Lawn Tennis. [By Volley.]

Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 74, 24 September 1898, Page 4 (Supplement)

Lawn Tennis. [By Volley.]

A few years back the way in which a single was played was from the back of the court, and long rallies were the order of the day. But gradually a change took place first in the double and later in the single. In the double game one player used to .stand at the net and one at the back of the Court, and then both stood on the service line, and lastly both stand close up .. to the net. In tho single game the players used to occasionally run in to smash an easy return, but last season or two the server always rushes up after both services, and the chief' aim. of the players is to get to the net. Naturally, from this style of play volleying has been brought to a much , liner art than it was a few seasons ago. Last season the wain stroke was a good diive to fall within two feet of tho base line, but owing to the improvement hi volleying this stroke has fallen more or less into disuse, and the stroke most frequently used, now is one across the court and dropping as close to the net as possible. From a correspondent in London, who witnessed tho final round of the Championship betweon H. L. Doherty und Mahony, I i-tioeivpd the following not »s: — ' Placo, "Wimbltdon ; Time, 4 to 6.20 ; wenther, threatening* bub fine; attendance, 100 or so; players: — Doherty, small, and agile; c.vii, iuui never says a word. Mahoay, big, talks often, saying "Dash it," &c. Both aie generous players. Soore : DoherLy wia»6— 2, 6— 1, 2—6, 4—6, 14—12. 'Generally speaking, the play was just like the double game. 'JLhe -server serves - fairly hard with a slight cut which gives . the ball a big bound, and the receiver stands a yard outside tho court. The receiver, instead of waiting for tho ball to fall, sfcrikoa it with a round-arm hit before is has finished rising. This is a distinct dif- ; ference from New Zealand play, as here we generally wait till the ball is falling and >"tben drive it. There are many advantages .in hatting tho ball before it has finished rising, the chief being' (1) a saving of time, aud •therefore greater chance of getting to the net ; (2) more accurate placing, and also greater ease in placing across the court so as to pass in front of the server who is rnsbiag'up to the net ; (3) by not waiting for the hall you- give the server less chance of getting to the net and he also is at a disadvantage, aB he cannot tell so well in what direction you- are going to place the ball as when you drive. The greatest difference between the New Zealand and English play is the continued striving to get to the net and the accurate placing, and theso are tho only ones except that they never miss any but a hard ball. The lob is very rarely used except as a last resort, and a point is scarcely ever won by it. The opponent runs back and smashes or else runs round. The backhand play is as good or nearly so as the forehand:- The hits are smart but not very hard, beautifully placed, and generally round arm back and fore hand. A favourite place is at each other's toes, aad I know from experience that a ball so placed is extremely difficult to negotiate. ' The greatest tendency of the volleying game is to introduce a cut on to most strokes (both valley and ground strokes), so as to keep the ball down and help to cross the courD at a sharper angle than could otherwise be done. After H. L. Doherty beat Mahony in the final round of the Championship, he had to play his brother (the holder), R. F. Dolu rty, but was unable to wrest the • Championship from him, the score being — R. F. beatH. L. Doherty 6— 3, C— 3, 2—6, »-7, 6—l.6 — 1. Championship Doubles: — Doherty Bros, beat Mabet and Hobart, 6—4,6 — 4, 6—4, 6—2.6 — 2. Ladies' Championship: — Miss C. Cooper beat Miss Martin, 6—4, 6-4, and then beat last year's champion, * Mrs. Hillyard, who retired.' I clip the following interesting particulars from the Field about the match between H. L. Doherty and Mahony : — ' The last sot took 62 minutes. Dohorty won 32 gamos 'with 222 points, Mahony won 27 games with/ 204 points. Doherty wou 23 service garaes and lost 7, while his opponent won 20-andioat 9 ; 23 gamestwero deuce games, and Doherty won 4, and Mahony 3 love , games i'