A TRULY INTERNATIONAL SPORT

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29829, 23 May 1962, Page 11

A TRULY INTERNATIONAL SPORT

LAWN TENNIS is one of the few sports which can be claimed to be ' truly international in which the individual can play for most of his lifetime. About 50 countries have entered at various times in Davis Cup competitions. Popular in places like Jugoslavia Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Rumania—as New Zealand Davis Cup teams well know—it is one of the most universal of all games. This universal game for nations and ages has reached its present popularity in a period of less than 100 years. For lawn tennis, as distinct from tennis, is of comparatively modern origin. An independent member of the family of ball games which are thought to have had their beginnings in Egypt or Persia

500 years before the Christian era, it is a descendant of the early game of tennis played within walls. In 1874 Major Walter Wingfield laid out a private grass court in the shape of an hour glass in the back-country village of Nanelywd North Wales, put up a five-foot net, and gave the game its start. The major wanted relief from playing against walls. He did not realise the farreaching nature of his achievement. The height of his net. shape of his court, and. not surprisingly, the name he gave it —“sphairistike”—did not survive but the game spread rapidly throughout the British Isles and to Bermuda in the same year. First Rules

Lawn tennis was first fostered by the controlling bodies of other sports and when it is considered that the game in Australia has sometimes topped cricket for public interest there is a touch of irony for it was the M C.C which gave the authority of its name to the movement and drew up the first code of rules for play Then the All - England Croquet Club at Wimbledon discovered its exchequer was almost empty and added the term “lawn tennis” to its title and several grass courts to

its facilities. The club, which to this day runs the tournament which is generally acknowledged to be the world championships, changed the size and shape of the court, altered the scoring method, and substituted for the M.C.C.’s laws those which are. with only slight amendment, in force today. The “Field,” on June 9, 1877, advertised the first lawn tennis meeting for which "players must provide their own rackets and must wear shoes without heels.” Intending competitors were told they could obtain balls for practice on personal application to the gardener. Twentytwo entered, of whom the majority were either tennis or rackets players, the title going to Spencer W. Gore, of London. When the game was first played the ball was always allowed to bounce before a stroke was made, but Gore introduced the volley at the championships. However, as in warfare, it was not long before defensive measures were found for the new methods of attack and in 1878 Hadow beat Gore by introducing tile lob. Decorum The vigorous game of today would hardly be recognised m the game of those days, when decorum was the keynote because the implements and trappings did not encourage aggressive play. Rackets, balls, the net and other accessories were usually brought together in a box. An elaborate arrangement of guy ropes held the net in position. The general air of calm at the first Wimbledon bore little resemblance to the tournaments of today; yet from the start the All-Eng-land club had a decisive influence on the game. In 1879 a member of the club offered the Ladies' Cup valued at £B, but the offer was not accepted, the decision eliciting a protest from the would-be donor, who wrote: “I cannot but think the committee ungallant in passing by the ladies. They would, I think, come in time." And they did. A women’s singles competition began in 1884. women's doubles in 1885. and mixed doubles in 1888. A notable feature of the later development has been the remarkable advance of women players since they adopted the style of play of men. A woman—Miss Mary E. Outerbridge—introduced lawn

tennis to the United States. While spending a winter in Bermuda, she saw British officers of the garrison playing, and returned home with equipment given by the colonel. The first United States tournament was held <oon after. New Zealand, although remote from the originating authority at Wimbledon, quickly came under the influence of the new game. Christchurch led the way. boasting several clubs in 1879 The Parnell club, Auck-

Land, originally known as the Parnell Tennis and Croquet Club, was not far behind. As in England, many of the Dominion's original clubs were devoted to kindred sports, such as croquet, bowls and archery. For instance, the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association was formed in 1885 after a meeting of the Government House Lawn Tennis and Archery Club. The first national tournament was held about the same time by an enthusiastic club in Napier.