LAWN TENNIS.

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 97, 19 January 1924, Page 18

LAWN TENNIS.

THE NEW SOUTH WALES VISIT The conclusion of a tour is always the occasion for reviewing performances. nor is the visit of the team from New South Wales any exception to the rules. However enthusiastic tennis players of the Dominion were at the prospect of the visit, lyhen the personnel was announced they were not so sanguine as to the benefits that W’ould accrue. Tho team was not by anv means the best the premier state of Australia possesses, even if it was the best available. The tour occupied one month from December 12 to January 10. The visitors defeated Auckland 5 matches to 3 Taranaki by 3 games, the scores being 5 matches and 11 sets each, and 109 games to 106. Rain interfered with play at Wanganui, and the four matches ended two each, six sets, and 56 games to New South Wales, anp four sets and 46 games to Wanganui. In the Test match at Christchurch the visitors were completely overwhelmed. On the first day New Zealand were victorious in 8 matches (5 sindes and 3 doubles) to New South Wales 3 matches (1 singles, the defeat of A. W. Sims by Reid, and 2 doubles). On the second day New. Zealand won. five singles and four doubles, the visitors winning but the singles, Pike beating Wilding. The series ended 17 matches to New Zealand and four to New South AVales. None of the visitors distinguished themselves at the New Zealand championships. At Timaru they were beaten in two exhibition matches out of three, and at Dunedin they were without the services of Goodman and Peach, who were indisposed. Against Otago they had to play on asphalt courts and use Slazenger balls instead of Ayres balls. New South Wales won 3 matches, 9 sets, and 88 games, and Otago 3 matches, 7 sets, and 77 games. January 9 and 10 were taken up in contests against Wellington, when the local team won by 8 matches to 5. In estimating results, it must be conceded that the team from overseas was dogged by misfortune almost from the start. Jordan, through lacerating a muscle of his arm in a practice match at Auckland, was a negligible quantity from the outset, and when they had to meet Wellington. Poulton had to go into hospital for the second dav; Peach was in the doctor’s hands; Reid, although he played well on the first day, was bv no means a fit man on the second day, nor was Goodman by any means at his best. . These things are not mentioned with any idea of minimising the merit of the local team’s victory, but to do justice to the visitors. But it cannot be too strongly emphasised that n. visiting team owes a duty to +he public (barring accidents) to keep itself absolutely fit, and those who undertake to look after them also owe a duty to the public to see that tfie tjam does keep itself fit, and that nothing is done to prevent that. But what are the lessons to be learned? Chiefly, that the New Zealanders are now confirmed in their impression that their tennis has progressed to a remarkable extent. “The game in New Zealand.” said Peach, the captain of the visiting team, “has come on tremendously. There was no doubt that New Zealand holds some very fine players. Four men strike me as those who should represent the Dominion in the Davis Cup,” he stated to tho representative of an exchange. First, Bartleet. of Auckland, who had a good, solid service, punishing overhead, severe ground strokes, and wns n reliable rollover. With foreign experience, Bartlett should develop into a first-class player. Next, there was the New Zealand champion, A. W. Sims. Sims would have to improve, yet he had a magnificent drive, both forehand and backhand.- He had the ability to smash and vollev. but he was inclined to hang bimk and not go in to finish off the point when ho had the other man out of position. Also his footwork needed improving, and once he had a stronger service, Sims wr.uld go a long way in first-class ta-inis-E. D. Andrews, the ex-national junior champion, was another youns plaver who was going far. Andrews’s driving was exceptional for a boy of his ago. and he was fully up to New Zealand representative standard. His weakness was a reverse delivery, which it was very easy to hit off the court. Andrews realised this, and intended to develop a new service. Finally tliere was D. G. France, of Wellington. who prssessed a powerful forehand and fine allround stroke equipment. but who would have tn concentrate more on the court. These were the men whom it would pay Now Zealand to give experience in the Davis Cup. The future of Dominion tennis would lie largely with them, and they could not commence getting, their footing in really first-class tennis too soon. I. Seay, of Canterbury, of whom he had heard, Mr. Peach could not comment on, but expressed the unanimous opinion of the. team that one of the best plavers in New Zealand still was A. J.. Wallace, of Taranaki, who had captained the Test team. 'Speaking of doubles, he said: The essence of the double was understanding and practice together. Beyond that the Dominion men shoukl not hesitate to take the net at the verv first onnortnnity and to hit for the point without more ado. A tencknrv to be slow In going in and a diffidence in picking the. ball to kill marked nfost Dominion pairs. That was the main trouble. Taking the play at the New Zealand tourney all round, he was of the opinion that Bartlett and Robson have proved their right to be called the first pair in New Zealand. Robson’s play in the men’s and mixed doubles had been splendid, while Bartleet played a sound double It has to be remembered that the chapter of accidents which dogged the steps of the team made Reid ana Goodman fifth and fourth men respectively, th“ first and second men. But they were all drivers, and with | the posiible exception of D. France, always outdrove the Wellingtopians in their matches. Peach, on his game, was an object-lesson in smashing, but by no means one to be emulated in the number of his double faults. Pike (the left-hander) had much to commend him in a 'fine sporting temperament. as so did Peach, and absolute steadiness. Tho visit should serve to show the authorities of New South Wales that, any team will ' not do for the Dominion. and the authorities of New Zealand should by now have learned that the last, hope (the only men available) will not serve.

ASSOCIATION LADDER The holiday season has postponed the playing of numerous ladder challenge matches, but the positions have undergone some changes. J. C. Peacock, who ha.s left for England, conies off the ladder, and R. N. R. Swanston is am inactive member. The positions are us fellow. —• SINGLES. 1. L. France, Brougham Hill. 2 D, France, Brougham Hill. 3. B. N. K. Swanston, Thomdon. 4. J. B. Parker, Thorndon. t>. 11. White Parsons, . Thorndon. t>. N. B. Barkmnn, Wellington. 7. S. P. Wheeler, Thorndon. b. E. Salmond, Thorndon. 9. C. L. Mayo, Thorndon. ill. E. B. AV. Smyth, Brougham Hill. 11. W. P. Rollings, Newtown. 12. N. A. Foden, A'ictoria College. 13. B. R. T. Young, Victoria College. 14. L. T. Edmondson, Thorndon.

15’ B. O’Brien, Wellington. 10. L. J. Berry, Keiburn. 17. N. B. C. AVilson, Brougham Hui. 18. E. AV. Wright, AVellington. 19. T. C. Ward, Brougham Hill. 20 D. C. Armstrong, Brougham Hill. The remaining players follow in the following order:—C. Collins (L.yall Bsv'i, C. G. S. TSllis (Brougham Hill), L 'Thomas (Petone), E. Reeves (Tliorndon), T. Richardson (Khandallah), R. Mansfield (Keiburn), F.- Cornet (Newtown), G. T. Penlington (Brougham Hill). F. L. Humphries (AVellington), AV. Hay (Brougham Hill), F. H. Garner (Victoria College), AV. E. Rollings (Lyall Bay), N. C. Haigh (Newtown), C Q. Pope (Brougham Hill), 1. H. Haigh (Victoria College), C. N. Tucker (Brougham Hill), AV. D. Blyth (Khandallah). C. E. Scott (Victoria College), V. H. Thwaites (Brougham Hjll).

DOUBLES. 1 L. and D. France. Brougham Hill. 2 Parker and Wheeler, Thorndem. 3. W. P. Hollings and Foden, A7ictoria College. 4. AV right and Pigou, Wellington. . 5. Young Bros., Victoria College. 6. Ward and Armstrong, Brougham Hill. m , 7. N. R. C. AVilson and, Tucker, Brougham Hill. 8. C. Collins and Swinburne, Lyall B. 9. AV. E. Hollings and Donovan, Lyall Bay. 10. Haigh and McLennan, Newtown. The remainder are: T. L. Humphries a,id O’Brien (Wellington), Teviotdale and L. O’Brien (Wellington), C. E. Scott and AV. Hay (Brougham Hill . Thwaites and Garner (Victoria College), Tulloch and Polglaise (Lyall Bay) P IT- Haigh and Blathwayt (Lvall Bay), AVatkins and Jenkins (Brougham Hill). LADIES’ SINGLES. 1. Mrs. Melody, Keiburn. 2. Miss 'Tracy, Brougham Hill. 3. Mrs. K. Evison, Petone. 4. Mrs. V. Parkinson, Petone. 5. Mrs. G. Penlington, Brougham H. 6. Miss R. Gardner, Victoria College. 7. Mrs. B. Cooke, Brougham Hill 8. Miss I. Thwaites, Brougham Hill. !■). Mrs. M. Hoo]xir, Brougham Hill. (.0. Miss M. Jennings, Brougham Hill. LADIES’ DOUBLES. 1. Mrs. Melody and Miss Travers, Keiburn. 2. Misses M. Tracy and A. Howe, Brougham , Hill. 3. Mesdames Parkinson and Evison, Itetone. 4. Mesdames Penlington and Cooke, Brougham Hill. 5. Misses G. and A. Stevenson.. Petone. DAVIS CUP WRANGLE TILDEN AND HACKETT. Not so very long; ago, W. T. Tilden took occasion to criticise the American. Lawn Tennis Association for its eleventh-hour picking of the American Davis Cup teapi. “Suggestions on methods of play,” he says, _ . would conic*’boiter any other time than between the third and fourth sets. . It is too late then to change.” Hackett, against whom Tilden’s remarks' were evidently directed, . took occasion to reply in no uncertain terms. Tilden s remarks, he considers, a “rathfer uncalled for criticism of the Davis Ctr Committee,” and the sentence, just quoted is characterised as “erroneous.” . .. . ‘‘l am one of the great majority, says, “who considers Tilden not only the greatest singles plaver of his time, but of all time. Still, his doubles game is quite another matter, for he absolutely fails to understand the great fundamental of the doubles game, which is position play. Unfortunately, Tilden considers himself not only the greatest singles player, but also the greatest doubles player. The Davis Cup Committee, which controls the play of the international trophy, nnd the selection of the players, is responsibln for the results. If the plavers fail, thfe blame, if any, is attached not to them but to the committee for a possible faulty, selection The Davis Cup Committee is in much the same position as a manager of a championship baseball team, or the Mead coach of a University football team. . The players are selected Mt only for their ability, but also for their knowledge of the game. Tilden with four national championships behind him, was believed capable of playing the doubles match, in spite of atrocious performance in the 19-2 Davis Cup doubles. The fact that , he chose to park his intelligence outside the stadium during the doubles match was naturally unexpected by any of the committee. To the writer, whose value, if any. to the committee, is to keep an eye on the doubles situation, it seemed'that, in spite of the magnificent play of Williams, the American doubles team was doomed to almost certain defeat as early as the beginning of the third set, unless something was done about it and done quicEly.. Fortunately, in this case the diagnosis was tiimple, and. the remedy easy, but. tho patient baulked at tak'ng tho medicine, which was good old-fashioned advice between the third and fourth sots, given, perhaps, so vehemently that Tilden may have mistaken it for instruction —in which he may have been right at that. The writer has always considered it a tennis crime to see a match thrown away that could readily be won by the exercise of the human intelligence. Tilden’s final sentence. “It is too late then to change.” becomes inexplicable in view of what happened during the fourth and fifth sets. After refusing verbally the advice or instruction of the '’onunittee during the intermission, ho went out on the court and proceeded to follow tho advice o! instruction to the letter, the result was he played tennis of the highest calibre, and tho match was won. In view of the fact that Tilden’s exhibition of doubles ii. the 1922 and 1923 Davis Cup final doubles wore probably the poorest exhibition, with one excel tten, of any Amortcaiv doubles

player since the inception of the Davis Cup in 1900. it would seem to the writer that Tilden should devote more time to improving his doubles play. If he would choose a partner whose game co-ordinated, and played through the principal doubles tournaments for a season, he would undoubtedly learn the intricacies of position play and develop the high calibre of team piny wliich is so e<s*entia! to doubles buocoss.