LAWN TENNIS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1336, 13 January 1912, Page 12

LAWN TENNIS.

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LAST WORD IN CUP GOSSIP. Wellington Provincial Championship and Handicap Tournament, at Day's Bay, January 20. 22, 23, 1912. Wairarapa Championships and Handicap tournament, at Masterton, on January ,20 and 22, 1912. Dannovirko Lawn Tennis Clnb'a Annual tournament, at Dannevirke, January 10, .111, 17, and 18. "aranaki Championships and Handicap lournament, at Waverlev, February 22,' 23, and 21. i Manawatu Championship and Handicap lournament, at Palmerston North, icbruary 16 and 17. Christchurcli Appointments Bad. It is interesting to noto what an oversea visitor thought of tho arrangements lor tho tournament recently held in Christchurcli. He expresses himself somewhat forcibly as follows:— I'he sight of the dressing-room' was a shock to tho most unheedful of personal comfort, and the floor was covered with mud and slash. Tho courts were so uneven that the lines showed crooked in tho undulators, and various depressions of several inches relieved tho monotony. Miss P. A. Stewart to Play Here.' _ Intending competitors at the forthcoming tournament, which is to bo held at Day's Hay, can rest assured that there will be no repotition of these complaints. The courts will bo far superior to those provided at Lancaster Park, and every caro is being taken in their preparation. Suitable dressing-rooms will oo at the disposal of competitors, and the welcome ball boys will be in evidence. Tho whole tournament will be run in a Ihorjuqlilj up-to-date manner. Already numerous entries have been received from other oentres, these including Miss P. A. Stewart, of Sydney, the present lady champion of New Zealand, and Miss Molosworth, also from Australia, and, of course, all the leading players in our own district. The Fallen Amiricans. AH tennis lovers in New Zealand are rejoicing at tho splendid stand made b# tho Australasian team against tho strongest that America could put forward. Even in our wildest dreams of victory we had not thought that such success could come our way. However, the great long-talked-of contest is now a thing of the past, and in spite' of tho adverse weather and the disappointing fact that the world's two greatest exponents of the game—Brookes and Larued—did not meet, some truly magnificent tennis was witnessed. Perhaps' the most surprising feature of tho whole match was ■ the defeat of W. A. Larncd by Jl. Heath. And though it is to be regretted that tho former was not in tho best of condition, Heath deserves all praise, as lie played a brilliant game, and did not allow the fact that ho had lost tho first set rather easily to at all disconcert him. The Mighty Brookes. So much has been said about tho mighty Brookes that one can only endorse tho highest opinions formed of him. He is truly a general on tho court, nnd makes the most wonderful shots with such remarkable easo that one hardly realises what a marvellous player lie is. M'Loughlin Will Be a World Beater. 11. E. M'Loughlin ivas certainly the most attractive of tho contesting players, and his brilliant serving and smashing ovoked applause and admiration. It is easy to prophesy (after the great light he put up against Brookes)- that in two or throo years ho will bo a "worldbeater."

Bc-als Wright showed good form, and his serving was splenilid. He made 6omo apparently impossible returns, but it is just a question as to whether or not ho expends too much cnorgy in. this direction.

The Doubles Match, of ooursa, provided some very fine play, M'Loughlin's being a revelation of brilliancy and dash. Brookes was equally skilful, but Wright and Dunlop were uneven in thoir play in the first set, though Dunlop smashed finely. He improved in tho wcond set, and displayed much bettor form in the third.

Five Years of Cup Record!. The fine display made by Australasia in .this instance may bo bettor appreciated by a comparison with the scores of Australasian teams in previous Davis Cup contests. For this purpose a record is appended, dating back to 1005 :— 1905. * Preliminary Round.—Australasia y. Austria, played at Queen's Club, London, oil July 13, 11, 15, and won by Australasia by live matches to lovo. Singles.—N.l'l. Brookes (Aust.) boat E. Kinzi (A.), G—o, G—l, G—2, and beat C. von Wesseley (A.), G—o, 6—2, G—2. A. I'\ Wilding (Aust.) boat C. von Wessoley (A.), 4—G, G—3, 7—5, G—l, and beat 11. Kinzi (A.), 0-3, 4-6. 6-2, 6-4. Doubles.—Brookes and A. \V. Dunlop (Aust.) beat Kinzi and von Wesseley (A.), 9-7, G-2, 7—5. Final Bound.—America v. Australasia, played at Queen's Club, London, on July 17, 18, 19, and won by America by five mutches to love. Singles.—B. C. Wright (A.) boat N. E. Brookes (Aust.), 12-10, 5-7, 12-10. 6-4, and beat A. 11.I 1 . Wildiug (Aust.), 6—3, 6—3 (best of threo sets, by arrangement). \V. A. Larned (A.) beat A. F. Wilding (Aust.),G—3, G-2, G-r-i, and beat N. E. Brookes (Aust.), U—l2, G—o, G—3. Doubles.—Wright and 11. Ward (A.) beat Brookes and Dunlop (Aust.), G—4, .7—5, 5—7, G—2. 190G.. Final Kound—America v. Australasia, played at Newport, England, on June 7, S, and 9, and won by' America by three matches to two. ■ Singles.—ll. Ward (A.) beat L. O. S. Poidevin (Aust.), 6—2, G—4, i 5, and lost to A. F. Wilding (Aust.), 3—6, 6—3, 6—o, 4_o G—B. 11. I). Little (A.) beat L. O. S. Poidevin (Aust.), G—2, I—fl, 7—5, G—2, and lost to A. F. Wilding (Aust.), 2 —b, ° Doubles'.—Ward and Little (A.) beat Wilding and l'oidevin (Aust.), 7—5, G— ~, G—l.

Preliminary Kound. —Australasia v. America, plavedat Wimbledon, England, on July 13, 15, and IG, and won by Australasia by 3 nm.tchfs -to 2, 13 sets to 8, 100 games to 102, and 703 aces to 672. Sin"lcs.—Brookes (Aust.) beat B. <-• Wright (A.); 6—l, G-4, 6-2, and beat h. Belli' (A.l, 4-6, 6—l, 6-1, G-2. A. 1;. Wilding (Aust.) lost to Wright (A.), 8-0, 3—o, 3—o, 5—7, and beat Behr (A.), I—o, 6—3, 3—o, 7-5, 6—3. Doubles.—Brookes and Wilding (Aust.) lost to Wright and Bohr (A.), 6—3, 10—12, 6—l, 2-6, 3-11. Challenge Hound— Australasia v. britisli Isles, played at Wimbledon on July 20. 22. and 23, and won by Australasia (challengers), bv 3 matches to 2, 12 sets to 7, 101 games to 87, .and GlB acre to 019. Singles.—Brookes (Aust.) beat A. W ■ Gore (B.I.), ,7-5, 6-1, 7-5, and. boat 11. lfoper Barrett. (11.1.). 6 —2, 6 —o, 0 3. Wilding (Anst.) lost to Gore (B.I.), 6-3, :)—fi, j—7, 2—6, and beat Barrett (B.I.), 1-6, li-1, 6-3, 7-5. Doubles.—Brookes and Wilding (Aust.) lost to Gore and Barrett (B.I.), o—2, 6—l, 5-7, 2-6, 11-13. , 1908. Challenge Kound. —Australasia v. America, played at Melbourne, Australia, on November 27, 28, and 30. and won by Australasia by 3 rubbers to 2, 12 sets to 10, 117' games to 100, 719 aces to 050. Singles.—Brookes (Aust.) boat r. B. Alexander (A.), 5—7, 9—", 6-2, 'I—6, o—3. and lost to Wright (A.), o—o, o—3, a—h 2-6, 10-12. Wilding (Anst.) hist t" Wright (A.), 6-3, 5-7. 3-6, 1-0, and btal Alexander (A.), 6—3, o—4, 6—l. ■ Doubles.—Brookes and Wilding (Anst.) beat Wright and' Alexander (A.), u—l, 6—2, 5—7, 2—o, tl—l. 1909. Challenge Pound, played at Sydney, Australia, on November 27, 211. and 30, and won bv Australasia bv 5 matches to love, 1.-) sets to 1, 10S games to 68, C.12 aces to Singles.—Brookes (Aust.) beat M. E. .M'Loughlin (A.), 6-2. 6-2, (l—l,. and Jl. 11. Long (A.). 0-1, 7-5, 8-fi. \\ ilding I (Aust.) heat Long (A.), 6—2, 7—■>. <; 1. and M'T.oughlin (A.), 3—<!. B—(>, O—L, O—J. Doubles.—Brooke? and \\ ilding (Aust.) beat Long and M'Loughlin (A.)j 12—10, 9-7. 6-3. Tliero was no challenge in 1910. Tennis Goods from Slazengcr's, Sheffield, and iiussey—the best makers. Geo. Denton, 5S Willis Street.—Advt.