CHAMPIONSHIP TENNIS TOURNEY

Evening Star, Issue 19787, 10 February 1928, Page 9

CHAMPIONSHIP TENNIS TOURNEY

RUSHING MATCHES MANAGER IN REPLY [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, February 'J. During the New Zealand lawn tennis championships at Christchurch several “incidents” occurred which the 1 Lyttelton . Times ’ and the * Star ’ described as being duo to tlio management rushing matches commercialising the tournament with disregard to the interests of the players. The incidents referred to were the retirement of Dr J. Laurenson in his match in the semi-final of the men’s singles against E. L. Bartleet and the retirement of Miss M. Spiers n the ladies’ doubles final with Miss Cartridge against Miss M. Tracy and Mrs R. P. Adams. It was alleged in Laurenson’s caso that there was something inhuman about a system under which a player, who had to retire m a singles semi-final from exhaustion, was called on immediately to undertake a five-set doubles match against two players (N. C. R. Wilson and J. 0. Peacock) who had nob played earlier in the day. In the case of Miss Spiers it was alleged that she had to retire from the doubles final on account of fatigue, having previously had an exhausting midday match on the hottest day of the season, the application for an extension of time being disregarded. The manager of the tournament, Mr D. Murray Kean, who is also secretary of the Now Zealand Lawn Tennis Association, has made an official reply to those criticisms. During the tournament, ho says, ho did not receive a single complaint or protest from any an© of the competitors regarding the times set clown each clay for the matches, and several of them asked for more matches than he could arrange with the number of courts available “All competitors lor championship honors arc expected to be fit, and no special concessions can be made to enabb the unfit to be nursed through at the expense of those who play the ga mo cm and off the court.” Mr Kean made the definite statemens that matches were not rushed, nor was he in any way influenced or governed by the factor of gate receipts. On the other hand, Canterbury officials wanted the tourney prolonged so that the finals should be played on the Saturday for the sake of the “ gate.” Mr Kean points out that Laurenson was himself a party t) an agreement with Bartleet, made the previous night, for the singles match to be played next day at I p.m. and the doubles match to be played at 3 p.m. Both Mr Kean and Mr Peacock remarked on the shortness ot the interval between the two matches, but Laurenson said that both he and Bartleet (his opponent in the singles and partner in the doubles) preferred that arrangement, and remarked that, in any case, the singles would not run into more than three sets whoever won. Laurenson arrived at the courts next clay at 1.45 p.m., and went on to play Bartleet at 1.55, five over the time agreed upon, Mr Kean informing Laurenson that the doubles must be plaved at 3 p.m., as Wilson had another match that afternoon, and was not to be penalised. “I say that Laurenson did not retire from exhaustion.” he added.

Dealing with the case of Miss Spiers, M;• Kean said the Mrs Adams v, Miss Knight, and the Miss Spiers v. Miss MacTarlnne matches were advertised to commence at 10.30 on Thursday morning At that time one of the two centre courts was available, and Mr Kean instructed which pair was first ready to be put on it. Tho pair was Mrs Adams and Miss Knight. Tho other court was ready at 11 a.m., and Miss Spiers and Miss Mact'arlane went on at that time. As the two matches were important it was considered advisable to put them on tho only two sheltered courts. Tho Miss Bpiers-M.iss Macfailano match finished a lew minutes alter 1 p.m., the actual playing being about an hour and a-half. Mr Kean said ho was compelled to speaa to the umpire about Miss Spiers’s long rests between the games in the second set. “ Miss Spiers,” he proceeded, “did nob ask me for an extension of time before playing the doubles match, but 1 allowed her over half an hour’s extension of time Before she played in that match she had two and a-halt hours’ spell. Regarding Miss Spiers's rethement from the doubles match when she and her partner had lost the first set and were 2-1 down in the second set, her statement to me and to a member of tho Ladies’ Committee was that her retirement was not on account of illness, but because she felt the heat very much, and Mr Goss had advised her to stop playing. Mi Kean expresses the opinion that the object of the criticism is to support tin wishes of a few officials to secure control of the New Zealand championships when played in Christchurch.