LAWN TENNIS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 126, 29 May 1915, Page 12

LAWN TENNIS

I ' -*• — — \ -(By "Huka."} ! THE NEW ZEALAND CHAMPION- ! SHIPS. Tho subjeot has oropped up as to whether the New Zealand championships I should be played at Christmas. If the war ie not over the New Zealand championslu'p meeting should by all means be put on one side. But time enough to go into the matter when spring arrives, In the meantime, we have other duties of n more sterner nature claiming our attention. FOR THE FRONT, Quite a number of our tennis "boys" I have been seen in their uniforms of late —-they, are "soldiers of the King," off to ! do their duty, and real well they looked. Full of dash, eagerness, and enthusiasm, prepared to do then- share, being biased with the knowledge that they have been granted the privilege of fighting in tho battle for the, freedom and liberty of' the British Empire. The tennis players, ladies and mon, who are by foroe of circumstances, compelled to remain behind oan help in other way 6, and perhaps a lead from the Wellington Association as to the method to be adopted by clubs and players would rouao eomo extra enthusiasm. Is the Wellington Association, its clubs and other players making a.ny sp<?cial effort to assist in the Carnival? If not, why? Pnssivo assistance is, worth* less. What is wanted ie straight-out active enthusiasm, and the local executive should set an, example. All objections should be buried for the good of the cause, and who will refuse to work when it is for the boys who are giving their lives without one murmur? ROLL OF HONOUR. H. E. Percy, of the Highgate L.T.C., and A. C. Parry, of tho Telford Park Club, have been killed in action. Both were woll-known teimis. players. The latter while in the trenches went to sleep, despite ,the shells, ahd on waking,' rose and sfcretohed himßelf. In, doing so he experaed part of his head through which asiiper promptly put,a bullet. It was a pie< a of bad luck ( which brings homo to us «t home tho sinister meahihg of "the. forti'ue of war." H. L. Doherty, former English champion and groat Davis Cup player, has joined the Auto-Aircraft Naval Reserve. He broke his right arm a little while back, but has made such a good recoveiy that he is ablo to "do his little bit" for the good cauee. THE SPIN OF THE BALL. Here is a good tip to those who are puzzled as to what to do with a ball that is spinning. Gonorally the trouble is to • solve which way the ball is spinning. UnJess that is solved you do not know how it, will bound on landing. Mark the baiS | with two dark spots about tho size of ft two shilling piece, on each side as it wore, and then you will be ablo to plainly perceive which way tho ball is spinning 1 . AMERICA. I The United States is about 'the only nation that still has tennis ih full swing. Although there will bo no visitors, the ■ Amerioans are going to run their sport I as usual, and Eastern players are to j journey to, California to do battle there. R. N. Williams will load the Eastern team, which will meet hot stuff in M'Loughlin, Murray, Johnson, and Fo,t« trell. .The team's whole expenses will be paid "just, as if it were a Davis Cup team," and it will, on its way to tho Pacific Coast, stop at Pittsburgh for tho Clay Court Championship. America is going to keep her players fit, no doubt in view of big matches later on in 1916. When the. Coast trip is over, all the players will be due at Longwood to play in the big doubles, and after that the National Championships. The tournament to be held in California, will be for tho Panama-Pacific Exposition Championships. , Altogether the United States Association has sanction the holding of 169 toumauiehts for 1915, and in August alone 50 will be held. The National Championships will be held at New York this time, instead of at Newport, as has been the rule in the past. The champiohshipß start on the 30th August. It is reckoned that this late date will allow most Now Yorkers to get home from thoir vacations at the seashore, and also add one week to the season for the big tournaments.