Over the Net

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 885, 31 January 1930, Page 2

Over the Net

Bn

"DEUCE "

N.Z„. Championship Good progress has been made in ail events and, given fine weather, there should be no trouble in deciding all finals this week without overworking 1 the players. In past years competi- j tors were often called on to play two I five set singles in one day as well as a j doubles and mixed match. This year ; a p.ia.yer to reach the final has to play j only one match a day in each event \ and even then there is a day to spare, j * * * Decrease ini Number of Entries Compared with previous years the entries are poor as far as numbers are concerned. It is a long time since the number of aspirants for the men’s title was as few as 35, and the official I entry has since been diminished by Griffiths, Charters and Dwyer failing to take part in the tournament. In recent years the number of competitors in this event has ranged from fifty, when held in Auckland, to between 60 and 70 when held at Christchurch. Only 16 pairs entered for the men’s doubles and the number was reduced to 14 by two pairs failing to put in an appearance. It is a long time- since fewer than 30 pairs have competed in this event. * * * Wifiy Have the Entries Decreased? The reasons for such disappointing entries are hard to find. It is certainly not because the game is losing its popularity in the Dominion. On the contrary, there is a steady and substantial increa.se every year in the number of players belonging to clubs affiliated to the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association, and the total number is now approaching 30,000. One can hardly imagine that the venue of the meeting has affected the entries as it is the most central part of the Dominion and the tournament has not been held there for 10 years. The most probable reason would appear to bo the alteration in the date of the championship meeting from Christa resolution having been passed last year that it be held not earlier than the middle of January. Many players have their annual holidays at Lhi istmas, and no doubt there were quite a number who were unable to £ et away, seeing the championships followed so soon after their return to business. The management will no doubt endeavour to discover the real reason for the falling off in the number of entries and if possible take steps to remedy the matter. Should the Tournament Committee Have a Discretion There has been considerable discussion over the action of the manage*r^antWn . refusin S to allow Griffiths and Charters to pair together in the had b Jfn S tifi,2; e k thei t ori S inal Partners lidd notified them that they would not be aiailable. It is understood that such a request was made bv these players some ten days before the nmetmg commenced, but after their origdralwenthfit ha l ! been sent in an d the CraTV ha, i been made. Apparentiy the granting of the request bv the secretary would have been against m® t ' ai V Jown b - v manage;in.nt His refusal meant that the j meeting was the poorer bv th~ ab--1 SS?“? f ,H two p ° pular and able exponi °,f thc same as they did not con- ‘ - a ' r °rtn. while making the trip ..or the singles only. On «h e -i -face :.t would seem that the rule is some- ; what too rigid and that much ‘hardship might 1.0 relieved by J, discretion being given in such cases to the comI T g! ntroi of the tournament. .viler all, it is only a meeting of ann- ; teurs competing for the fun of the | game, and had the provided ‘ s.a h ; a. discretion no true sportsman could

have had any objection under the eit* cumstances to these two players belnc admitted. ♦ * * Surprises in Eairly Rounds The South Island woman had a disastrous first day. Canterbury’s two leading players. Miss Andrew and Miss Wake, were beaten in the first round, which was a surprise to followers of the game. As was expected. Min Gibson was beaten by Miss Macfar* lane and Mrs. Scott was eliminated by Miss Nicholls, after winning the second set. Thus all Southern playert; were out of the women’s singles on the opening day. Miss Marion Macfarlane, although defeated by Miss Smith in the first round, certainly had her monev's worth the match. being a proper marathon. She won the first, set &--6. lost the second I—6,1 —6, and the third 13—15 after leading 5—2. The Misses Macfarlane were beaten in the first round of the doubles by the strong Christchurch combination. Misses Wake and Andrew, and Misses Knight and Fleming were also accounted fer in the first round. Thus the Auckland women fared badly for an opening day but their turn may come in the singles, especially as Miss Macfarlane and Miss Knight are on opposite sides of the draw. All the seceded players in the men’s singles have reached the last eight without serious opposition with the exception of A.. I*. France, who won his. match against Howell only after th«> score of two sets all had been called In the men’s doubles the fouJ' seeded pairs had little opposition in reaching the isemi-finals. * * • Wellington Championship Seay vms in excellent form and defeated A. L. France in the final very easily. Franco is not up to last year 1 * form; but even had he been so tfct ultimate result -would not have beea otherwise. In view of this performance Seay should reach, the semi-fin* 1 at the New Zealand meeting, and :f he is at his best may even bring of a surprise against D. G. France. Miss Macfarlane was beaten by Mrs. Adams, who scored only four games in the final against Mhss Nicholls. On these results Mi*» Nicholls must be a hot favourite for the national singles. Aucklanders, however, will still give Miss Macfarlane a good chance. If she is able reproduce her accurate good lengty drives it will make up for any I***of variety there may game. Masterton Championship Stedman has won his first singly championship this season. He his revenge by defeating Charters v er7 easily in the final. Charters havin.; beaten him at Wanganui in the Island championships. According to reports, the tennis was not of a very high standard, and truß is probably accounted for by taefi® players becoming stale after the of tennis they have indulged in dunQf the last month. , Entwistle also has apparently J* enough as he was forced tc retue from the meeting through a bad oa'-*-Borotra Invincible on Hard Courts Borotra has just won the championship of France for the sl3 [l time. He appears tc be much m ‘vT at home on hard courts than on tn grass. Most of Ills victories agarw Tilden have been on hard whereas Tilden has won nearly all “ ‘ matches against Borotra on This goes to show that there is a deal of difference in the game acco ing to the nature of the courts..