EXHIBITION AGAIN GREAT SUCCESS

HOW THE "STARS" PLAYED

(By Vantage)

THE exhibition games at Basford yesterday were once again a great success, the large number of people who were present being loud in their praise of the programme placed before them.

The Staffordshire Lawn Tennis Association officials had many anxious days following the announcement that Malfoy and Stedman, the New Zealanders, had sustained injuries which would prevent them from appearing, for the task of securing other players in their stead presented considerable difficulties. The majority of the other first-class players were either on their way to Paris, to take part in the French Hard Court Championships, or were already taking part in some tournament in other parts of the country.

Some idea of the position may be gleaned from the fact that Mr. F. T. Jacks, the Hon. Secretary of the Association, did not know until Thursday afternoon that Khi Sin Kie, Chinese Davis Cup captain would be able to appear. He returned to England from Germany on Wednesday, but it was not possible to get in touch with him until Thursday morning.

From a purely tennis point of view, the exhibition was extremely well worth seeing. The high light of the afternoon was the mixed doubles between Donald Butler and Miss Round and Kho Sim Kie and Senorita Lizana. In this match there was some really delightful play, and every stroke in the game was used with telling effect. Undoubtedly the most effective of the four was Butler, whose overhead work was a joy to watch and his smashing from the baseline the sort of thing that the average player dreams about, but is never able to execute.

SUPERB CONTROL

Kho Sin Kie pleased everyone by the delicacy and superb control of all his strokes. His perfect timing gives his shots the maximum of speed with the minimum of effort, and his net duels with Miss Dorothy Round were most entertaining. Miss Round was in great form all afternoon, and she surprised everyone with the strength and accuracy of her driving. From the baseline and on the volley Miss Round showed wonderful control, placing the ball time and again to within inches of the lines.

Senorita Lizana who always looks on the court as though she is thoroughly enjoying herself, showed us a backhand of extreme effectiveness. The way in which she swept the ball down the side lines with this stroke gave some evidence of her power, and, in fact, her game throughout was singularly free from blemish.

I have never seen the drop shot employed so frequently and with such success. Of course, Lizana is renowned for her use of this most difficult of shots, and the way in which she employs it while standing on the baseline shows how she has her strokes under control.

Bullock and Moore, the Staffordshire pair who opposed Kho Sin Kie and Butler in the men's doubles, did extraordinarily well under the most difficult conditions. They went on to the court when the light was becoming very bad and against two men who had, by then, "got their eye in," so that it was not surprising that, in the first set they were rather badly outclassed. In the second set, however, they improved greatly, both producing some extremely good shots.

So once again the County Association was able to give the people of North Staffordshire a really excellent programme, and I am assured that it will be the policy of the association to continue the exhibitions for just as long as their efforts meet with adequate support.

Evening Sentinel, 15 May 1937
Courtesy of The Sentinel News & Media