LAWN TENNIS

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 25, 29 July 1922, Page 14

LAWN TENNIS

(By "Kuka.!')

THE DAVIS CUP. The semi-finals of tho Davis Cu'p.&i* between Australia v. Prance and -Spain' v^ British Isles. As these matches: havo now to be played in tlio United State*: (the Australians are now in America), they must be completed by 12th August. It appeal's to be almost certajn that Australisi will defeat Franco, as tint nation cannot get its .-■ strongest team away. Coohet is ,a military man, and oanno't secure the necessary leaxe. The team will probably be selected from Brugnon, Gobert, Bcrofcra, and Samaieurlh: Andre Henri (3-obert, M.C., was engaged -s artillsur with the French forces in tl;o Great War, and was also au observation aviator. It is doubtful i£ ho will bo able to got leave. Spain appears to haTo scoured a 'walk-over from the BritUli Isles, the latter being unable to'get m strong team away. Major Kingscow ana J^ycett are unable to make the. trip. This so weakened the. team that it was a, forlorn hope.

.The. final has to b«>' completed- by the18th of August, and, bar accidents, ■Aim-1 tralia and Spain will be th« competitors. Patterson and Co. should win with ease, as At Aloncb is this' only Spanish player likely to h«,vo a chance oi' getting a. "smfc irom either Patterson or' Anderson. ■' On.. form shown at Wimbledon he has not even a. chance o£ doing that. The match iigaiUßt France ..will be played at Boston, and will draw a, big gato, as tie Americans will flock to see how the players from "down under" compare with their own champions—Tilden, Johnston, Williams, Washburn, and Richards. It is quite possible that the gate secured, of which the two competing nations get a,, third' each, and the United States takes a thirel, may pay the Australians' whole expenses tor the tour. ;

The big fight for the cup baa to be ooinpliited by 4th September, and■, there is little doubt that, Australia, will be the nation- that challenges the- holders—tho United States. So tar, tho American team has not appeared on paper, but a great effort will be made to have Johnston defending. He has boaten Tilden twice this season, and is.in great form. Ho will bo 28 years of age on 2nd November, and is, therefore, still in his .prime. Tildon was 29 in February, and he can be reckoned on as sure for a place: Vincent Richards, the youthful, champion, may be chosen if Johnston is not available, and Washburn will possibly get, in as a. doubles player. Bichard Norris Williams—hr was 31 in January—also has to be considered, but one would not be surprised to see the same team as journeyed out to New Zealand in 1920—Tilden, Johnston, and Washburn—as the defenders for 1982. .•■.■•'■ . ■ ...;- .■■ .

Thexcontosfc will be hard and exciting, and possibly temperament will count for a lot ;■ in .fact, it. may «vvea be » more valuable asset than powerful services or hurricane drives. With the team as above defending, and if O'Hara- Wood has not recovered., our men will have a hard row to.hoe. Johnston and Tilden, better : than any other players, know how to.' handle Patterson, and unless he can keev them off his baok-hand, the chances are in their favour. With Johnston out of the game, quite a different complexion is apparent, aad the Australians' chances of victory are rosy;-. The Americans will not b& travel worn as compared with tho Australians, and the latters' great danger is' that they may be stale. Whilst the writer has great hopes that Anderson will show his real worth, and climb out head and shoulders above the others—bis success in all probability would clinch matters. /Yet, America, with its players at home,, and traine.d to the hour, appears the favourite. ■'

It has been contended in^jjpme quarters that when.the Australians" played Czechoslovakia in the Davis Cup tie on hard courts, it was notable in being tho first tie in the Davis Cup contests, that has been played by an Australian, English, or American team en other than grass courts. Had tlie writers added "this year" they might have been correct. The Australians played Canada iii 1921 on a clay court at 'Toronto, but on the second day it was out of commission, and the doubles were played during the third day on an "en-touc-cas" court. The same year the British Isles played Spain on an "en-tout-cas" court in the Davis Cup tie. So really America is the only one who has not broken away from the grass court so fur. TENNIS GROUNDS. A determined effort is being made this year by the Wellington Lawn Tennis Association to secure tennis-playing areas in or abound 'Wellington. So far tennis is the only sport in Wellington that has not received assistance regarding grounds, and the tennis players have at last determined that it is advisable to make •'"their numbers felt. Hundreds of players cannot bo accepted by the clubs, as already their ' courts\ are ( overcrow*sii. The association is in hopes that sufficient ground will be available to lay down SO or 60 courts, and even then that will only satisfy, present needs. ■■' ■-' : " SOME DONT'S. "

First, and most important, don't lose your temper. So many and varied are the effects of this weakness on your play (it applies to all games), and so great advantages does it afford your opponent, that your chances are greatly impaired if you give way,.'" Don't allow little things such as doubtful decisions given against you, attempts made by your opponents to unnerve or irritate you,, to throw you-oif your balance. Your ability to ignore such incidents is an important factor in match play. A most essential "don't" is never to start, a match-; with the idea that youcannot win. . If you do enter a competition with such a view it is with the almost inevitable reEult of defeat." No matter how much your opponent may outclass you, or how great the odds are against you, go in determined to do your best, if not to win. A failing which many players, particularly the younger element are afflicted with, and which lias cost many a victory, is the inclination to let up when a fair lead is ."obtained. . Don't let up.. Ifyou do, one of two things is liable to happen : Your opponent may bo able to take advantage of the opportunities so unexpectedly afforded, and you may fi:;;l that you can't got back ijito your stride "intir.ws to check his rush, or, what is still more likely, you will discover that you havo lost your stroke and thrown your game completely away. Along the Sanaa linos might te added this bit of advise: Don't fail to take advantage of the firai; opportunity to .'end -a match. If your rivai hands you* the victoiy by an error, that is an "out" or a "net," well that is all in the gamo, but merely because you are within a point of winning is no reason why you should take unnecessary risks. It is a good plan to bear in mind that one dynamic smash or lightningdrive ■will not \vin a match, afid as the average player can accomplish such feats about once iv ten times, a percentage tabl« might help immensely 'tv show Mm impolicy 'of attempting thorn. Don't forget to give tho other Veilovr a chance to miss.. It- a the tendency to. end a rally, before it is well under way, and this is accountable for many unexpected results. The phjfrger will boat many a -player of better form and superior strokes'for ju?t that reason.

AS. A BOY. - When; A. E. BeumiEh, tho English player, was in Melbourne, towards the end of 1912 (that was when Parkc beat Brookes, and the Davis Cup Went to tho British Islos, by 3 matches to 2), he was greatly impressed, by the play of the boys, and 'said they -we're' distinctly promising. He spoko as [oilows about one player::.,"l played a boy of seventeen, and felt liko a grandfather" (Beamish was i 33 years of age then). "He had a good service, ; a ■ useful volley,1 and bad .ground shots; but he .j;o\m! recover balls pertinaciously, arid lob ilecontiy.: When'you had passed him v lot lit! had nothing to fall back upon— . thero you liuve it, in a. nutshell. His namo was Paltcreoii." LtltlG did Godmish think iliat , lio was then playing tlio future Worltl's :churiipipr. of 1919 v.nd, 1922. .Today PaUtu'siin (itili uksJ it nut, to BeaiTc ith just a:; ilic iallcV (lv-a.lt it out to him in,:1912i! ■:.,■■'■.C>;>v: ■■■'■.■■■ • lll".'^>-."->\-.. ■;: