LAWN TENNIS

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 53, 4 March 1922, Page 12

LAWN TENNIS

(By "Hulra.")

WELLINGTON ASSOCIATION.

The first quarterly meeting of the Wellington Association was held last week, with Monaignor M'Kenna in the chair. The evening was well spent in useful discussion, and although there was a fair attendanco of delegates, there was no exouse for the delegates who failed to attend and represent their clubs, If delegates do not intend to attend these meetings, they should resign, and thereby make room for other men. Local prayers are keen for a championship tournament at Eastor, and ii is. quite possible that the Management Committee, which is so keen to foster the game, will endeavour to run a. meeting. An early announcement is being eagerly looked for. CLCB CONTEST. Lust Saturday, the Kelburn Club was invaded by a team of eight men from the Mastorton Club. A great day's tennis was the result, and although the local players carried too many guns for the Mdßtevton men, yet they had to play all out to seoure the victory. It was not a day for the- heavyweights, although some of them must have come down in weight by tho end of the day's play. Still it was very fine to see Gawith, Jamea, Payton, and Wilson, all fighting- it out gamely to the end, against their leaner opponents. But it was hot, and one and all responded with the speed of an Oosfcerlaalc, when ' the ladies appeared with cooling beverages and other dainties, which were, most acceptable.' It 13 very fine to see these two clubs exchanging, visits, and the other olubs in the city might well follow suit. The country players do like to get a matoh in the city, and they do (jive you a good time when you viisit them in the country. NEW CLUBS. ■ N«w clubs are springing up very rapidly in the Wellington district, and the latest to join the association Is the Masterton Park Club. This club has five courts on the 'Masterton Park, and already there •are eighty playing members. W. M. Sexton is the hon. secretary. Ho attended the quarterly meeting qf the association, «nd showed that he is a keen and enthusiastio worksr for the sport. TARANAKI CHAMPIONSHIPS. The men's championship singles of Taranaki went to A. G. Wallace, who. beat Cliff Dickie in the final 6-1,6-2, 7-5. These two players captured t^6 doubles from Nicholson and Webster 8-6, 6-1, 6-2. Miss Ballantyrie beat Miss Brewster 6-4, 0-6, 6-0, in the ladies' singles, and Misses Brewster and Rundle won the doubles, from Misses Greatbatch and Simpson 6-5, 6-1. The combined fell to Miss Brewster and Nicholson, who beat Miss Rundle' and Webster in the semi-final, 6-4, 6-4; and Mrs. Wallace and Wallace, 6-3, 6-2 in the final, . , - SIMS BEATS BARTLETT. When A. W. Sims beat E. L. Bartlett, of Auckland, in the Auckland championship singles, a few weeks ago, many did hot take it over seriously, but these two players again met when Auckland played Waikato ,a teams' match at Hamilton last week. .Sims played all over Bartlett, beating hip 6-2, 6-3, 6-3. This win must bring the winner under, the eye of the New Zealand selector^ In faot "Huka" last year ranked Sims as one of New Zealand's' most promising players; he played most pluckily against the New South Wales team at Auckland, and won, when more fancied players failed. .'Sims did not do too well at Christchurch, but possibly he left his wins on tho practice courts. He can now be safely placed about fourth in the New Zealand ranking. A. W. and S. A. Sims beat Bartlett and Robson at Hamilton in the doubles. 6-2, 2-6, 8-6. S. A. Sim's heat H. G. Thomson, 6-3, 6-2. Auckland won the match by 17 rubbers to Waikato's 6 rubbers. THE LENGLEN SENSATION. Mile. Suzanne Lenglen, the * French lady player, journeyed to New York last year with the idea of' playing matches for the benefit of devastated France. An American committee was formed, and arrangements made whereby. a big fund was expected to be secured. The expenses had reached, about £500. Suzanne made her first appearance at ' the Women's National Championship Singles, held on the West Side Tennis Club's courts, against Mrs. Franklin I. Mallory (nee Miss Molla Bjurstcdt). Eight thousand people had gathered tc gee the famous French player defeat the United' States ohampion, but she was never in tho hunt. Mrs. Mallory began her forcing tactics at the very outset, antll led two games to love. Although the French girl appeared perfectly well when sho started her knock up, she suddenly started to cough, anH got worse as her opponent's score increased. Mrs. Mallory _ led 3-1, but her ■opponent gave .a_ fins display in the fifth game, and won it. Score-3-2. Mrs. Mallory continued to be aggressive, and won the first set, 6-2. Miss Lenglen started serving in the second set, and after a groat rally, .amidst considerable excitement, Mrs. Mallotry won the point. Miss Lenglen then double-faulted weakly, and after hesitating momentarily she walked sobbingly to the umpire's stand and declared that she could not go on, and would have to default. Tear-streaked and quivering she was helped off the court, Mrs.''Mallory was obviously chagrined at being thus deprived of the opportunity to avenge fully the defat which Mile Lenglen.had administered, to her a.few months before in France. The galleries were spell-bound, and disappointed at the sudden ending of what promised to •be a brilliant match. Captain Albert R. de Joannis, who was manager for the French lady tennis champion qn her trip to America, has since resigned front the French Tennis Federation on account of that body whitewashing Mile. Lenglen. He contended that she was quite well, v and perfectly' fit when she met Mrs. Mallory. Of course, when Mile. Lenglen was s- yn dancing from 5 in the evening until midnight, and 'yet could not> keep' her engagements "because of illness," there started the howl, "feigning illness." Capt. Joannis, her countryman and manager, Bummed it up as follows:—"She knows how to win, but she does not know how to lose gracefully. She placed tho personality of Suzanne before, the good name of the sporting- world of her country, and could not face defeat. Carpentier is a hero in America, despite his defeat, because he showed grit and went down fighting, whilo Mile. Lenglcn. placed France before the American public a-s preferring to quit than to face defeat. France never quits."

Headed by.W. T. Tilden, thp American champion. Mrs. Mallory, Mjgs .Eleanor C^oss, Williams, Washburn, and Richards, tok up the Lsnglen programme, and in the exhibition, matches played 1, raised close- upon £3000, and so the £500 loss with which the organisers of tho fund on behalf of tho devastated areas of France wore faced, by the falling through of the Lenglon tour, was not incurred. Suzanne di-d not tako very long to paok upy and get back to France, where she is now .resting under doctor's orders. Mrs. Mallory met Mrs. Bundy (nee May Sutton), who has nob played serious tennis for a number of years. Mrs. Mailory won 8-6, 6-2. Sho also won tho final, defeating Miss Mary K. Browne, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.

4 THE LADDER.

Great interest is being taken in tho "ladder" contest, and each week someone goes up a rung, whilst others Blip down. It is good practice, and players should benefit thoreby._ At the time of writing the following is Up to date: —1 Peacock, 2 Swanston, 3 Salmond, 4 Parkor, 5 L. Franco, 6 Dr. Park, 7 Power, 8, Wyatt, 9 Barkman, 10 Priehard, 11 D. Franc©, 12 Berry. 13 C. Williams, 14 Hollinjrs, 15 H. Williams.