Country Tennis Players Showed Excellent Spirit

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28528, 6 March 1958, Page 13

Country Tennis Players Showed Excellent Spirit

“WE know that you have just come off the court, but you have another match to play that is holding up part of the draw. How long would you like for a break?”—“l’ll go on as soon as you like; I’m here to play tennis.” This exchange last week-end was between an organiser at the sub-association’s lawn tennis championships at Wilding Park and a player in the championships. It demonstrated an attitude of co-operation from players that was a feature of the tournament, and one too often missing from tournaments which are considered of far greater importance. At a national tournament, for instance, it is not uncommon to hear a player, whom the organisers consider has had a reasonable break, complaining about the shortness of his rest. Many appear to desire

to put off their matches just as long as possible. A similar attitude has sometimes been noticed in Canterbury tournaments. The atmosphere at this country tournament, for which more than 100 players put in about 210 entries, was a grand one, with the players obviously enjoying their tennis to the utmost. They were punctual at the courts, they were available when needed, and the tournament lacked the petty jealousies about allocation of courts or the misdemeanours of umpires that mar some tournaments.

All this led to the smooth running df the championships with surprising progress in the two days and some town players, considered of higher standard, could learn a lesson from the country players in enthusiasm.