Lawn Tennis.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 108, 8 May 1909, Page 14

Lawn Tennis.

[By Huka.] THE SYDNEY CHAMPIONSHIPS. The New Zealand Association indeed did well in sending its team of ladie& to Australia, and it would havo been money well spent on the sport if a few moro of the rising players had also been sent for experience. The ladies in Australia have shown our players that the volleying game must be studied, and although New Zealand won tho test match, and Miss Powdrell carried all brilliantly before her in tho championship singles, it has been clearly proved that our girls have a Jot to learn as far as doubles play is concerned. Misses Addison and Stewart, of Victoria, are as line exponents of the doubles play as ever have hit a ball over tho net in Australia, and the New Zealandere will come back with new ideas, which cannot but help to improve their play, and consequently the play of other ladies they may compete against. It is to be hoped that the Australian ladies will be invited to visit these shores next Christmas, and that New Zealandere will give them tho same warm welcome and attention that our players have received on all hands whilst -in Sydney. , The play of the New Zealanders has been distinctly good, and considering it is their first experience of more than_ a •whole week's tennis in rapid succession, besides the veiy exciting entertainment thrust upon them, they have come through the ordeal remarkably well. Miss Powdrell has covered herself with glory, and New Zealand tennis players have every reason to bo justly proud of her. It was a wonderful performance against champions. 'Within half an hour of defeating Miss Addison, the champion of Victoria, she had to meet Miss Stewart in tho final. Both fought an even fight for two sets, then the New Zealandor's stamina and pluck brought her good play to tho front, and she showed vast superiority over her rival towards the end. The Challenge round against Miss Baker was never in doubt. Miss Powdrell looked a winner right through. The news was received early on Saturday night last, and there was a very pleased ring in the voices of tennis players and those of other sports when they met. New Zealand had come out on top by the splendid display of Miss Powdrell, who can bo safely reckoned to hold her own in tho front rank of tennis for many years to come. Strange to say, tho Sydney officials do not iesue a programme showing the draw <^f the events, and as the papers only report some of the most important matches, exact accounts of who our ladies beat or who beat them has not yet come along. Seemingly our players were a bit off their best form, after tho New South Wales mateh — a sort of reaction, maybe, and then, again, 'they met one another, and of course one had to go out. But sufficient news has been received to show that all played well, of those who survived the first day, in some of the events. Miss Nunneley was unlucky in meeting Miss Stewart in the first round, and had she been able to have had one or two more singles might have done better, but as Miss Powdrell beat her in the singles, possibly from the same mark, it looks as though the Taranaki player was in tho better form. Rumours of unbounded hospitality have been confirmed by numerous letters this week, and the Sydney people have done their utmost to make our ladies have a most enjoyable time. Tho entertainment haß been on the lavish scale, and it may havo been a very hard task for many girls to think about refusing invitations even when matches depended upon their beingfresh for the morrow. Still, everything has been carefully weighed, and amusement did not mar their chances, nor the duty to tennis spoil their enjoyment. It can bo safely reckoned that the trip will show an improvement in the ladies' play, and tho experience gained will bo a benefit to the sport in New Zealand. It is a great pity that New Zealand could not have met Victoria, but as Victoria would only play two ladies — their best, of course — it was out of the question. Why the Victorians should play four abido against New South Wales and yo6 decline to meet New Zealand on the same terms can only bo explained when all is known after tho New Zealander6' return. It is a pity the match had not been definitely fixed up in all details before New South Wales beat Victoria. In future,, with the experience gained, the Australians will have to give as much attention' to the arranging of the details of their ladies matches as they do to their men's — that is, if they wish the sport to flourish amongst the ladies. The Otago tournament at Easter was a great success in every way and, as pointed, out by "Constant Reader," all Uie vititors were delighted wirh the splendid weather. A small shower—unfortunately termed stormy by "Huka"— fell for a few minutes on the first day, but in no way marred the clay for the sport. The Otago Association has written congratulating the New Zealand Association on the splendid success of tho Ne^y Zealand ladies, at Sydney, and has praised Miss Powdrell to tho highest Southern tennis is booming-, and though peihaps, not, quite so first-class in Otago as in some of the other provinces, it gives ample evidence of enthusiasm amongst the young players, who will, it is to be hoped, study the game and bring themselves up to the best in New Zealand in the near future. The hopes which were raised by the reappearance of Miss Peyton, who it can be truly said was the finest tennis player ancngst ladies in Australasia, in oompeti tions at tho tournament in Sydney are apparently not destined to be realised Ihe lady m question was compelled through ill-health to give the game up last year ; but she seemed to have made a splendid recovery, and was showing to the best advantage in doubles and mixed e\ents at the tournament. After home hard matches on the Thursday, her efforts wqvo evidently too great for her strength, for she became far from well towards the close of the day, and acting under medical advice, 'she had to withdraw from all events, and probably will never be able to play again. Tennis players will regret to hear this, and their sympathy will be with this grand Player, oj: whose display of first-class tennis they will hear more of when our players return. Miss Peyton, when she was champion, simply used to lose Miss •naker, beating her nearly every time alinoi»t in love sets. She was expert in every department of the game, and in a mixed would join her partner at the net, and was quite good enough to hold mu OU ? wlth the besfc men volleyers. J.he Lawn Tennis Association of Aubtralasia has decided to submit certain resolutions to the New Zealand Association in regard to Davis Cup matters. One is an agreement to the appointing of a separate council representing the States ot the Commonwealth and New Zealand with respect .to all arrangements for international matches. That is just what New Zealand is kicking against-the btates of the Commonwealth being separately placed on the same footing as New Zealand The Australians hope to get over the matter by giving each State and New- Zealand delegates on a proportional basis, calculated on the respective populations of each State and New Zealand. Why not givo each province in New Zealand a chance if each State in Australia ia so entitled? Tho Aus--tralians cannot see past their own persona interests in this matter, and will not look at the rule that saya Australia (not the States of Australia, but Australia as a country) with New Zealand shall be one nation. If New Zealand agrees to this wily dodge from the other Sl f°» then she has battled for nothing all these months, and the time has arrived when it must be made plain that rsew Zealand win not associate itself with the btates, but only with an association— say, an Australian association governing the States in Australia. Some may be inclined to let tho matter drop, and sottle it on the lines as submitted by the Austrahans. If that should be done, it will be a very weak-kneed policy. Tho Australians have a great asset in these Davis Cup matches, and it will be worth a few pounds spent in law advice to see if they can be compelled to hand over some portion. The Bidwill-strcet Club, whose team won the championship in the racket conteat, has issued invitations to a ball, to be held in the Concert Chamber, Town Hall, on Friday, tho 14th May. It promises to bo ft great aucoess.