LAWN- TENNIS

BROOKES WORLD'S CHAMPION (By " Huka.") The great annual contest for the world's sihgles championship for lawn tennis on grass courts is over, and Normiin E. Brookes, the "Victorian, is champion. Brookes was born in Melbourne during the year 1877, and is therefore 37 years of age. He learnt the game chiefly on a court at his father's home, and on the Melbourne cricket ground. Possibly Y)t. W. V. Eaves was his chief coach, and it was in 1902 t.hat he showed himself 'in apt pupil by getting to the top of the tree in hi 3 State, and annexing the Victorian championship. In 1905 Brookes won the All-Comers Singles at Wimbledon, but Was beaten by H. L. Doherty in the challenge round, 8-6, % 6-2, 6-4. Brookes had beaten S. H. Smith, the gfdat hitter, in the final of the All-Comers', 1-6, 6-4.' (f-1, 1-6, 7-5 Then in 1907 Brookes, after winning the All-Comers' by beating Gore. 6-4, fi-2, 6-2, secured the championship, H. L Doherty not defending his title- ' Strange to say,, that year Wilding, who lost in the early, rounds of the All-Comers', had ,to be content with- winning the All England Plate. H. L. Doherty lis a year older than Brookes, and was twenty-nine years of age when he secured his big win from the Australian. AFTERWARDS. With the big event over, ' and the winner s name cabled out, many of those who are wise afterwards now say, "told you so. ' To "Huka," who has had full, particulars as to Wilding's and Brookes's play before the event, the new.« came as a surprise. Wilding was reported to be playing better than ever, whereas Brookes was not doing as well as was expected Theri there was the heavy handicap of playing through the All-Comers' event for Brookes, and again, veteran Gore leading him, 5-Zs in'o,ne set, and Froitzheim pushing him to a five set match. Naturally it was expected that Wilding could get one set in three, and that would \be Brookes's undoing. Wilding, who Ms seven years younger than Brookes, was, , expected to win on his superior stamina and vigour, and would do so possibly* three times out of five, aB Brookes could hardly be expected to keep fit as easily as the younger man. To those not exactly on the spot, the result must honestly be a surprise LEADING I>P TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP. The all-comers' event between Brookes . and - Frditzheim, who is twenty-six years of age. was almost a boil over. (FroitziflOfi\ Wa • fu first Ge "" an Player since 18S6 to win tho open German championship in 1907). It is clear that Brookes went out to win m three sets straight. He took tho first trtvo easily, and then ?u° j P la y er won on 'his service in the third set, • and Brookos must have had the opening service, as he led 5-4, The Gorman evened, Won Brookes's service game, and then won a love game off hta own service, thereby taking the set, 7-ft. The fourth net went to the German, 6-4/ and sets wers even, two all,. In the fifth set, Brookes served first, and the games went with tho service until two all. lnen Brookes lost his service, and the German Jed, 3-2, but Brooked evened, and after games going with the service, captured a service game of the German's, as he led, 5-4. The German, evened, and then won off Brookes's service, which made the score 6-6 in his favqur. Froitzheim lost his service, and six all was called. At this critical stage the Australian led, 40-30, in the 13th game, he double-faulted,,. >hicb '„tnade, f , f< it - .deucej then the German won an ace/ and A 'was "advantage out" to Brookes. The German Won the next Stroke, which meant game., and. p. lead pf 7-6. to Mint,, but, with hard Juek' to Froitzheim, Jhe linesman gave a wrong: decision, and the score was deuce again. (A linesman's decision on fact is. final.) Brookes took the next two aces, and led by seven games to six. In the 14th game the German made a big effort to save the match, aad Brookes twice wanted one point before he could run /out a winner. It- was a, lucky win fot the Australian) as it h doubtful if he could have held the German had that linesman not made an error. ' With the German leading, 7-6, Brookes would have at least Tequii'ed to play and win three more games to give him match. To do that at the end of a great five-eet match was a tall order for the 'man tof thirty-seven years of age against his more vigorous opponent of twenty-six. By the win in the all-comers, Brookes vras entitled to challenge Wilding in the challongs round for the world's championship. Few of the ten thousand spectators expected to 8ee i tho world's championship between Wilding (the recognised splendid tennis athlete) and Brookes (tho wily, brainy tennis tactician) decided in 3 sets. But so it was. Bro'okes, possibly never more fit at any stage in his great career, was out to make it a three furlong race, and it is to his credit that his y tactics proved successful. This mafch hasf proved beyond doubt that Brookes is the bettor lawn tennis player of the two. Ho_ is without doubt a past master at bringing his powers to bear upon his opponent's weakest spots. His anticipation, surenesg, and strategy overcame the vigour, endurance, and general physical force' of Wilding. Wilding can never catch this win up, for Brookes cannot be expected -to last always at the top of his _ form, to win in three sets straight, and it is a sure thing that Wilding, had he been able to snatch, one set in the first three, would have worn Brookes down. NET v. BASE-LINE PLAY, Brookes, took command at the net, and Wilding depended upon his great driving, but the Australian cut off- the furious drives with cfockliko precision. Then Wilding tried lobbying, a la Froitzheim, but failed to- lob deep and, sure, with the result that Brookes left 'him standing. Wilding in the_ first set smashed badly, and Brookes, with drop shots just over 'the net, had the base-liner on the run. The Australian led four-love, then 5-3, but; with great drives Wilding drew up, and was within ono point of five all. Brookes won the set 6-4, with a shot that struck tho top of the net and dribbled over. In the second set, the New Zealander wont to the front and led 3-2, Fu£ after varying play four-all -was called. A long deuce game followed Brookes winning it 'on Mb t service, and going on won three of Wilding's services. Tho latter won the next two aces and all but evened. It was not to be. and Brookes won 6-4, and led two sets to love, ' • THE FINAL SET. The third set, which -was unexpectedly the final one, saw Wilding leadijg two love, then he lost his service, and Srookes having a number of lucky net cord etrokes drew up, and led at 4-3. It was 40-30 on his own service, but Wilding took the game, and also won on hi* own service, leading 5-4. Then Brookes repeated his opponent's performance, by taking his own service game and_ also captusing Wilding's, which put him in the lead, 5-5, SENSATIONAL FINISH. The 12th gam© was played with the ten thousand spectators, at fever heat, and was the most thrilling finishing game ever seen on the centre court at Wimbledon. Brookes, with the service, took the first two points, then Wilding won two, making it thirty all. Brookes won the next ace, and was. within a point of match, but Wilding saved, deuce being called. Again Brookes won, and for the second time was within an ace-of the champiouehip, but the New Zealander, dying game, again savejd. The end had to come, and the beginning of it was seen when Wilding, going for a sure winning hurricane drive, netted the ball. Brookes wanted that one point which meant so much to him, and he secured it most brilliantly by cutting oft; a hard drive of Wilding's With an unplayable drop shot — just over tho net. fhe match was over. _ Brookes won _on his wonderful volleying, -and_ his victory proved concJusivelT tijat it h not necessary to study

tonnis in the Old World to become a world-beater Brookes can be classified as a- born player, and there aro few like him in a generation. BROOKES'S WIN AND THE DAVIS CUP. Brooke^'e -win over Wilding makes Australasia's chance* for the Davis Cup look rosy, but if Wilding should have gone off or become stale, it may not be 60 good nfter all M'Loughlin, on his game, will give both Brookes and Wilding all they want. Therefore we cannot be certain sure of the cup crossing the Line. i