Rosewall Rated Wimbledon Choice: Vic Seixas Leading United States Hope; Maureen Connolly Favored To Annex Womens Singles Title Second Straight Year, Daily Racing Form, 1953-06-22

article


view raw text

Rosewall Rated Wimbledon Choice Vic Seixas Leading United States Hope Maureen Connolly Favored To Annex Womens Singles Title Second Straight Year By ROBERT C. DOWSON United Press Sports Writer WIMBLEDON, England, June 20. — Australias 18-year-old Kenneth R. Rosewall is favorite to add a third title to his Australian and French crowns when the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships begin Monday. Some 128 star netmen from 32 countries are scheduled to contest all 64 first round matches of the mens singles, to which the entire first days program of the two weeks meet will be devoted. When the womens singles begin Tuesday, two more countries will be represented, making a total of 34. Rosewall, seeded number one for the Wimbledon crown, though ranked only second iri his own country, is hotly favored by fans. His closest challengers are expected to be Jaroslav Drobny of Egypt and Vic Seixas of Philadelphia. The popular Drobny would get one of the greatest ovations in many years if he upsets the odds and won the title. Seixas, second ranked in the United States, is in better favor with the fans, than first ranked compatriot Gardnar Mul-loy. The seeding committee also estimated Seixas chances higher when they seeded him at number two, compared with the number five spot given the 38 -year -old Mulloy. Criticized for Ill-Temper Top ranked in the United States, Mulloy of Coral Gables, Fla., has drawn unfavorable comment from fans and press for displays of ill-temper on court and caustic criticism of umpires in recent British tournaments. Among other possible successors to the title won last year by Australian Frank Sedgman, who turned professional, are: Mervyn Rose, Australias top-ranked player, seeded number three; Lewis Hoad, Australias third ranked and seeded sixth; Art Larsen, United States third ranker and seeded seventh; and Argentina number one, Enrique Morea, seeded eighths Wimbledon champion of 1950, Budge Patty of Los Angeles, appears to have a slim chance of becoming the only man to win the title twice since the war. He did not find a place in this year eight seed spots. Maureen "Little Mo" Coonolly of the United States is favored to retain the womens crown she won at her first attempt last year at the age of 17. Second ranked and second seeded Doris Hart, and third ranked, third seeded Shirley Fry, also of the United States, will provide the hottest competition. The program for the first day of womens singles — Tuesday — has not yet been arranged. If called upon to play that day, Miss Connolly is almost certain to open on the center court against South Africas Dora Kilian in their second round match. Both players drew byes in the first round.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1950s/drf1953062201/drf1953062201_2_1
Local Identifier: drf1953062201_2_1
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800