FRENCH TENNIS STARS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 253, 16 January 1928, Page 1

FRENCH TENNIS STARS

ARRIVAL AT WELLINGTON TRIBUTE TO WILDING WELLINGTON, To-day. Three French tennis players, Jean Borotra, Jaques Brugnon and Christian Boussus arrived from San Francisco by the Makura this morning. Borotra, in an interview, said that he was very pleased to have the opportunity of visiting New Zealand, as this country had produced Anthony Wilding, whom he considered the greatest player that had ever existed, with Norman Brooks a good second. Referring to the Davis Cup, Borotra said they had been a trifle lucky to win, because while they themselves had been at the top of their form, Johnston, of the American team, was off his game. Lacoste and Cochet, the singles players, had played wonderful tennis throughout the tournament, and all he and Brugnon had done was to lose a point to the Americans.

Referring to the French style of game that had come into prominence, Borotra said that they were primarily volleyers, whereas in America players like Johnston and Tilden kept to the base-line. The Frenchmen speeded the game up by taking the ball before it bounced, and it was this new type of play that was mainly responsible for their success in the tennis eup. The Frenchmen are en route to Australia, where they will play a series of matches from January 25 to March 3, afterwards going to South Africa. In Wellington on Wednesday and Thursday they will play exhibition games against Olivier and Bartleet in the singles, and Knott - nd Sturt in the doubles. The youthful players, Boussus and Malfroy, will meet on , Thursday.