LAWN TENNIS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 16, 19 January 1901, Page 4 (Supplement)

LAWN TENNIS.

The West End courts were en fete last Saturday, when the Club welcomed the Auckland players who had just returned from the championship meeting in Christchurch. Amongst ■the visitors Mere Miss K. Van Asch, of Christchurcb, and Mr S. F. I>iddains, the well-known Victorian player (an old Auckland boy). The committee arranged several matches, the first of these being a singles match between Mr S. Y. Diddams and Mr J. R. Hooper, the wellknown local player and ex-champion of New Zealand. Hooper proved victorious by 3 sets to 1, the following being the scores: —6 —2, 2—6, B—6,8 —6, 6—3.

Hooper treated the onlookers to some of his old form, his placing coming in for much praise.- It was his placing, indeed, which won him the match.

Diddams played a very plucky game, and some of his recoveries were nothing short of marvellous. Time after time Hooper appeared to have him beaten, but his energy enabled him to return shots that appeared to be impossible of return. His volleying was superior to Hooper's, and had he placed with only a little of the judgment displayed by the ex-New Zealand champion he must have w ron.

The Men's Doubles played during the afternoon was worth a day's journey to see. Messrs H. A. Parker and J. C. Peacock, the winners of the New Zealand Championship Doubles, played Messrs Hooper and Diddams. The New Zealand champion pair were the victors by 3 sets to 2, after one of the best games that has been seen in the colony.

Diddams was the pick of the quartette, his volleying and lobbing being much superior to any of the others. He appeared much more at home in doubles than in singles. It appeared to be the reverse with his partner, Hooper, whose game seems to be essentially singles. I understand Hooper has had no doubles practice lately, which no doubt handicapped him considerably.

Parker, as usual, played a great game, his volleys down the side lines and his cross court drives being most dend)ly. Peacock's |play mas much admired, particularly his back hand drives and his smashes. His free style is very attractive. His form last Saturday, however, was not nearly so good as that shown by him in Christchurch, where he simply excelled in all branches of the game.

The West End courts were in splendid order last Saturday, and one player was heard to remark it was a pity they had not such courts for the' recent championship meeting-. One would scarcely believe that a little over two years ago the scene of the present lawna was a large uncultivated paddock. The present state of the lawns and surroundings shows what can be done by an energetic and untiring committee.

This afternoon, at the Eden and Epsom lawns, a match will be played between Messrs Parker and Peacock, the winners of the New Zealand Championship Doubles, and Messrs Diddams and McKean, of Victoria. The match, promises to be a very good one.

The inter-club matches, which were postponed before Christmas on account of inclement weather, will be resumed next Saturday.

An Auckland player who has just returned from the Championship Tournament in Christchurch, informs me that the ladies playing in the. South go in for volleying and net play with miich success, it is to be hoped the Auckland iadie:-; will go in tor similar practice, me idea ot allowing the ball to drop before playing it is fast going- out of date, especially in doubles.

Asked by a ''Weekly Press" representative to suggest a possible isew Zealand team for Australia, Mr H. A. Parker said that if the players named could get away, Messrs Peacock, Parker, Hooper, Collins, Fisher, and either C. Oore or Laishley, would prove a representative combination. If ladies were to be sent as well, the Association could not do better than include Misses Nunneley and M. Simpson in the team.

Miss Nunneley does not think the Xew Zealand ladies ■would have any chance in the singles, although they might in the doubles, against the Australian ladies. The ladies she saw in! Sydney were far better players than any herie. "The ladies here," said Miss Nxmneley to a Christchurch "Press" reporter, "do not seem able to place and drive. I don't know why it is ,but they say they cannot. A lady who could volley well would soon come to the front." Miss Nunneley also stated that apart from herself she considered Miss Lean and Miss M. Simpson the only New Zealand lady players who would have any chance in Australia. The interrogator put a question to Miss Nunneley as to the amount of practice she did. ''I did not- have any practice," she replied, "until about a week before the tournament began. During the winter I had three weeks' practice on the asphalt courts at Cranmer Square, and this, with the other week, is the. only practice I have had since the hist tournament."