KOZELUH

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 580, 5 February 1929, Page 14

KOZELUH

Not the Greatest

WALLIS MERRIHEWS OPINION

Is Karel Kozeluli the greatest lawn tennis player in the world to-day? Alost assuredly not, in my opinion. My “no” is based primarily on the fact that the Czecho-Slovakian has not demonstrated his premiership, having played no matches with the great amateurs

ot the daj r . It is therefore impossible, at this time, to do more than speculate or indulge in conjecture as to the relative skill of amateurs and professionals—as has been done almost from the beginnings of the game, writes S. YVallis Merrilew in "American Lawn Tennis.”

The best we can do is to study Kozeluh’s match performances and draw deductions from them. It is as a professional that he has established his fame, for his matches as an amateur, may bo left out of consideration, so comparatively remote and inconsequential are they. Prior to 1928 Kozeluli demonstrated that he was the leading European professional match player; his lead was so great that it might almost be said that he had no rival. In the professional championship at Beaulieu last January he did not lose a set. This year he has been engaged in a series of matches with Vincent Richards, with the result that the two men have defmitely established the fact that they are almost in a class by themselves. AGAINST RICHARDS But it is Kozeluli and Richards who top the list of professionals. Of their 20 encounters this year Kozeluli lias won 15 to Richards’s 5. The most important encounter was the one at Forest Hills, for that was an open tournament—to pros—and Ihe one which attracted the most attention. Richards won with the loss of one set, and on the day was clearly superior to his opponent. Notwithstanding this, Kozeluli is clearly No. 1 man, and it may be added that he would probably win a majority of matches staged between the two players. But one swallow does not make a summer, nor do Kozeluh’s wins from Richards indicate, much less proclaim, any superiority over the best amateurs. Except by indirection, we have nothing to go on in this matter. Kozeluli beats Richards, and Richards was one of the great American triumvirate —Tilden, Johnston and Richards. In the United States Tilden remains in active competition—speaking in a general sense—and such opinions as can be obtained as well as those that are entertained, would probably be on the side of the American in the case of a match, or a series of matches, between the two men. It is a fact that in 1927, when both men were in Berlin and a meeting could have been arranged, 'L’ilden was the willing and Kozeluli the unwilling one. Nevertheless the two men have not met; nor has Kozeluli tried his skill against any of the other leading American experts. NO COMPARISON

There remain the. European amateurs —notably Cochet, Lacoste and Borotra. France is, beyond any shadow of doubt, the dominant as well as the champion nation. In any world’s ranking Cochet and Lacoste would be placed in the lead, followed by Tilden. But encounters between Kozeluli and the French players are also non-existent, and we can do no more than indulge in speculation as to their respective skill. Only by a survey of the past can we- get anywhere—and then not very far. When an amateur, say, in 1926, ards was certainly inferior to Tilden and Johnston, while Cochet beat him both in Paris and at Wimbledon. Since then Cochet has come on a lot. while Lacoste is probably better than he was in the year mentioned. Comparing the games of Kozeluli and the leading amateurs I can see no escape from the conclusion, that, on paper, Kozeluli is inferior. Volleyers like Borotra and Cocliet would test him to the limit, while Lacoste and Tilden have the same superlative back court game as Kozeluh. while they are much superior in the forecourt. Kozeluli’s volleying and overhead is aii unknown quantity, and the history or rue game contains the names ot only a tev base-liners who were really great—te. H. Smith being tlm outstanding one. A wonderful player is Karel Kozeluli. one who would rank high in any company. But the greatest nlayer of the clay? We repeat, assuredly not. •

COUNTRY GAMES

HAURAKI PLAINS FINAL (From Oar Own Correspondent) NGATEA, Monday. The Ngatea Tennis Club’s A grade team won the Hauraki Plains Association’s inter-club final for tlie Laidlaw Cup in a very closely-contested match with the Turua team at Ngatea on Saturday. The match was very interesting. owing to the evenness of \ e teams, and the final set gave Ngatea a lead of one, the difference in games being three. Results. Ngatea names first: Men’s Singles—S. Coppins beat F. C. Robinson, 9—B, E. Coppins lost to T. Miller 7—9; A. Morgan beat A. McConnell. ;*—-6; L. Cotter lost to H. Griffiths, 5—9. Women’s Singles—Mrs. Reed beat Mrs. Clot worthv, 7—6; Mrs. Bertelsen lost to Miss Griffiths. 4—7. Men’s Doubles —S. and E. Coppins beat F. C. Robinson and T Miller, 9 —S; A. Morgan and L. Cotter beat A. McConnell and H. Griffiths, 9 —4; E. Alexander and A Ludlow lost to F. Shepherd and C. Scott, 6—9. Women’s Doubles—Mrs. Reed and Mrs. Bertelsen lost to Mrs. Clot worthy and Miss Griffiths, 6 —7; Mrs. Jackson and Mrs. Cotter beat Miss Dixon and Mrs. Sootf, 7—2. Mixed Doubles —E. Alexander and Mrs.

Jackson beat F. Shepherd and Miss Dixon, T—4; A. K. Ludlow and Mrs. Fetter lost to C. Scott and Mrs. Scott, I —7. Tot a is: Xu a ion 7 sols. 89 games; Turua G sets, SG games. SATURDAY’S GAMES The draw for the inter-club matches of the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association on Saturday is as follows: Grade B.—Ngataringa v. Campbell Park. Campbell Park: Mount Albert v. Devonport, Mount Albert. Grade C. —Vauxhall v. Ngatira. Stanley Street. 1,2, 3; Ngataringa v. Mount Eden Cong., Mount Eden Cong.: Balmoral v. Otahuliu, Balmoral; Mount Albert v. University, University: Aratonga No. 1 v. United. Aratonga. Grade B>.—Edendale v. Aratonga, Stanley Street 4. 5. G: Unity v. Seddonian. Unity: Campbell Pa.rk No. 2, v. Pukeroa No. 2, Pukeroa. WILDING SHIELD GAME Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, To-day. The following will represent Canterbury against Wellington for the Wilding Tennis Shield on Friday:—Messrs. Angas, Seay. Glanville, and Patterson. The referee will be Mr. J. A. Howe.