Lawn Tennis

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 113, 14 May 1910, Page 14

Lawn Tennis

CBv "Huka.") The Hutt Tennii. Club has now completed its matches, andl the following results have been kindly sent ia: — Mre. Wigg* beat Miss G. Foster in the final of the championship singles, 9—6.9 — 6. The latter player, with a handicap of ree. 5, beat Miss Humphrey (ree. 18) in the final of tho handicap singles, 50— ♦♦. The men's championship fell to Bert Green, who 6ucceded in beating P. Jackson, 6—2,6 — 2, 6—5,6 — 5, 6—3.6 — 3. Theee players also met in the final of tho handicap singles. Green (ree. 3) beat Jackson (scratch), 70 — 66. Tho Brougham Hill Club s> programme was brought to a close with tho final of tho men's phampionship singles. F. Laishley, thu holder, beat H. Howe, 6—3,6 — 3, p— *. The only event not played -was the ladies' championship doubles. The ladies did nob make a start with it, and the committee -cancelled the event, but gave the plajers tho option of playing it off at their leisure. This the ladies have not done. It is looked upon as not being an official event, and consequently the winners could not

olaim to be the club's champion doubles i players for the season. The annual inter-State match between New South Wales and Victoria at Sydney was fixed to take place on the 20th and i 21st inst., and the "Mars Buckley Chip" I competition on the 18th and 19th inst., | but owing to the King's death an alteration in the dates will more than likely now be made. The New South Wales | Association selected the following players to practice in view of the matches:— Messrs. Parker, Rice, Sharp, Wright, Say ers, Kidston, March, Jones, and C. E. and R. O. Anderson. The Sports Club which is to take over the grounds at Miramar has been sue- i ceesfully launched. Tennis is to be given , attention, and those who intend to take advantage of the chanco for grass play j should apply for admission at once. As coon as a membership of 200 is completed, an entrance fee of £3 3s will be imposed. Tennis nlayera should take a trip to tho grounds, and see what has already been done in the way of provision for their 6port. There is not tho slightest doubt that if they support the movement in sufficient numbers, plenty of courts will be provided. DAVIS CUP. The Americans are extra keen on winning the Davis Cup this year, -and will send a strong team to England, for the preliminary against the British Isles. The match will be played at Wimbledon, and no doubt will attract groat attention. The question , at present is : Will tho Doherty brothers represent the BritishIsles? The famous Doherty pair successfully defended in 1906, but in 1907 — the year that Australasia won the" Cvp — they wore missing, and have not taken any part in the contest since. Gore and Barrett, the doubles- pair that beat Brookes and Wilding in the challenge round doubles of 1907, are still likely to be in the running, and although they were beaten lately by Doust and Poidevin, the event was played on covered courts, which may not give a true line as to what Gore and Barrett will be able to do at Wimbledon. The latter pair aro players who have always risen to tho occasion when it was required of them. Then there is Smith, who cannot be put down as a back number yet, besides others of the young brigade, who may blossom out into ripe players at any moment. Both nations will make a determined bid to become the challengers, and whether it be America or the British Isles that is returned as the winning team, the contest will be a stubborn one. For many reasons both countries wish to get that Davis Cup from "down under." America in 1908 and 1909 gave the British Isles a guarantee of £400 when the latter nation «sent its players to America for the preliminary tie. This year America, is to visit England, and no doubt a like undertaking has been given by the British Isles. When the visiting nation or challengers play in the challenge round, the challenging nation takes half of the net profits. The Americans received something like £300 each time they Visited Australia. The South African Association intends in the near . future to make an attempt to lift the Davis Cup. Its players are coming on rapidly, and young Window is spoKen of as a player >vho promises to be. above the average. Even the little Jap. has become an enthusiastic player, and should Japan make as much progress in the game as it ha 6in other matters of late years, it should not be long before ite team will have to be seriously considered as having a chance of international honours, SOUTH AFRICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS. The New Zealand champion, A. Wilding, after beating Aitken, the Capetown champion, in hollow fashion, withdrew from all the handicap events. The New Zealander was in fine form, and at one stage won thirteen consecutive aces. He and Cochrane had to meet Kitson and Gaunilett in the final of the doubles. Robbs and Winslow met the latter pair, and won. B—6, 6—4.6 — 4. Robbs was weak, and had Winslow paired with, a better partner the others would have been outclassed, for Winslow played a marvellous game. Wilding and Mi6s Tudhope will- meet Kitson and Mrs. Kirby in the final of thecombined championship. Mrs. Kirby, who boat Mrs. Washington in the semifinal of the championship 6—l, 6—2,6 — 2, ia a very fine player, who goes to the net on all openings. Her placing, volleying, and general overhead work is above the average. Mrs. Washington won tho championship last year. Mrs. Kirby meets Mrs. Reid, the Transvaal champion, in the final. Mrs. Reid 19 a very steady player, and a remarkably skilful I lobber'. She bent Miss Tudhope, Wilding'e combined partner. 6—l,6 — 1, 6—l,6 — 1, in the third round of tho championship singles. • News has ju-sfc come to hand, by way of a private letter, that Beals Wright, the American tennis player who Beat Brookesr and Wilding in the Davis Cup Singles at Melbourne, has started tennis again in view of the match with the British Isles, and should America be successful, it is on the cards that ho will . make the trip to compete in. the challenge round. N.Z. ASSOCIATION. A quarterly meeting of the New ZealaTwl Association will be lield on the 31st May. The following business is on the order paper: — Election of Southland Lawn Tennis Association; "That it is advisable to admit oversea players outside the Dominion free of all entrance fees to tournaments" ; "That this association does not approve of such an import-

ant matter as the selection of a ball feff use in championship matches being decided by the Management Committee without reference to the association, especially in view of the fact that on tlia last occasion, of a change, the question ■was referred to tho association for confirmation"; 'That 'Sykes" E.D.B. ball be retained a 6 the ball recognised and adopted by this association for the seaeon 1910-11."