LAWN TENNIS NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 183, 6 July 1937, Page 2

LAWN TENNIS NOTES

Budge’s triple win at Wimbledon was no surprise to thosq who have noted his performances during the last eighteen months, for though von Cramm last year beat Perry in the French championships his record on the whole did not compare with Budge’s, who apart from a couple of defeats by Bitsy Grant at a time when lie was taking things quietly after his strenuous campaign of last summer, has been able to beat every player whom lie has met, while von Cramm has been beaten by several players who are well below world’s ranking, in addition to twice by his compatriot Henkel. In the final at Berlin the ‘2O-year-old Czech, J. Cejnar, beat him B—lo, B—6,8 —6, t>—l, G—4. From the very first Budge was an odds-on winner of the singles. That he won both the doubles titles shows that he excels all other amateurs in every form of the game, and it seems likely that he is at present the best player, amateur or professional, in the game. The seeding of the men worked out very well, seven of the eight seeds getting into the last eight. Tlie seeding of the women was also nearly accurate, the only one who did not reach the last eight being Miss Stammers who should never have been included, for she has played very [voorly this season and has been beaten four times in succession by Miss Hardwick, who should have had the eighth place in the seeding list. The victory of Miss Bound in the women’s championship could hardly have been expected by her warmest admirers, for she had been playing very badly of late and had been beaten three times by Sonorita Lizana, who probably started favourite. As Britain’s No. 1 Miss Bound could hardly have been omitted from the seeds, hut that she was placed seventh shows how little she was expected to win. The runner up, Miss Jedrzejowska, lias improved her position each year since she first appeared at Wimbledon. She lias had victories against Miss Jacobs, Mine. Alathieu, and Senorita Lizana, and it was evidently touch-and-go whether she or Miss Bound was to be the champion. The men’s doubles always appeared to be a good thing for Budge anil Mako, though the German pair, von Cramm and Henkel, pressed them hard in the semi-finals and the British holders, Hughes and Tuckey did quite well. In the women’s doubles the strongest pair, on paper, were Miss Jacobs and Fru Sperling, who were the two leading singles players in the world last season, hut good singles players are not necessarily good doubles players, and they went out in the third round to Airs Andrus (U.S.A.) and Mine. Henrotin (France) who have had the advantage of playing together in recent American tournaments and lasted to the fifth round. The holders for the last two years, Misses James and Stammers, were surprisingly beaten in the fourth round by Mrs King and Airs Pittman. This was no doubt an of “one up and one back,” for Airs King is a baseliner and Airs Pittman (nee Goldsack) is a volle.ver. Aliss Stammers again failed and apparently needs a •lest. She has been unfortunate of late, having been in a motor accident which may have affected her nerves, and also, like the Australian player Quist, having been suffering from jaundice. The winners, Madame Alathieu and Aliss Yorke, are a great pair who lately won the French championship. This is Aladame Alathieu’s third win in this event, she having won in partnership with Miss Ryan in 1933 and 1934. Aliss Yorke is probably the best of the British doubles players, and her omission year after year from the Wifditnum Cup team has caused a lot of adverse criticism. This partnership, too, probably played on the one up and one hack system, for Aliss Yorke is a splendid volleyer, while Alme. Alathieu is a baseline player. With the two American number ones, Budgo and Aliss Marble, playing together the mixed appeared to be a foregone conclusion, though Butler and Aliss Bound took a set from them. The winner of the Plate, Wayne Sabin, is one of the many young players who have been showing groat form in the American tournaments this season.