TENNIS

Hokitika Guardian, 4 September 1931, Page 6

TENNIS

MALFROY’S REMARKABLE FIGHT. LONDON,' July 10. C. E. Malfroy was.the only New Zealander taking part in the singles of the Wimbledon lawn tennis championships. In the first round of the men’s singles lie had a walk over in the second round he played against S. W. Harris (South Africa) and w the three sets at 6—3, 6—l, 7 —5. His third round opponent was 0. Koopman (Holland), who was defeated |,y 7—5, (5—3, 6—4. In the fourth round, however, -Malfroy met lv’s master in S. B. Wood (U.S.A.) the scoie being 6—3, 10—12, 10—8, o—4, after a prolonged contest. Writing of- this defeat, Mr A. Wallis Myers (“Daily Telegraph”) said: “If Camille* Malfroy had realised the truth about his match against Sydney Wood he might have repeated th * feat of another young New Zealander on the same court two years ago —have beaten a renowned American. Wood had told his captain that he wanted a long match for training purposes; in America he always plays his best when the leeway is long. So he planned a protracted encounter. But two factors upset this confident calculation —one was an attack of cramp in the arm at the crisis of the third set, another was the stubborn and resourceful game of Malfroy.

“Alas for the chances of our distant Dominion. Malfroy found Wood in h; s brightest mood at set point. Goodness knows how many single aces divided ALTfray from the second set. Eventually lie took it; then began an eouallv agonising siege of the third. He had two points for the set at 7 —6, with Wood serving. Baulked lure he was obliged to yield. It was never a spectacular struggle—there was too much tentative play; hut the clash of wiTl-power for over two hours made the fight remarkable.”