WILDING'S TRIPLE TITLE.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14854, 20 December 1913, Page 8

WILDING'S TRIPLE TITLE.

NEW ZEALANDER'S RECORD,

(_KO_* OUR OWN CORRESroNPKNT),

LONDON, November 12. The World'a Covered Court Championship ended at Stockholm by A. F. Wilding winning the Gentlemen's Singles Championship, beating M. Germot (France) ia the final by 5-7, 6-2. 6-3, 6-1. The New Zealander now claims tho triple title of champion on grass, hard, and covered courts in one and the same year, a distinction which no other player in the world could have achieved in the came period. Ia the performance of this feat Wilding has lost only four sets in tho three competitions, all to French rivals.

At Wimbledon he defended hi_ grass court title successfully against McLoughlin' in three sets; in the hard court championship, in Paris, where he ' played through," he sacrificed three sets—two to Decugis and one in the final to Gobert at Stockholm, where he also "played through," he lost one set in the final to Germot. T_e meeting of Wilding and Germot in the final of-the Bingles attracted a packed gallery. At the outset* the New _ealander showed some nervousness, and, lacked aggressiveness, and the Frenchman, volleying hia opponent's deep drives admirably, won tho first set. Afterwards Wilding played with more confidence, and although Germot battled gamely to the end, the result was always in eight. Wilding was never at the top of his game, and, realising this, he sacrificed brilliancy all through, for the steady methods which so often prevail against a persistent volleyer. The priacs were distributed by the King of Sweden amid tremendous enthusiasm. The tournament was a huge success, the presence of the King and Royal Family each day raising it to the dignity of a groat social event in the Swedish capital.