LAWN TENNIS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 28, 1 February 1913, Page 16

LAWN TENNIS.

Commenting on the first test match between England and Australia, which Australia won after a match brimful of excellent tennis and close ties, the final results of which were first with the one country and immediately turned in favour of the other, Mr JCtixon, the captain of the British Isles team, struck a true note at the dinner on Saturday (says a Sydney exchange) when he 6aid that the teams of the two countries were most evenly matched, and that any contest they played would be very close.

In the Davis Cup match England won by three rubbers to two, and in $he test Australia won by seven to five. Very even scoring indeed.

And Sydney has at last seen Norman Brookes thoroughly extended and on his mettle, opposed by men who would make him go all the way if he wanted to win. He wa6 called upon to do it, and the Australian rose to the occasion wonderfully His match with Parke was a triumph for tactics and perfect execution of strokes, and a win after his opponent had a most substantial lead.

What a revelation Brookes' tennis was! There were no fireworks, nor wild smashing, nor anything dazzlingly brilliant to bring down the house, but merely a quiet display of all that was masterful and artistic, and a control of the racquet and ball that was almost uncanny. Brilliant, certainly, from the artist's point of view, but nothing dazzling to those who expect to see a display of thrilling and ba.rr-raising shots.

Brookes was always the quiet master, dominating thp play.

There is little doubt in one's mind when he watches Parke chasm™- his opponent's drives, and hushing his Irish drive into them, in return, when he is going at full pace, that Wilding correctly described him when he said that he brings football into his play on the tennis court.

He often plunges at a tennis ball in much the same way as he would endeavour to jret through a group of opposing forwards.

Of the othpr"Aurd:ralians. A. B. Jones stood out conspicuously from the rest. His form, especially in doubles, would even stand comparison with that of the mighty Brookes himself. He played even better than he did in the New South ■Wales team against the Englishmen a month ago. It is hoped that this player will soon get the opportunity to play in Davis Cup matches. A trip to England and consequent matches on the Continent, where lie would meet all the tennis champions, would surely make him a worthy successor to Brookes anil Wilding.

Now that these matches between England and Australia have been started, it is a universal desire that they should be kept going, and the more matches that

can be arranged between these two coun tries the better the tennis will become.