TENNIS TOPICS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 39, 25 November 1937, Page 3

TENNIS TOPICS

HENRI COCHET BRILLIANT. PROFESSIONALS AT WEMBLEY. CBy “Forehand”). ; It was good to see Henri Cocliet [ again. Ho had not been in England ; since he turned professional, and, ; though it is ten years ago since, he : hrst won the lawn tennis championship at Wimbledon, and lie is now 36 years ; yf age, he remains the same fascinating player, wrote our London correspondent. Besides, his visit afforded an opportunity to adjust present-day playing Values with those of his time. The inevitable conclusion was that we were in danger of exaggerating the merit of the modern champions. It is, of coui'se, true that an exhibition game, even with a prize attached to it, is different from one in a championship contest, and also while a man may succeed in one match lie might weaken under the strain of taking part in a sequence of five or six. But I believe that, if Cocliet were eligible to return to Wimbledon, he would go very near to recapturing the title. Only the pace’ of Donald Budge would trouble him. In the match in which I saw the Frenchman be was opposed by the leading British professional, D. Masked, on the indoor court at Wembley. The wooden surface was strange to him and so was the lighting system. For a quarter on an hour or so he could not get going, and it looked as though Masked would run away with the match. But then Cocliet suddenly found his touch, and he gave a dazzling displaj 7 , in which were featured all his old wellknown strokes. It used to be said that he .took the ball sooner than any other player and the way in which he half-volleyed the fiercest drives on his opponent was astonishing. No other player in the world commands this shot so accurately. I do not think, either, that any many has the same certainty in the overhead smashes, whilst his volleying has all its old brilliance. Just as nqtable was the manner in which he had Masked guessing and running the wrong way for cunninglyangled replies. The English player led m the first set by 4-1, and then lost ten games off the reel. Indeed, he took only four more. It should be explained, however, that Masked has little time for match play. He is essentially a coach as distinct from an exhibition player, and as such he holds high rank. Among the other professionals engaged in the tournament at Wembley were W. T. Tilden, Nusslein, of Germany, Martin Plaa, of France, and Stoefen, of America. But I am afraid the publio are not very interested in exhibition lawn tennis, and the attendances were small. Davis Cup Player Returns. Back after six months abroad, Mr D. C. Coornbe, New Zealand international tennis representative and Dominion singles champion, returned to Wellington by the Tamaroa from Southampton. During his absence he played for New Zealand in a Davis Cup match and took part in the French championships at Paris, and the Belgian championships at Ostend, as wed as a number of tournaments in England and Scotland. His trip abroad had been well worth while, he said. He thought his play had benefited, but it was really very difficult to judge in England where the presence of so many overseas players made the standard extremely high. To play at Wimbledon was a marvellous experience. Players in England had endless opportunities for playing in competitions. There were up to 14 tournaments a week in the season in England. He played constantly all the time he was ; there, and took part in 17 tournaments in England, one in Scotland, one in Belgium and one in France, in addition to two Davis Cup matches, and ; had he been over longer he could have played even more. With such oppor- , tunities a player should be able to advance. Great Britain’s Prospects. Mr Coombe said lie did not think . Great Britain had at present any very bright prospects of regaining the Davis Cup. Nevertheless the British team was a good one. Hare was quite good ; i Hare or Wilde or Hughes with Tuckey • would make a good doubles pair. Biit ; he felt that Germany and Australia had the best chances of capturing the > cup. Australia was unlucky last time. The Australian, Bromwich, was a ; potential Wimbledon champion, lie con- ' sidered. Australia had, in his opinion, the best team of four in the world today. The young players lie saw in Eng- , land did not appear as far advanced as . the Australians, who evidently ,de- ; veloped younger. Crawford, though he plaved badly in the Do.vis Cup matches, i gave a very fine display at Wimbledon. Quist had been ill, but McGrath was j just as good as ever. Donald Budge, American star player, impressed him as being in a. street by j himself; he was as far ahead of the i rest of the amateurs as Perry had been . in his day. Austin was still very good, ( but was growing older; he was now 29 or 30, and it was improbable that he j would greatly improve his game. ( Speaking of New Zealand players at 1 present living in England, he said that A. C. Stedman had .progressed a good ] deal; he believed Austin was the only ; player in England who could beat him “ when lie was at liis best. He won pi acticallv every tournament he played in. , As a doubles pair, Stedman and Mai- ' froy ranked definitely third in Eng- ; land, and when in top form were even ; better than that.