MATCH IN PROGRESS, END OF MATCH, ROCHE AND PIETRANGELI SHAKING HANDS, ROCHE RECEIVING CUP.




Initials JGS/VS/CCT/PC


SPORT: TENNIS

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: AUSTRALIAN TONY ROCHE, WHO WILL BE 21 NEXT TUESDAY, REACHED TENNIS MATURITY ON THE FORD ITALICO CENTRE COURT YESTERDAY (WEDNESDAY) WHEN HE WON THE MEN'S SINGLES TITLE IN THE ITALIAN TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS.

THE LEFT HANDED YOUNGSTER, WITH THE BUILD OF A MIDDLEWEIGHT BOXER, USED HIS WEIGHTIER STROKES TO DEFEAT ITALY'S STAR PLAYER, NICOLA PIETRANGELI, BY 11-9, 6-1, 6-2 IN A FINAL LASTING AN HOUR AND FORTY MINUTES.

PIETRANGELI CONCEDED ONLY THREE POINTS IN TAKING A TWO LOVE LEAD AT THE START BUT ONCE ROCHE SETTLED DOWN AND LEVELLED AT TWO ALL, THE SET DEVELOPED INTO A TREMENDOUS SERVICE-GOVERNED CONTEST. ROCHE SHOWED A SHREWD TENNIS BRAIN BY WORKING PATIENTLY FOR THE OPENINGS AND WAITING FOR THE RIGHT BALL ON WHICH TO ATTACK FROM THE FORECOURT. ONCE HE GAINED THE NET POSITION HE VOLLEYED WITH AUTHORITY.

ROCHE HAD A SET POINT IN THE 14TH GAME, WHICH PIETRANGELI SAVED WITH A DROP SHOT. IT WAS THE 32-YEAR-OLD ITALIAN'S TURN TO GET WITHIN A POINT OF SET IN THE 18TH GAME BUT ROCHE AVERTED THIS CRISIS WITH A CHARACTERISTIC VOLLEY. ROCHE EVENTUALLY CLINCHED THE SET BY TAKING PIETRANGELI'S SERVICE TO 15-8, THE 20TH WITH A SMASH ON SET POINT AND FROM THEN ON THERE WAS ONLY A TOKEN OF ITALIAN RESISTANCE.