LAWN TENNIS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 132, 10 July 1914, Page 2

LAWN TENNIS.

ENGLISH CHAMPIONSHIPS. DAVIS CUP PROSPECTS. For*the sixth time in recent years

has the lawn tennis championship of the world been annexed by a colonial player. When Norman Brookes first achieved that distinction seven years ago, the English critics were not overimpressed with his style of play, notwithstanding that he had previously captured the , All-Comers, Singles, in which he defeated the redoubtable S. H. Smith in the final. Still one and all gave the 'Victorian' credit for marvellous anticipation, and generalship that was worthy of a Doherty. By his latest achievement of getting through a challenge round in a particularly strong year, and then downing A. F. Wilding in three straight sets, Brookes put up a performance that must take rank as one of the most brilliant in the annals of championship tennis. When the news was flashed through that he had pulled through against Froitzheim, aided apparently by a measure? of luck and faulty umpiring, few ;ifsa>\ie the Victorian '' southpaw ■muQb hope of more than getting into the-.deciding round. Many lost sight.: of the fact, no doubt, that the German is in the world 's first six players, and is still on the up grade. The, cable also mentioned, that in the match with Beamish the latter had repeatedly made openings against the Australian's rather faulty back-hand, but had.failed to clinch the advantage. In view o±' this, it was only to be expected that when up against such a brilliant driver as Wilding, Brookes would, lay himself open to the champion's marvellous passing side line shots. Evidently Wilding relied almost entirely on base line play, at which he has never had a superior.

It was a contest par excellence between a base line player and the world's cleverest yolleyer, and the volleyex came out oil top as he wilJ," all things being equal, in nine cases v out of ten. Little notice need be taken of the pointed attention drawn in the cabled report to the number.of aces Brookes won by net cord strokes. The new champion's style of play is conducive to that, as'aliwho saw him iii his famous single at Lancaster Park with M'Loughlin will call to mind. A low volley jupt skimming the net to either, corner is Brookes's most effective scoring shot, and in making it lie puts on so mia-li top spin 1 as to often carry a ball over that otherwise would have failed. Even at this distance one can quite imagine the imperturbable Wilding' faced with centre court tactics which, to a great extent, would nullify his powerful forehand driving. From past experience, Brookes, knows that it is useless returning the ball to either corner, thereby making angles for Wilding 's deadly forehand shots. Doubtless' this was; one Of the tactics that assisted iii the' New Zealander r s downfall, for hie would find it almost impossible to pass the Victbrian frbm any centre court ball, so accurate is the latter's net play. Though Wilding did not get a set, the scores show how close a contest it was. Altogether in the three sets Brookes took nineteen gajnes to his opponent's thirteen, with every game thoroughly contested/ Naturally New Zealanders as a whole, and Christchurch enthusiasts in particular, would have liked to see their countryman equal H. L. Doherty'S achievement of holding the championship for live consecutive years, but it was not to be. Even so, the game will go' down to history as a battle of the giants and one of. the most memorable in the history of the game. Brookes has now won.the Singles Championship twice and the All-Comers Singles on three occasions, whereas Wilding has four victories in the foriner and one in the latter to his credit. +• DAVIS CUP TIES.

With the conclusion of thp championships, additional interest will be evinced in the challenge rounds for the Davis Cup, "which are at present in progress. The English pair; Parke and Mavrogordato, have already vanquished Belgium without any serious difficulty, and: the former will now meet the French representatives at Wimbledon on the 11th, 13th, and 14th inst. In the event of the Britishers proving successful, df which there should be little doubt, they will leave for New York on the 16th inst. The Australian representatives are booked to leave to : morrow foir America, where their first, match will be against Oainada, starting on the 23rd inst. Canada has never taken a very high place in lawn tennis; and its champions can have little chance with Brookes, Wilding and Co. . In the: event of the Australians prevailing, they meet Germany on the 30th inst., and here again there seems "every prospect of victory coming their way. Should this eventuate, the colonials will be in the final of the challenge ties, and they will have to play off with the winners of the England v. France contest. This is set down for decision on August 6, 7, and 8, and then will come the great struggle with the present holders. On recent form, it looks as if the Australians should prevail over the British team, and their prospects of Wresting the coveted trophy from America look particularly bright. Evidently the American authorities take a somewhat pessimistic view of their representatives' prospects, as the result no doubt of the brilliant form shown by Brookes and Wilding in .England, however, in JVl'Louglilin and Williams they have two remarkably fine young , players, the former of whom won the All-Comers Singles last year, and has shown his ability to extend Brookes to the utmost. : In the doubles America will be represented by Karl Behr and ,T. E. Pell, both of whom have had a good innings in first-class tennis. TEMPLAR,