ROSEWALL-STOLLE WIN FIRST SET; ROSEWALL AND STOLLE WIN THIRD SET; GENERAL PLAY IN FOURTH SET; NEWCOMBE-ROCHE WIN FOURTH SET; NEWCOMBE-ROCHE WIN FIFTH SET AND MATCH.




Initials JP/V/BOB/SGM


SPORT: TENNIS
EDITORS NOTE: THIS FILM MAY BE USED IN SCHEDULED PROGRAMMES ONLY. NO MORE THAN TWO MINUTES OF ANY TWO MATCHES MAY BE USED IN A SINGLE DAY.

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE YOUNG AUSTRALIAN PAIR ---JOHN NEWCOMBE AND TONY ROCHE ---TODAY (SATURDAY) WON THE WIMBLEDON MEN'S DOUBLES TITLE AFTER A MARATHON, THREE-HOUR MATCH WITH FELLOW COUNTRYMEN, KEN ROSEWALL AND FRED STOLLE. ROCHE AND NEWCOMBE WON THE ALL-PROFESSIONAL FINAL BY 3-6, 8-6, 5-7, 14-12, 6-3. THEY THUS REGAINED THE TITLE THAT THEY WON AT WIMBLEDON IN 1965.

ROCHE AND NEWCOMBE HAD TO FIGHT VERY HARD TO OVERCOME THEIR MORE EXPERIENCED OPPONENTS. ROCHE WAS UNSETTLED EARLY IN THE MATCH FOLLOWING THE PREVIOUS DAY'S THRASHING METED OUT TO HIM BY ROD LAVER IN THE MEN'S SINGLES FINAL, STOLLE-WITH HIS DEEP, ACCURATE SERVING - AND ROSEWALL - THE MASTER OF THE NET - BREEZED THROUGH THE FIRST SET 6-3 AND LOOKED LIKELY CANDIDATES FOR A STRAIGHT SETS WIN.

BUT ROCHE AND NEWCOMBE CAME BACK WELL IN THE SECOND SET. THEY TWICE BROKE ROSEWALL'S SERVE AND EVENED THE SCORE WITH AN 8-6 WIN. STOLLE AND ROSEWALL REAPPLIED THE PRESSURE BUT HAD TO FIGHT ALL THE WAY TO TAKE THIRD SET 7-5. AS THE MATCH PROGRESSED, ROCHE AND NEWCOMBE STARTED TO SLOWLY WEAR DOWN THEIR OLDER OPPONENTS. THEY GOT THEIR VITAL BREAK IN THE 26TH GAME OF THE FOURTH SET WHEN THEY BROKE STOLLE'S SERVICE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE MATCH. AFTER WINNING THE FOURTH SET 14-12 ROCHE AND NEWCOMBE CRASHED THROUGH STOLLE'S SERVE AGAIN IN THE DECIDING SET. THEY RAN UP A 3-1 LEAD AND WENT ON TO TAKE THE SET. 6-3
FINAL SCORE: NEWCOMBE-ROCHE BEAT ROSEWALL-STOLLE:
3-6, 8-6, 5-7, 14-12, 6-3.