LAWN TENNIS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 111, 9 May 1908, Page 14

LAWN TENNIS.

DcaJiug with the leading lady players of last season the "Daily Telegraph" says, If foreign players are included, no one will dispute the title of Miss May Mutton to head this list. She has not equalled her record of 3005, for at the Northern she lost 5—7, o—o. to Mrs. Sterrv, ami she hns lost sets to }irs. Chambers and Miss Lowther, but she has also beaten each of these two players more than once, and has won once again the championship, with something to spare. Her game has a power —a weight behind the stroke —which no other lady rivals. Her temperament for match playing is beyond praise: danger seems only to inspire her, and circumstances have no power to ruffle. There is no difficulty in choosing the best four ladies for our list, but there is great difficulty in placing them. In spite of defects from Miss Sutton, Mrs. Sterry, ana Miss Pinekney, Mrs. Lambert Chambers probably takes second place. From Miss Sutton she won a set, her two other conquerors and many more players have fallen before her- Her play has never this season equalled the splendid form shown last year, but the depreciation is very small. Mrs. Sterry must certainly come next; she has had a most remarkable season. Helped by a succession of slow, damp courts, on which at times her peculiar shot was quite unplayable. sh e beat Miss Wilson, Miss Sutton, and Mrs. Chambers in quick suc-i-ession. At Chiswiek, Newcastle, and at Eastbourne, Mrs. Chambers avenged her defeat, but it is noteworthy that even on fast, dry courts Mrs. Sterry continued her run of yictories, and at Eastbourne

lost to the ex-champion only by the odd games of the odd set, It was a great misfortune that an injured ankle spoiled her chances- in the championship. In temper and tactics Mrs. Sterry has nothing to learn, and though no one would find her strokes of classic finish, everyone I knows that they are painfully effective. , Her generalship is always of the best. ; Miss c. M. Wilson has played comparatively little this year, "but that little has, been good. Victories over Miss )astMiss Grene. and Mrs. jyard brought her to the final of the championship, where she lost to Miss .Sutton, -who beat-her again at Newport ' (Mon.). Mrs. Sterry beat her in the early days of the season at Surbiton, and beyond these tournaments Miss Wilson has played few singles. Her past achievements, coupled with the continued excellence of her play, entitle her to tn.e place.