LAWN TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP.

Auckland Star, Issue 311, 31 December 1900, Page 3

LAWN TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

CHRISTCHURCH, this day.

At last we have been favoured with a glimpse of the sun, and ttiere is much jubilation amongst tennis players. A start was made soon after nine o'clock on Saturday ,^and a number of the men's handicaps were played. Davies, who played very steadily s beat Dr. Godfrey, one of the Australian team, and later on put down xiobison. It is unfortunate that he has to leave to-morrow. Vaile had a very easy task with Vincent, beating him 6—2, o—2. Vaile's form is very good, and he should have a great chan ce of annexing this event. Parker beat Collins 6— i, 6 —5, He is playing very,' well now, and the practice he is getting must improve him. He and Miss Simpson beat Baillean and Miss Aitken 3—(3, G—o, 6—l, and later on in the championship event he put Laurie out, 6 —2, C —o, 6 —o. Peacock and Uption were beaten by Ollivier and and Gore in the men's handicap doubles, but they were giving them a long start. In the championship events Peacock beat Salmond very easily, although the second set was. fairly close. Peacock is rapidly playing into form, and I expect him to give a good account of himself bef.ore the tournament is over. Diddams beat Harmen three sets to one, the third set being; very well contested. The most sensational event of the day was the match between Fisher and Dunlop. Fisher played brilliantly in the first two sets, which he Avon, 7—9, 7—9, and continuing to play well the score stood in his favour 5—3 in the third set and 30 all. Durilop realizing that the match was slipping from his grasp pulled himself together and won the set, B—G, and the two remaining and the match, G—l, G —3. Fisher went off in the last two sets, and Dunlop, who has been indisposed, improved very much. The courts were very slippery, and most 'of the Australians played in their socks until compelled to take to the steel points. There is a rule against steel points being used, but it is more honoured in the breach than the observance, especially by the Aucklanders. Some of the arrangements are far from perfect. There are n!o umpires' chairs, and one inventive Aucklander suggested that step ladders should be used for the occasion, but this has not yet been done, and those asked to umpire are not very pleased with their aceornodation. It is impossible for an umpire to do justice either to himself ior the players unless he occupies a properly elevated seat. In the Fisher-Dunlop match the umpire sat on a chair placed on a small card table, which did not prove a very secure seat nor conduce to his devoting his entire attention to the match. Most iof the visiting players went to the dance given in their honour. The function was 3 great success and proved most enjoyable. Most of the courts are on a slope, but they play fairly well. The men's champion single and doubles are looked-forward to with much interest, although most players expect the Australians to annex the latter. They will not, however, have any walk over, as the New Zealanders have several strong- com* binations in this event.