LAWN TENNIS NOTES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 135, 30 January 1932, Page 2

LAWN TENNIS NOTES

SMITH IN DOMINION CHAMPS. Additional interest for Rotorua Was given to the New Zealand lawn tennis championships this year by the fact that Norman Smith, the local ehampion, was entered for the singles and douhles events. At the Christmas tournament held in the Government Gardens, Smith showed up in fine form and his'ehances in the Dominion championships appeared bright. The draw in the singles, however, eonsiderably lowered the hopes of the Rotorua player's supporters, as - he had to encounter Stedman, the New Zealand champion, in. the -first round. When the match was played on Tuesday? however, Smith although" heaten foreed his opponent to the fifth set. This was certainly an achievement of note, as the Rotorua player has little opportunity at honie of pra'ctising against any very formidahle opponents. " v Throughout his mateh with Stedman, Smith kept the champion fully, extended and prospects were well in his favour at the concluSion of the third set, when the scores were 6 — 2, 3 — 6, 4 — 6, the last two sets being won by Smith. From here on, however, Stedman showed his superiority on the eourt 'and took the final sets 6_l, 6—1. The performanee was very' creditable and he would have gone far in the championships had he been more fortunate in the draw. Norman Smith's reeord in Rotorua tournaments is one of success after success. On several occasions he has won the open- tournaments and is unapproachahle as local champion. He . plays a fast but steady backline game and his placing is exceedingly accu- > rate. When tackling a strong opponent he takes advantage of everything at the commencement of a match in order to win if possible on the first - sets. ! In a match between Auckland and ! the Bay of Plenty, last February, • Smith, for the latter association, played a sterling game against Bart- ' leet, a former New Zealand champion, whom he beat by a comfortable margin. Smith had the champion extend- ' ed throughout the whole of the match ' and defeated him by superior play.