LAWN TENNIS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1144, 3 June 1911, Page 13

LAWN TENNIS.

ANTHONY WILDING ABROAD. Mr. F. M. B. Fisher supplies us with an interesting account which he has received of the Mentono Club championships. "This report," says Mr. Fisher, "will, help New Zealanders to understand Anthony Wilding's recent defeats. It shows that the Continental players are much bettor than was commonly believed, and that the standard of play thero is on tho up grade." Tho Mentone Club, which holds quite a classic championship, invited the best eight available to play for a valuable challenge cup. Very great interest wns taken in the event, particularly so as Decugis, last year's holder, had signified his intention of playing. ,In tho first round Wilding beat Kloinschroth, one of the leading Germans, G—2, 6— i, Bergmann beat Inman, G—2, B—6. Decugis had a walk-over from Ritchie, whoso car had broken down somewhere on his way from Paris, and Rahe beat Wagner, G—o, 6—3. Tho semi-finals provided quite a sensation for the large crowd. Wilding, despite some very fine play by the young German, Bergmann, got through, G—3, 6—2, and then Decugis and Rahe took tho principal court. Decugis had recently suffered his first defeat in Paris at tho hands of. the quite young Frenchman, Gobert, who won the All-England plato at Wimbledon last year, and it was rumoured that ho was off his gamo this season. Ho soon proved otherwise, for from first to last ho simplv smothered the German, his play being brilliant in the extreme. Nothing was too hot for him to return, and his hard placing fell little short of perfection. It was Sedan reversed, Raho obtaining only one game in two sets. Spectators smiled at each other, and talked of the morrow's fight with Wilding. Tho news had spread over-night, and tonnis players journeyed from all parts of the Riviera to watch the final round. Wilding seemed anything but confident of tho result; indeed, Decugis beat him when last they met. However, ho soon showed himself to bo steady, if not brilliant, and with Decugis unable to find his drivo the New Zealander took the first set, G—o. In the next set, Decugis played -better, and notched four gamps to his credit. In the third set he played somo fine tennis, and took it, G—l. In tho fourth he had matters all his own way, Wilding scoring only a game. Tho New Zealander seemed tiring, and he evidently felt tho terrific heat and sultry atmosphere most trying. Towards the end of tho set he made no effort to score, but reserved himself for the final tussle. The crowd of spectators was eminently cosmopolitan, and favour seemed fairly evenly distributed. Excitement had reached fever heat with many when the two players, after cooling drinks, again took the court. Decugis played brilliant tennis at times, biit Wilding volleyed his low 'drives in splendid fashion, some of tho volleying rallies being perfectly delightful. Wilding took the first, game,Decugis the second, then the New„ Zealander ran to 4—l, but Decugis was far from beaten, and quickly mado the score 4-all, putting in somo terrific overhead work and low placing. Tho chanrninn nowlet himself go, and drove every ball hard on to the side-lines Iwforo getting to the net, never following up a stroke that was not well placed. His cool judgment nowstood him in good stead, and though the Frenchman ran him to deuco in both games, Wilding took the set and tho match at G— i. It was a splendid fight between perhaps the two best tennis players now in Europe. Wilding confessed to being more tired after this match than for manv a long day. and there is no doubt but that the Frenchman will run him for all he is worth in the coming contests. Froitzheim, who has often beaten Wilding, will arrive for the Nice tournament, and, should he prove to Ix- in form, he will probably have something to say about the chnllengo cups. Still. Wildinir is playinc a bettor game than last year, in tho opinion of many capable of judging, and last, year he bent Beals Wrmht, number three, in the States, therefore he should look forward to the future with confidence.