LAWN TENNIS NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 178, 29 June 1937, Page 2

LAWN TENNIS NOTES

With the first week of Wimbledon gone there have been no sensational upsets of form such as was the case when the British player Nigel Sharpe knocked out Cochet in the first round by three sets to none in 1931. Crawford’s win in five sets over the temperamental Menzel would hardly cause surprise, for until this year lie has always been seeded above the latter. As he won after being two sets to one down in a match lasting 2 hours and 20 minutes, it looks as though he is in pretty good condition. Andrews put up a good fight against him for two rounds, but evidently was not in the condition to see it through. Coombe, though beaten by McGrath, was by no means disgraced. Since bis arrival in England he lias won nothing but has always put up a good fight against players of class, and will probably return to New Zealand a greatly improved player, in which case he will probably retain bis New Zealand title. Stedman has done well. Marcel Bernard, whom lie beat in the third round by three sets to none, was ranked No. 2 in France two seasons ago and has won many important events. In the second round Sharpe, who was No. G in the British ranking 'n 1935, retired when Stedman was leading him two sets to none. It was no disgrace to be beaten by “Bitsy” Grant in the fourth round by three sets to two, for Grant is a player who has recently beaten Budge on two occasions and is ranked No. j 3 in U.S.A. j

So far Budge lias done best and has romped home in all his matches without losing a set, whereas his rival, von Cramm, was taken to four sets by Lysaght, a player who has never been ranked in Britain, and by the Japanese player, Yamagishi, though he beat the British player Tuckey and the U.S.A. player Mako in three sets, but both of these are only doubles players in the Davis Cup competition. Henkel in spite of his victory over Austin in the French championship has not done very well. He only beat Tinkler, who was never ranked h-'gher than fifth in Britain, in five sets, and Hare with a similar score. The women’s singles seems very open. Miss Jacobs was recently beaten by Mile. Jedrzejowska. but so far lias not been tested though in the second round she beat Miss Heelev who was Britain’s No. 1 in 1932 and has lately shown some recovery of her old form. So far none of the seeded ladies have lost a set except Senorita Lizana and Betty Nuthall. The former caused -ome sensation when she was beaten 3—l in the first set by Miss Margot Lumb. who has been the squash rackets champion for the last three years and lias announced her intention of devoting herself to tennis in future. At the Hurlingliam tournament Miss Lumb beat one of Britain’s ranked players, Miss Lyle, who visited this country some seasons ago. She is following' in the footsteps of Miss Noel, who, after being squash rackets chamnion for three years, turned her attention to tennis and was ranked 6th in last year’s British list. A player who has not been seen at Wimbledon for several years is tlie Countess de la Valdene, who as Seno-i-ita tie Alvarez was runner-up to Mrs Wills-Moodv for three years in succession 1926 to 1928. If in her old form she might win. In the men’s doubles the most notable event was the defeat in three sets of the Australian pair Crawford ind McGrath bv the Czechoslovakian nair Menzel and Hecht, who followed his up by beating the Americans Grant and Sabin. Stedman cannot be Mamed for the defeat of himself and In's famous partner Brmrnon, for ap- , "inrently the latter could do nothing right. Misses F. James and Stammers are ‘he holders of the women’s doubles, but they will need to be at their best : f they are to win again. The best f the other pairs annear to he Madame Mathieu and Miss Yorke, Miss lacobs and Fru Sperling.

Budge and Miss Marble look the best n the mixed.