LAWN TENNIS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 82, 17 January 1928, Page 3

LAWN TENNIS.

ARRIVAL OF FRENCH TEAM.

LUCK IN DAVIS CUP CONTEST. NEW STYLE OF PLAY DISCUSSED. WELLINGTON, January 16. The three French tennis players, Jean Boratra, Jaquesi Brugnon and Christian Boissus arrived from San Francisco by the Makura this morning. Boratra, in an interview, said that he was very pleased to have the opportunity of visiting New Zealand, as this country had produced Anthony Wilding, whom lie considered the greatest player that had ever existed, with Norman Brookes a good’ second. Referring to the Davis Cup, Rorotra said that they had lieen a trifle lucky to win, because, while they themselves had been at the top of their form, Johnston, of the American team, was off his game. Laeoste and Cochet, the Singles players, played wonderful tennis throughout the tournament. All he and Brugnon had done was to lose a point to the Americans. Referring to the French .style of cram© that had come into prominence, Boratra said that they were primarily volleyers. Whereas in America the plavers, like Johnston and Tilden especially, kept to the baseline, the Frenchmen speeded the game up by taking the ball before it bounced. It was this new type of play that was mainly responsible for their success m tennis. , The Frenchmen are en route to Australia, where they play _a series of matches from January 25 to March 3, afterwards going to South Africa. In Wellington on Wednesday and Thursday they play exhibition •_ games against Ollivier and Bartlett in singles and Knott and Sturt in doubles. The youthful players Boussus and Mali'roy meet on Thursday. The three Frenchmen are described by those wild met them this morning as fine chaps. They left Paris on October 15 for South America, and played a series of games at Rio de Jamero, Buenos Ayres and Valparaiso. Philadelphia was the next port of call, and there the team met Alonzo, the Spanish star, and Tilden. On December 28 they were at ’Frisco, and there they embarked for Wellington. They get back to France in May. Boratra has lieen called the Bounding Basque. Off the courts, however, lie is a quiet but jovial personality, eager t-o praise his opponents and modest regarding himself. Actually Borotra is a business man, alert and a bundie of energy. His present tour is largely a business one. He is the manager of a French firm, and is' touring the world primarily to establish branches.