LAWN TENNIS.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 May 1922, Page 3

LAWN TENNIS.

NEW SOUTH WALES CHAMPIONSHIP. VICTORY TO MISS CURTIS. DAY OF BRILLIANT PLAY. By Telegraph.—Frees Assn.—Copyright. Received May 1, 5.5 p.m. Sydney, May 7. The tennis was adnCinuM yesterday In bright and warm Weather. Miss Curtis beat Miss Boyd in the semi-final of the ladies’ singles championship, 6 —2, I—6, 6—2, after a brilliant exhibition. Miss Curtis employed a cross-court drive frequently and successfully, displaying the keenest discrimination in measuring strokes. She maintained mastery throughout. In the first set Miss Boyd won three games straight, and then, a thrilling bout of volleying terminated in favor of Miss Curtis after a well-fought game.- The second set was won by Miss Boyd. The third set called for a special effort, and Miss Curtis provided it. Starting cautiously, neither took risks. Miss Curtis drew first blood with fine cross-court driving, combined with excellent placing. Though not displaying the coolness or assurance of a champion, the New Zealander in all other respects was faultless. Miss Boyd, who played a. remarkably strong service, by driving kept Miss Curtis on the run several times, but just when the ball seemed beyond reach the New Zealander extricated herself with beautiful backhand strokes, incidentally embarrassing her opponent. At the fifth game the score was 4—l in favor of Miss Curtis. Miss Boyd lost heart from this stage to the The weather after lunch was a contrast to that of the morning, for rain threatened with a cold wind, and it sprinkled slightly during the final, but insufficient to interrupt the game. In the final Miss Curtis beat Mrs. Molesworth, the previous champion, 10—8, 5—7, 7 —5, after a remarkably brilliant exhibition. The New Zealander's victory was immensely popular, and she was chaired to the dressing rooms amidst great enthusiasm. The first set was remarkable tor, constant fluctuations. Miss Curtis, unperturbed, tackled the champion with the same calm and casual manner which has characterised her play throughout the carnival. Her opponent always played with the confidence and assurance of a champion, but despite an excellent service and possessing considerable pace, she repeatedly failed to rattle the’’ New Zealander or put her off her game. The games not only fluctuated alternately till the eighteenth, but play havered round deuce in a remarkable number of instances. The set took fifty minutes to decide. The set was eventually terminated by Mrs. Molesworth double-faulting.

In the second set Miss Curtis repeated her cross-court drives and net volleying, and at one stage she led 5—2. Mrs. Molesworth recovered through her splendid service, finding the corner of the court frequently by the closest of margins.

The tension was at a high pitch when the third set commenced, but Miss Curtis was less concerned than the spectators. She always had Mrs. Molesworth on the defensive, and whenever placed in difficulties always appeared to reverse the tables from almost Impossible situations. Several times she failed to complete neatly executed movements by tapping the ball into the net, and at other times she lost strokes through not judging the back line to a nicety; but on the whole her cross-court drives and volleying, combined with an inexhaustible supply of grit and determination, enabled her to cope with and rally from a position, no matter how forlorn it seemed to onlookers. Her backhand returns repeatedly changed the situation for her, particularly in the last game, when, she triumphantly emerged from several rallies worthy of the occasion and worthy of the best players in the world. Though the victory Is for the championship

of New South Wales, in view cf the InterState competitors it actually means the championship of Australasia. The New Zealand party present was overjoyed, one rtJmarklng: "I knew she would win. A black cat nestled in her clothes in the dressing-room before the final started.”—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE DAVIS CUP. CANADA WITHDRAWS. Received May 7, 5.5 p.m. Ottawa, May 5. The Canada Tennis Association has announced that Canada will withdraw from the Davis Cup, defaulting to France, owing to insufficient time for the selection and training of a team for a trip to Europe.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.