Lawn Tennis

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 70, 23 March 1907, Page 14

Lawn Tennis

[By Huka.] ' TOURNAMENTS. March 29 and 30 — Marlborough championships at Blenheim. March 30 and April I—Hamilton.1 — Hamilton. > March 309 and April 1st — Napier. (Handicaps only). March 29 end 30, and April I— West Coast championships, at Weetport. March 29, 30, April 1 and 2— Otago championships, at Invercargill. March 29, 30, Apiil 1 and ?.—Wellington championships, at Day's Bay. March 30, April 1 and 2— Canterbury championships at Christchurch. March 30 and April I—Gisborno.1 — Gisborno. Rain spoiled what promised to b6 an interesting contest between Canterbury and Wellington last Monday. Covered court tennis was the order of the 'day, and tho "Wellington secretary (Mr. Kimboll) had tv bard ir.oruing boforo he could get tho match started in the Drillshod. Tho Canterbury team gave valuable assistance in marking out the courts, but tjio Wellington eocrutary had the bulk of the work on his shoulders, and to his credit it must be said that ho did it well. Suroly now tho Wellington association will see tho necessity of having a management comniitteo, wflo could be called upon to assist in carrying out such fixtures as was arranged last Monday. Tho courts in the Drillshed were six feet short of the proper size ; th» space behind the base lino was very limited, and the light was very bad — so bad, in fact, that fast shots simply sped oit their v>-ay unsoen by players and umpire!). The contest could scarcely bo callod a test, yet sufficient form was 6hown to indicate that Wellington would probably have won fairly easily on grass or hard courts. Tho actual result was a win for the home team by 6 sets to 3—753 — 75 games to 62. In the doubles tho fast work of Cox and Laishloy had Aitken and Borrows in trouble from the start, and it was no uncommon thing; to see the latter players hard against tho wall trying to dodge somo hurricane drivo or smaok. Peacock was also very deadly. The players found it hard work, but one and ail seemed to bo satisfied that they had had some fun at any rate. New South Wales beat Victoria in tho annual interstate match by 15 lubbers to 6. The match was played in Sydney, and with the excoption of Brookes, Victoria had its strongest team. Thoro is no doubt that Parker has strengthened tho Now South Wales team. At the tame time, if Brookes had played for Victoria, it is hard to say how the match would have resulted. Parker, certainly, provod more than a match for Heath and Dunlop, and ranks next to Brookes in Australia. Heath held tho Australasian championship when ho came to Now Zealand last Christmas. I'isher beat him in a five set match (second round) for the Australasian ■ Singles, but Heath beat Fisher in tho third round of the New Zealand Singles, 6—l, B—6, 7—5 ; Parker beat Heath 6—3, 6—3, 6—3 in the semi final. The New Zealand Association has decided to grant the application of tho Taranaki Association for the next New Zealand Championship Meeting. Championship events only will bo decided, but will bo followed immediately by tho Taranaki Championship and Handicap 'Tournament. The secretary of the Taranaki Association (Mr. Paton) was in Wellington this week, and from all accounts the sport in that province is very much alive at present. The idea of running the New Zealand Championship without the usual handicap events is something new, but has its attractions. The public and handicap players will bo ablo to see matches of merit continuously for threo days, which in itself must have an educative value. Besides, the championships should now get thoir proper attention, and tho players merlin will not havo such a hard time as when the handicaps are sandwiched in with the more important matches. The champion players naturally entered for tho hdndicap events, and often, if they did l.ot scratch, were tired out when it cams to thh) deciding games of the championship. The Masterton Chib visited Ekotahuna last week and played a match with iho local club. Ekctahuna won by 9 matches ta 7—117 gaiucs to 102. One of the surprises was tho defeat of Miss Taj ten, of illasterton, by Miss Page, 7—5. Iho latter lady has improved very m»;ch this season, and with good 'practice should wiiiiimoro important matches in the future Miss Douglass, tho casunpicn lady player of tho world, is to be married in April. Mr. R. G. Craig has benu elected secretary of the Wocidville Club. The Monte Carlo open championship singles is ono of tho moat classical events held in Europe, and for some years the championship has 'been earned off by one or other of tho Doherty brother*. Tho challenge cup, valued at 3000 franci, wan won by R. F. Doherty outright in 1934-. In 1903 11. J. G. Ritchie was b»aten in tha ucmi-final by Kiseley, b— 2, 6—2, 6—B,6 — 8, 6—* ; R. F. Doherty beat Riselcy in final, 6—l, (14—16, retired), lv. Il'.I 1 '. Dcjhorty in 1904- beat Ritchie in tho final, 6—l, 7—5, 3-6, 7—5 Tho following year a. new 3000 francs challenge cup was provided, and ogam Ritchio nenily won, H. L. Doherty just beating him in tho final, 6—4, B—6, 6—4. Last year saw a- large entry. In the second round H. L. Doherty disposed of Ritchie's chances, 6—l, 6—2," B—6. In the semi-iinal Iho Xew Zealander, Wilding, gave the champion a close go, but was beaten, o—u,0 — u, 6—3, o—6,0 — 6, 6—o.6 — 0. Doherty won the^ cup for the second time by boating Eaves, 6—3, 11 — 9. This year the champion's chanco of carrying -tho valuable cup away was spoiled (Doherty had two wins in, and a third would havo given him tho cup outright), Wilding defeating him. Wilding has started the season well, and it is to be hoped his success will continue. Of course, ho has had an extra season, compared with Ritchie and Doherty, and his meeting at Nice and Cannes with these "top-notcherß" will bo of inoro thati ordinary interest. Tt has been said that H L. Dohorty was likely to retire this year through ill-health, but ho would 'more ttian likely bo as fit as he could bo got for the Monte Carlo event, as, had ha won tho valuablo cup, it would have become his own property. Tho All England championships atari at Wimbledon on 24th June. Seats in tho covered stand were being sold last month for 17s 6d each. Mr. G. W. Hillyard, the famous player, has been elected secretary of the All England Club. lieal C. Wright, tho American orack player, intends to compete at Nice for the championship of tho South of France. R. F Dohorty has started playing singles again, and won the championship at Craigside. In tho handicap ho was owing 50, and boat Fosborj* (roc. 2—6),2 — 6), 6—3,6 — 3, 6—36 — 3 ; ho beat Carter (rco. 30 I—6), 6—4, 9—ll, 6—4;6 — 4 ; and also Pomeroy (reo. 15 4—6),4 — 6), 7—5,7 — 5, 6—o. F G. Lowe fscr), however, beat him in final, 9—ll, 6—o, 6—4. In tho open singles Doherty sot himself lo owo 30, and won easily, beating Lowe fn final, 6—4, 6—2. If H L. Doherty does retire this season, it is quite possible that his brother in prepared to take his place. Should ho get fit and well, tho Americans and tho colonial piaycri, Brookes und Wilding, will find hi ma haider nut to crack than his brother. The Management Committee of tho Now Zealand Lawn Tennis Association hat had considerable trouble of late in corinection with the authorisation of tournaments. Tho climax was reached when it waa discovered that tho Auckland Association had held its championship meoUng without approval. Tho following motion was passed : — "That tho Auckland Lawn Tennis Association bo informed that tho Manngoment Committoo of tho New Zealand AsRociation has learned with regrol that a championship meeting at Auckland wait recently held in contravontion of laws of tennis Nos. 41 and 4?, thereby rendering both tho association and tho competitor!! Uablo to disqualification, and that tho Auckland excculivo bo called upon to Htrictly lid hero to those rules in-Juturq." Tho committee of the governing body intends lo hold a mooting every three weeks in future, hoping thereby lo givo rnoro attention to nuittcrr that require to bo brought up to dale. It is to bo hoped that extra life will bo infused into all the affiliated association!), «nd that all aKiliatud clubs throughout Now Zealand wilt do thoir best to per(wade non-affiliated clubs to join Iho roipcotivq provincial BKsooiadonH. Entries for tho Wellington champion- , ships close to-day with tho hon. boo.