LAWN TENNIS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 7, 9 January 1932, Page 18

LAWN TENNIS

By "Drive" ; ■ WILSON CHAMPION

NEW NUMBER ONE

WELLINGTON TOURNEY

One 1 reputation was confirmed and one made at the Wellington Tennis Championships, while a number of players gained lustre for good performajices. Tho player who established himself at thehead of. Wellington tennis was N. B. Cj^Wilson, who met D. G. France in-their first five-set match of the season, and vanquished him/ by three sets to "jSj- The pair had met three times previously, and France had obtained two Wins, but in one of these matches Wilson did not exert himself. The victory in the Wellington singles final was'in bad conditions for France, who is unable to cope with a wind as well as Wilson can, but it was too clean-cut to be. explained away. France is such a" fine player that when ho failed in a previous meeting it was only, just to: ascribe '. his failure ..to a lapse from form, especially ywhen his sterling performances last season were r still fresh in mind; That^year France revealed himself definitely better than any player in New Zealand, and gained victories over ail the leading claimants for.the position, . including the New Zealand champion A. C. Stedman, whom he_ met at the. height of form. But this year France seems to, bo playing, more 'subdued tennis: and lacking his old fire. After Wilson.'s second win in the series of meetings between them it is clear that he must be accepted as Wellington's number one,,and. that the quality1 of ,his: game so far is' higher than that of his chief rival. ■ Not Spectacular. " ". '' ' In the final at Miramar Wilson, was not" the' dynamic, forceful hitter, that he showed himself last year.! But on the; other hand he-was not ;playing mr consistently,, and his quiet, constant pressure was that of a manfujly conn% dent and satisfied with: his form. The result amply justified, his- confidence^ fo#it was (reached by a short, decisive route and after : little fumbling • of chances.' • Franc© •■was : definitely in check on thef day, and- unable: or. unwilling to make the burst; which would have taken him through to two sets all. In: the second set,; by..even, well-con-trolledstroking^ he established a winning lead, and Wilson declined to waste much energy improving 'the- position, for -he -evidently felt,' sure of himself, and; after ■ the second set was over there was never any doubt of the issue; • It •■•' looked' as? though Wilson was nearer defeat%t- the hands.of 'Ai Li France when they met irettiei 'semi-final, and France : was busy. returning everything that. Wilson hit. In this match France'^' steadiness had his,-opponent troubled,, and Wilson was also worrying himself ..unnecessarily-about the- errors which.he made. ■.' In both sets he won only by making a strong effort as the critical "games approached. . " Good Youngsters. ' ; There' was convincing forni shown by soiue of the young -'players^ The most unfortunate thing' of the meeting was the fact that: E. A. Eoussell chose to pl ; ay ; his match/with A. L. France in Friday's.-Btorin, throwingI;' ' away\ any chance'he had .of reaching- the semifinal, and 'robbing the'publicfof'■ the* opportunity of. seeing him. meet -Wilson in. a njatph. . Equssell ■ was in. good enough fornii but the conditions, added to France's; spinj broke up "his'game; B. Mcli. Ferkins, in the other half of the draw, played. tennis against p. Q.. France,, and had that player hitting all: out ,vi, the,^effort to reach victory in 'straight sets^ Ferkins's game was-much more-of an attack: than, at any stage last;iy.ear,- and evidently he is still mo*ving ahead. N. Bedford, howeverj- revealed.'^that .his sliced forehand: is,now anything*- but accurate, and seems to, be. developing ;a,habit of casual play:which will;not• aid him to become a match-winner against players who are in advance of him.- ■ Carstens, - : another ' promising player, was not,quite good enough to' get -through, his, grade, but ;N. Davys revealed better, shots and harder than he has exhibited.in championship;play hitherto. He cannot be far below senior interclub~standard. .Other players,who performed; attractively were •C. Watt,, who often played brilliantly, in doubles, E.. ; Beeves, who iku recovering some^ of the; form he "revealed years ago: when he used to.be one-of the most stylish players in th'eicity;-and^N; Bagej' the college boy; third - grade champion. ■'.-. New Recruit.,,/; _ :'";"'... .'\' '.:';' ■''■; .-;.: The Wellington,,selectors; had their problems increased by the: performance "of Mrs.' D. G. France, who reached the women's singles-final, defeating. Miss D; Howe,;who has be^n- accepted as a certainty for .the. Wellington team,, and, tunning, Miss; D.Nichollsvtp three Bets and winning the second:set ,8:6. ,Mrs. France is a player of if ewer qualities of stroke- Jhan; of-temperament, but her courage is undoubted, and .her shots include some devastating drives.- She has the will-to hit,,and she often aeed Miss Nicholls by: deftly, placed shots on the forehand and by ; ,one ;of the,mqst difficult: shjfts in tqnuis, a-b«ckhand drive from: her .own, v forehand conrt played to her opponent's forehand sideline. .From the . outset /she ;revealea that she was, more-than-a ; match for Miss Howe, and ,won; in straight gets, while her, performance against Miss Nicholls- in. the1 final revealed quality wiiich would have -tronbled- any player in the.country..:■( Mrs.-France,-it;will be , remembered, beat Miss ■:■ M;V: Wake, the' Canterbury; number on*,- : when last the ; New -'"Zealand•■';' tournament was played here,- and she has not : been»given justice by selection committees in.;the past.: .. '.-..■ ■ : ;,: .-.':. ;:.:. '~..: -■' -.: . ' Miss. M. Whyto also showed, that she is moving towards her old form; When she threatened/to take the first, set from Miss. Nicholls / and.y went down , only after the most, spirited match of the tournament; V Miss S. Todd,: after a good beginning, began missing with her forehand, or she would have held a good, chance against; Miss Howe, while Miss M. Macassey, revealed ißvidence of better form than previously, but showed agame. which: is ; yet. not; quite rounded out by all .the necessary shots. Interclub Championships. ■;- ■.■■ '' . The series of iriter-club championship matches mil "be resumed on Saturr day next, 16th January^ when the whole third -grade; divisionj both- A ,and r ß sections, will be in action. There, will be no senior or junior inter-.club matches that day,.- so that the . third - grade. will have a field day, and the fourth grade teams- will also be scheduled to. appear at Miramar grounds in a further round of tsompetitive :play. .- Tonrnament Finals. Tho, finals .of the various unfinished events' in "the .provincial tournament .areset down.to be played on SatuVday, 16th Janutny; at. Miramar- grounds,. ■ Several events are Tinfinished, notably the senior men's doubles and mixed doubles, and the Management has fixed Saturday, next as the date-of play-off. It is doubtful whether the mixed doubles can be finished, however, as.-players may not all be.here. The starting time for" matches it expected, to be about l;30-,p.m, . -