

Fine Doubles Combination. The Dickie Bros., of Waverley, Taranaki, are improving, and together they make quite a fine doubles combination.

J. W. Gunn is a very promising junior, who, using his height, serves smashes, volleys, and drives well. The next two or three seasons should show a great improvement in his game.

D. B. Livingstone, of Hamilton, is another player who is likely to improve if

he gets chances of hard play. His service is a formidable one of the kicking variety, and he has a severe forehand drive.

Miss Dulcie Nicholls has had things all her own way because all her opponents were kind enough to play the type of game that suits her —corner to corner driving from the backline. But none of her opponeuts could play that game as well as she could and so they were outclassed.

The Auckland Champion. Miss N. Beverley, of Matamata, and present Auckland champion, was the player who was thought to have a chance of beating Miss Nicholls because of her all-court game. But she forgot all about the advantage of attacking from the net and so, like the others before her, fell by the wayside. By perfect placements to the corners Miss Nicholls had Micw Beverley tearing along the baseline without ceasing. Miss Nicholls varied her drive with chops is make things more difficult for Miss Beverley. The loser was completely outclass-ed because by her bad tactics she never gave herself the slightest chance.

Miss Edna Rudkin, of Christchurch, outplaced Miss Delia Newton, of Auckland, and then gracefully lost to Miss Nicholls, who belted her off t,hc court. Miss Melve Wake through lack. of practice went down to the dashing Miss Irene Poole in straight sets. *

Miss Ramsay's Marathon. Miss Thelma Poole found a new experience in the cut strokes of Miss J. Ramsay. Had Miss Poole played with more discretion instead of trying to drive Miss Ramsay off the court she might easily have won and in less time than tlie three or four hours that it took Miss Ramsay to win. Miss S. Whittaker, of Australia, is a charming player, very daintily built. Iler game lacks fire. Her forehand is steady, her service consistent, but her backhand (she is a left-hander) is very weak. She had the misfortune to meet Miss B. Knight when the Auckland all-court player was at the top of her form. If Miss Knight should get past Miss Marjorie Macfarlane in the semi-final, she will scarcely make the mistake of trying to play Miss Nicholls from the backline.

Playing as Well as Ever. Miss Marjorie Macfarlane is playing as well as ever, running fast along the backline and driving right into the corners, backhand and lorehand, with mechanical accuracy. Miss Ruth Taylor (Auckland) and Miss V. Eccles (Auckland) fought gamely against .her in the first set (the latter winning the set), and afterward petered out. Miss Macfarlane had set too hot a pace for them. They have not her strength, stamina, or fighting spirit. One of the finest forehand drives in the tournament is possessed by Miss Margaret Beverley, a junior. Beautiful drives are also possessed by Miss Burges-Wat-son, Miss Barbara Gould, and Miss A. Graham. All keep admirable positions for a baseline game. Miss Beverley should make a first-class player with experience.

Miss J. Burns (Wellington) played well, but her failing was to go to the net behind too short a ball, and so she found herself passed by Miss Cooke, of Auckland, who was very steady and kept a good length. Miss M. Purcell (Wapgauui) was not fast enough about the court. Also, her forehand did not go at all well. Her sliced backhand earned her many points.