LAWN TENNIS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1295, 25 November 1911, Page 12

LAWN TENNIS.

COMING OF THE GREAT lARNED.

[Di "Footfault."]

Wellington Provincial Championship and JJnudicnp Tournament, at Day'o Boy, January 20, 22. 23, 1012. New Zealand Championships Tournament at Lancaster I'ark, Christchurch, December 23, 20, 27, and 2S, Ml. Rnngitikei Tournament at Jfarton, December 26 and 28. Hawkc's Bay Championship and Handtcap Tournament, at Hastings, on December 2(i, 27, aud 2S. Pahiatua Tournament, at i'ahiatua, New Year. Davis Cup Contest—December 23, 30, 1911, and January 1, 1912, at Lancaster Park, Cbristchurch. Wairarapa Championships and Handicap Tournament, at Masterton, on January 20 and 22, 1912. Rangitikei Seniors' Tournament, at Marton, December 26, 27, and 28, Tho Landing of the Americans. Now that the American team has actually arrive! in N" ew Zealand, one begins to realise that the Duvis Cup contest is not eu far distant. The team is composed of W, A. Lanied, who (with Brookes and Wilding), is on tho very pinnacle of famo'i Beak Wright, tho world's greatest match player; and 11. E. Loughlin, the phenomenal colt of 1909, who to-day has developed go that only th.e great Larncd himself stands between hi in and supremacy in America. They will havo a month to practice on the courts set apart for their private use, and should thus bo ready for tho great battle in their best form. It is probable, though the decision will be mado at the last by the light of the form shown, that the Singles will bo contested by Beats Wright and Larned, and the Doubles by Wright and M'Lmighlin. Against this formidable array Australia's certainty is Brookes, and it is upon him that our greatest hopes aro nlaocd. Though tho contest between Larned and him will indeed be a mighty one,- ho is justly entitled, on his fine record (and tho most recent form of tho contestants) to enter on tho courts with our full confidence that he will provo victorious in the Singles. • As to the.Doubles, ho and A. W. Dunlop havo such fine performances to their credit, that victory may come their way. It is, of course, very difficult to fore-seo tho outcomo of such contests. Tho luck of the day, the variations in form, and the nearness of tho skill of tho contestants compel us to await the issue, aud to lake the result as it comes. But tho battle between Brookes and Larned alone will amply justify the personal sacrifices of those who will engage in tho struggle. For tho Americans it will mean at least threo and probably four months' travelling, for'tho Australians six weeks, and many of preparation. An appreciation of Larned's methods follows. It is from tho Sydney "Eeferco":— . Larned Has No Mannerisms. "Champion Larned is remarkable in that he is practically free from mannerisms. It is impossible to tell from the expressions on his face whether or not matters aro going his way. His strokes are nil smooth (of the drive variety, both foro and back hand), as is, in fact, his whole game. In his net play he is exceptionally proficient at low volleying, and for this reason does not hurry to get in close, as do the 6harp, clashing volleyers. . .

How His Strokes. Are Placed. "Most of his strokes aro played deep into the court, rather than off at acute angles. His opponents can play no halfcourt game against him for this reason. Scarcely any of bis shots fall short or even near the middle of the court. If one is playing from the back court against him, he soon finds that he must keep behind the base-lino several feet most of tho tiniCj for every ball comes with tremendous power behind it, and leaves tho ground like a bullet. Ho invariably works his opponent to one side and slams the return down tho farther line for the point. Unlike. Beals Wright, ho makes no attempt to beat his man - by outmanoeuvring him with changes -of pace and a continual variety of-strokes. Iln simply plays his own strong and forceful game, boating his antagonist down by the sheer strengtb and soundness of his play. "Many who have become renowned as 'stroking' players, depending on good, hard driving , to turn the trick, are upset by pace-clninging and tho constant offering of pat balls. Larned, however, is not among this number. Soft strokes are just to his liking, and he deals mercilessly with them. Ho has perfected his stroking game to such a degreo that no impression can be made by the persistent 'getter' whose soft and aggravating returns worry many a finished expert to distraction. His Foot-Work. "Larncd's foot-work is excellent, although one would never term him a great court-covcrer. As a matter of fact, he doea cover his court in wonderful fashion, but this if) due more to his almost tin canny anticipation of an opponent's re turns. Moreover, his swift control is so superior to that of others that ho usuallj has his man on the run, and appears to do littlo fast footing himself. The grace ful poiso he always maintains is well shown by tho camera, which hardly ovei catches him in an ungainly position. This is something that can be said of few players. ■ . "There is no doubt, bpwcver, that Larned is weaker on his back-hand than I elsewhere, and that by preference ho is ;i back-court player, but possessed of splendid volleying powers which enable him to take tho net-at any time. "Ex-champion Wright maintains an impassive countenance on the court. Ho is very quick-motioned, and has a tendency to rush his matches along by tho speed with which he gets back into position to servo or receivo after the playing of a point. If he is serving and a point has just been decided, ho turns immediately on the scoring of tho deciding Elroko, and taker, his place to serve with such dispatch that his opponent sometimes scarcely has time to collect his wits before the ball is in -play again. He is probably the fastest player in the country. And What of Beals Wright? "Wright is particularly noted for his generalship, in which respect he is probably without a peer. Lacking the swift, true" drives of other renowned champions, ho has nevertheless climbed at tho very top in the game. _By his masterful employment of tactics he was able to boat both Brookes and Wilding in the Davis Cup matches at Melbourne in JSIOB, although his match with the former resolved itself more or less into a test of stamina before the finish. He upset tho hard-driving Wilding completely by varying his strokes. He is left-handed. "Wright's ground stroko is a chop, both fore and back-hand. This may lead some to think that his strokes must lack speed. Such, however, is not the case. Ho varies the stroke a great deal, softening it and shortening its length to bring on opponent in to the net or to break up the volleying of a man already there. Whcu assuming the not on tho service of an antagonist who remains back, ho shoots his chop with great spend deep into the court, making his stroke as he swings in. At the net he is perhaps without a superior. His volleys arc sharp and crisp, while his overhead'work excels.' The net game is really Wright's best, but he wins many matches from tho. base lino. Against his most formidable opponents bo prefers the net, although he has found it best to remain back a ereat deal with some of them. A mnn who rushes the net against Wright is act to bs mot with nil manner of strokes. His control of tho lob is snlendid, and he shoots his chop straight down the lines or across court with equal facility. A short drop stroke to Hip feet followed by si lot) of the return just out oC roach lias broken tho spirit of many an assiduous net rusher with Wright. Ttis service i> a fast, straight ball, there boiii;; little difference between the first and second delivery. "Wright is equally proficient at doubles, and is ouo of (he few of the nation's champions nli» have made n success of both games. 11. T). Wri'iiu and Holcoinbe Ward arc two oilier witnblo examples. This fact, coupled with his cool and nervy playiiiEj uiukv all conditions has made Wright .%u exceptionally iinc inturnatiomil player."