Lawn Tennis

fßy "Huka.") DAVIS CUP. The visit of the American team to -England with the object of playing the preliminary tie against the British Isles fizzled out after all. A hitch occurred at the eleventh hour, although Beals Wright was actually on his journey. Possibly, of course, he intended to go across for tho All-England championship, even though the teams' match was declared oft". It is quite possible that tie match dn the preliminary tie between America and the British Isiee will be played in Australia, and then the winner will come on to New Zealand to compete against tho Australasian team in the challenge round for the International Championship and Davis Cup. Tho Australasian Association has guaranteed America and the British Isles the sum of £600 & piece, if they each send three approved players. The losing team in the preliminary round is offered matches against other States^ — say New South Wales, Victoria, efcc — and will take one-third of the profits. The profits of the preliminary round are to be divided between tho competing teams and the Australasian Aesociation. — that is, each takes one-third. England's demand was for a guarantee of £800 in connection with tho Davis Cup competition, and it makes oae wonder if the Au6traJasian Association made any demand with regard to a guarantee when its teams were senc Home. Of course, when ite team won tho Davis Cup in 1907, it received a half-share of the net profits — the amount being £131 8s 4d. When America played Australasia at Melbourne in 1908, it received as its halfshare £483 3s 3d, and £300 6s for its share from the match at Sydney in 1909. The British Isles received £427 for its 6hare of the profits of the 1908 match (played in the United States) against America. Should America and England send teams out, there is no doubt that other players would accompany thern^ and, naturally they would come on to New Zealand to witness tho final for tho Davis Cup. If an English team does come out, it is to be hoped that the famous Doherty brothers will be either in it or with it. THE AMERICAN TEAM. The American team, it seems, was practically picked to play the British team. It wa3 composed of Beals Wright, M. E. M'Loughlan, and M. H. Long. The two latter players composed tho American team that competed at Sydney last year. _H. L. Doherty is now giving more attention to golf than to tennis, and was a competitor at the amateur golf championship of England this year. SURREY CHAMPIONSHIPS. Tho championship of Surrey was won -by the Holder, M. J. G. Ritohie. Doust went down to Powell in tho fourth round A — 6, 6—3,6 — 3, 6—2. Powell was beaten by the holder in the final. 6—3,6 — 3, 6—l, 2—6.2 — 6. 6—3. Doust and Poideran, the Sydney combination, won the doubles easily. Their form was wonderfully consistent right; through; they only lost 13 games in the five rounds played. Doust and Miss Morton won the combined. Doust gave a brilliant display, his powers of anticipation and killing boing quite extraordinary. Doust and Poidevin further distinguished themselves by beating tho All England champions, Goro and Barrett, in. an exhibition match, by 3 sets to 1, the scores beins 6—3, 6—2, 4-^-6, B—6. Some fino volleying was seen in the match, whifck was remarkable for a gTeat rally on the part of Gore and Barrett, when two sets down with four games to two against them. After winning the set at 6—4,6 — 4, they held a winning position in the fourth sec, only to bo gradually overhauled and beaten by the colonial p*ir aftor advantage games had been played. ALL ENGLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS. A. W Gore, the holder of tho All England championship, like many athletes in other sports, has had to give in to the younger player. Wilding lias had many tries for the Blue Riband of the tenms world, and at last secured it. Wilding learnt his tennis on asphalt and grass courts in New Zoaland, and was coached by his father, who won the doubles championship of New Zealand on seven oooasions. Wilding first attracted attention by winning tho handicap singles from the receive 15 mark at the 1900 New Zealand Championship Meeting, beating Lai&hley (owo 15), 6—4,6 — 4, 6—26 — 2 ; Laurie (rec. 3—63 — 6 of 15), 6— a, 6—4; C. F. Salmond (roc. 151, (6—o, 5—6, 6—l; and in the final, Borrows (rco. 3—6 oi 15), 6—l, 6—4. Since then he has steadily improved, until he is now ono »f tho finest players in the workl. Wilding, with Ritchie, also secured tho cJoubles, beating that famous pail-, Goro and Rop«r-Barrett, in the challenge round' very easily. Their hardest match. was agswnst. Doust and Poidevin,. tho "allSydtoey" pair taking tho first and fourth sets. It was "two sets all," and as the Sydney players had run away with the fourth sot at 6—l,6 — 1, a- great struggle was looked for in the fifth set; bub Wilding and Ritchie -had evidently been reserving themselves for it, and, going at top, won it at 6—3.6 — 3. The holders, Gore and Barret, were expected to retain the title, bufcwere never in the hunt. In 1907 Brookes and Wilding won, and in 1908 Wilding and Ritchie secured the< title by beating 1 Gore and Barret* 6—l, 6—2, I—6, I—6, 9—7, in the final. In 1907 Gore and Barrett beat Wilding and Brookes in, tha Davis Cup doubles 3—6, 4—6, 7—5, 6—2, 13—11. It would almost appear that Wilding and Ritohio are an ideal pair, and! they can eay_ what few pairs have the honour of saying 11 — that they hava beaten the famous Doherty Brothers. In the AB-Englandl doubfea of 1907, Goro and Barrett went out to Beads Wright and Karl Behr B—lo, 4—6, 6—l, 6—4, 6—2 ; then Brookes a>ndl Wilding won the final from tho Americans 6—4,6 — 4, 6—4, 6—2;6 — 2; but the latter pair beat them in the Davie Cup doubles 3—6, 12—10, 4— 6\ 6—2, 6—3. •LADY CHAMPION. Mrs. Lambert Chambers (nee Misa Douglass) baa again come baok to frtsr own by beating Mi«s, Boofchby, tJie. holder. The present champion was the holder in 1903, 1904,- and 1906, Miss Swtton proving 1 too good for her in 1905 and 1907, and Mrs. Sterry in 1908. It wooWi indeed) be interesting to see how our lady champions compare with the players on. th« other sidte of the world, 'and some -endeavour shouM be made to induce English and American lady champion,? to come to N<ew Zealand 1 , or our best players seat to challenge for the right to hold' the world's championship. If there can be a Davis dip for a men's team, why not a oup for an international ladies' competition? Tho popular hon. secretary (C. Gray) of the Horokiwi Club has left on a trip to the Islands for the benefit of his health ._ His many tennis friends will join in. wishing him a good trip and a speedy return to the best of health.