1939-05-09 — Page 23

THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 9, 1939.

COLONY TENNIS

Pago 23

FINAL TAILS DEPRESSINGLY

SINGLES

OUT

Tsui Wai-Pui Completely Overshadows Brother

WINNER LIKELY ΤΟ REIGN FOR MANY YEARS

("By ADREM”)

Tsui Wai-pui beat Tsui Yan-pui 3-6, 6-2, 7---5, 4-6, 6---4.

In the face of the above score one would instantly jump to the conclusion that the final of the Colony singles championship played yesterday on the Stand Court, was a close, thrilling affair.

It wasn't! The opening part of it was well worth watching that was when Tsui Yan-pui played really splendid tennis to go out at 6-3 later, it merely dragged itself out to an inevitable conclu- sion.

Apart from that first set, and one or two other odd spasms, the rallies were terribly short.

Another reason why, as enter- tainment value, the match fell a long way short of expectations, was the fact that at no time did both brothers strike form at the same period.

Thus we had Yan-pui dominating the court in the first set whilst Wai-pui was trying to find his touch. In the second and third sets, Wai-pui was brilliant and his brother gave the im- pression of being a spent force. In the fourth set they were both bad and Wai- pui, in the fifth set, gave the impres-. sion that he wasn't trying very hard and was just availing himself of the opportunity of working in an occasion- al trick-shot.

YAN-PUI WON MOST -POINTS

The following shows the points won during the match:

Ist set

Wai-pui Yan-pui

20

31

2nd set

35

26

3rd set 4th set 5th set

37

36

35

43

41.

36

168

172

Total

Yan-pui served eight glorious aces during the match, Wai-pui being unable to reach any of them, but he served eight "double --- faults, once being foot-faulted.

Wai-pui served nine double faults.

That then is a fairly accurate sum- mary of the five sets. The last three- quarters of an hour might have proved of interest to many-to those with Caledonian instincts they might have the greatest of ease by a half-volley

many

66

Sing Tao Jih Pao" Basketball Team snapped scoring the two necessary points which gave them the Colony Chinese Senior Bas- ketball League Championship last night. (Photo by "Sing Tao Jih Pao").

DAVIS CUP PLAYERS ARRIVE ON THURSDAY

The two players selected to represent Philippine Islands in the Davis Cup are due to arrive here on Thursday in the President Pierce en route to the United States.

They are Amado Sanchez, P. I's No. 1 player, and Felicisimo

felt they were getting their dollar's drive which flashed down the sideline worth!--but judging from the expres- or cross court according to his position sions, and remarks passed in my par- at the time. ticular vicinity in the Stand,

I have never seen the champion use were bored to tears and were mainly the drop-shot so little in a recent Ampon. interested in their side-bets on which match. He was wiser than his game Wai-pui would decide to apply brother! The ground was far too hard pressure and get it over!

The foregoing may sound a trifle jaundiced but I was really disappointed in the game-probably I expected too much.

If it did nothing else, however, it did demonstrate how far superior to everyone else in the Colony Tsui Wai-pui really is. We have be come accustomed to seeing Yan- pui toy with even some of our bet- ter players.

The boot was on the other foot with a vengeance yesterday. Except for the first 20 minutes, one always felt that his brother could have won when he liked.

It will be recalled that Sanchez, for its safe exploitation as Yan-pui on his way to Saigon to play in the found. to his cost. Wai-pui had no difficulty in reaching the ball however Indo-China championships, gave ex- accurately it was dropped and invari-hibitions at Kowloon Cricket Club ably won the point with a lob that together with Leonardo Gavia, the dropped within a couple of feet of the second string. baseline.

At his best, Yan-pui's accuracy off the ground brought him some measure of success. In the first set he kept a remarkably fine length, placing fierce drives into the backhand corner with consistency. He also scored with some frequency with a sharply-angled cross- court forehand drive.

On the backhand, generally con. sidered his soundest wing, he dis-· appointed. He was all over the place with his timing and very in- clined to balloon the stroke with disastrous results with his oppon- ent advancing on the net,

The selection of Ampon over the head of Gavia caused a first- class sensation in the Islands. A youth of a bare 17 Summers, Ampon is described as a player of extreme promise and should gain enormously by his trip abroad.

Sanchez, winner of the National Tournament in the Philippines last month, was named No. 1 member of the Davis Cup team immediately, | but it was decided that a series of matches be arranged between Am- pon and Gavia to decide which of these two should accompany him.

Twice Postponed.......

Chief feature of Wai-pul's game," when he was taking matters seriously. was his uncanny accuracy and his ability to produce attacking shots from the most awkward positions. His driving on the forehand was superb, His service was first-class and when his net coups well-planned and his ser- he was fresh and volleying well, he vice adequate, but what amazed more, usually came in on it and made the than anything was his extraordinary point. powers of anticipation.

Yan-pui left little doubt that he greater part of yesterday's match, Ampon won the first 4-6, 6-2, is 6-4, 6-1 and the return match was capable of beating anyone else in the postponed twice, on the instigation Colony and, unless the Colony acquires Gavia.. the Tsuis occupying the position, in someone who is very good indeed, I see local tennis, so long occupied with such distinction by the inimitable Rumjahns,

Rarely was he caught on the wrong foot. He was in position and ready for some of his brother's most unexpected

passing shots.

· Attacking Half-Volley

Another phase of the game in which he proved adopt and which will always leave him in a class of his own in Co. lony tennis, was his ability to attack on the half-volley. He was amazingly accurate with this, generally consider éd defensive stroke. ;

Overshadowed though he was for the

Some Advice!

Having regard to the early depar bure of the President Pierce, the selection committee decided that the

recall the Rumjahns' performances in the past.

TO-DAY'S MATCH.

team would have to be named with- out further delay, and Ampon was selected.

It was hoped that exhibition matches could be aranged by the H.K.L.T.A. but as the Pierce ar- rives at 6 p.m. on Thursday and o'clock leaves at 1

the follow- ing morning, this will not be practicable.

i

Philippines will meet the winner of the tie between Australia and

Mexico.

D.B.S. BEAT SCHOOL SCOUTS

In a friendly cricket match last. Saturday on the School's ground, Dio- cesan Boys' School beat the School Scouts by 29, runs.

Scores were:

D.B.S.: 105 (F. J. Lay 54, G. 'A. Kew 19; B. D. Lay 2 for 23).

School Scouts: 88 (D. Crary 28, J.

Fisher 28, B. D. Lay 15; 4. White s

for 15; G. A. Goodban 3 for 17, W. Chin Fen 2 for 2). \

In the Captain's Cup May qualifying competition at Fanling, played on May, 6 and 7, T. E. Pearce, with a card of 87-1572 qualified on the Old Course.

There were 81 entries.

In passing, however, I feel that Wai-

D. S. Edward, with 78—4—69, quali: put would do well to remember, that

fied on the New Course. There were from a spectator's point of view, a good The final of the Club tennis cham-11-entries here. It makes it extremely difficult for an crisp three-set match is far more inter- pionships singles event will be played -The optional sweep --on the “Old opponent. -Ian-pul, on several occas esting, to watch than a long-drawn out on the Stand Court this afternoon. Course was won by To MegarrỰ, sions, went in on a searing, drive right"|"affair, such as yesterday's and in this The finallate are H. J. Armstrong | 87-18=75(16. ”ntries)*- into the corner only, tom passed with connection he might well endeavour to and W. Sander.

on the New Courno

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