LAWN TENNIS

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 124, 26 May 1923, Page 17

LAWN TENNIS

CBY "HUKA"3 DAVIS CUP THE WORLD IN COMPETITION AUSTRALIA'S TEAM FOR 1923. The dravr for the eighteenth Davis Cup contest was made by the officials of the United States Lawn Tennis Association in March. The contest is now divided into four stages. There is the American zone and European zone— four nations, namely, Canada, Japan, Hawan, and Australia, have entered in the former zone, and thirteen nations, which are as follow, and are in order, have entered in the latter zone: Argentine (has a bye at the top), Czecho-Slo-vakia v. Switzerland, India v. Ireland, France v. Denmark, Spain v. Rumania, British Isles v. Belgium; Italy and Holland both have byes, and meet, on» another in the-second round. France has already beaten Denmark, and appears likely to come through in the top half. Spain may shake up the British Isles if both get to the second round, and the winner of that round will possibly meet Italy in the semi-final. On paper, it looks like Franco and the British. Isles fighting the final out. The winner will be called upon to play the winner of the American zone. Jagan must beat Canada easily, and Australia will treat Hawaii likewise, but it is hard to say if Anderson and the Victorian colts are good enough to dispose of the Japs. Anyhow, the winner of the American zone should be good enough to dispose of the European champion team, and then that winner will be called upon to face the American team in the actual final for the international championship and the Davis Cup. Portugal was just too late in getting a challenge in, and, although it could\ not be accepted, yet, reckoning it in, there have been eighteen challenges for the Davis Cup this year. Just fancy! Eighteen nations all eager and willing to face one another to decide who shall meet the United States in the final for the world's championghip of lawn tennis. There is one point that is an object lesson to all other sports, arid that is—every on* of those.challenging nations play the game under exactly the same rules. No tinkering with the rules i« allowed, but if a nation desires a change it must give notice of same to the International Federation, which approves or throws out the suggestion. Once the federation approves of a change, then all nations must play the game under the rules as adopted by the federation. No wonder lawn tennis continues to boom all over the world.

Norman Brookes, the sole selector for Australia, has picked three Victorian players and ono New South Wales player to uphold- Australia's honour in the big contest. Brookes is looked upon in Melbourne as the one and only selector of teams for the Davis Cup, but one is inclined to think that even he has erred in his latest selection. Patterson and O'Hara Wood were unable to go. J. 0. Anderson, of Sydney, was naturally the first man picked, then John Bailey Hawkes, R. E. Schlesinger, and I. D. M'lnnes, in that order. Hawkes is all right, but will have to show improved form to that which he gave in 1921 against Kumagae and Shimidzu if Japan is to be beaten. He will have his twenty-fourth birthday in June, so he has youth on his side. Schlesinger, who is 21 years of age, is reputed to be. Victoria's finest driver, and if that is correct he must be a champion, as Hawkes is a very fine driver; in fact, was considerably above the average two years ago. Schlesinger shone out last November in the interstate match against South Australia, beating E. V. Thomas and C. Stuart. ■ He lost the first set against Thomas, but pulled the match out of the fire by sheer grit. In the championship, A. Sieler, country champion of' New South Wales, beat him, but Schlesinger beat Patterson in tha semi-final of the Victoria championship, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1, 6-3. O'Hara Wood beat M'lnnes in the other semi-final, 9-11, 6-4, 6-1, 7-5, and then beat Schlesinger in the final, 6-0, 6-1, 3-6, 7-9, 6-2. Patterson has since beaten the colt, 7-5, 6-2. M'lnnes, who is only 21 yeara of age, has a very fine Btyle; in fact, all his strokes, and he has • many, are well executed. He won the championship of Victoria for players under 21 years of age, when 17 years of age. Has a splendid tennis temperament, and is full of pluck, giving his very best when his opponent appears to have the upper hand. But it is a question if he will stand the • test of big tennis from the physical point, as last November he was ordered to' give up.the game as it was too strenuous for him. Since his selection it has been reported that a course of physical ' training has made a new man of him, and that he has lately shown great staying powers considerably above the average of most players. Still, it is a great risk. However, good luck to the colts! May they rise to the occasion, and, with Anderson going at his best, bring the Cup South once more. The team might have' been stronger with Clemenger and Sieler instead of the two Victorian colts, and from alf accounts both of the New South Wales players were available for the trip. Still, the selector has picked the team, so good luck to it. PLAYERS AND PLAY. .

Stan Doust, the weft-known Sydney player who has taken up his location in England, writes as follows in the London "Daily Mai": "The Riviera lawn tennis season that is drawing to a close has shown by results that Mdlle. Lenglen is still supreme. But the margin between her and the second best woman player is becoming narrower. The 6-0, 6-0 sets are now non-existent, except against players who are not considered first-class. It is customary for Miss M'Kane (England's best) to make one .of the two sets an advantage set when playing against the French champion, and by all accounts she was rather unfortunate not to win one set in the final at Mentone. But while Miss M'Kane may be brilliant one day, she is liable to be 'patchy' another, whereas Mdlle. Lenglen is always good. The Frenchwoman's .consistency' is wonderful. Seldom has she an 'off' day, and never a bad one. Miss MTKane must now be considered the second-best woman player in the world. She has only been beaten on the Riviera by Mdlle. Lenglen and Mrs. Mallory (U.S.A. champion) and has beaten both Miss Ryan and Mrs. Beamish, while Mrs. Mallory has been beaten time after time by players who cannot be held to be as good as herself. In England the season is now under weigh, and the usual questions are being asked as to who are the coming players. More budding Lenglens are said' to ■be in view, and these young women, mostly girls, are taking their games yei-y seriously. They attend regularly to be coached. They are grateful for ■ any criticisms and employ their practice games to strengthen their, weak points, which is the correct way to practice. Budding Tildens are not so easy to find, ks4 * fag solts jr^joming ug^ i'J3 t ut

as the game is being played by hundreds of thousands of people in the public parks, open spaces, and clubs, we can take comfort from the fact that W. Tilden, the present champion of U.S.A., was discovered while playing in a park. All that is needed is an organisation big enough to guide these myriads of players, giving them good courts to play on, gootf practice, good rackets, and good balls to play with." So state* S. W. Doust. What applies to England applies in like manner to New Zealand, and particularly to Wellington. Our young players'must have good courts and good practice—that is if we want to hold our own with all-comers. We have the material. Why not develop it? The new Wimbledon, where the All England championships will be jihyed next month, has cost a huge sum up to date, and more is to be expended upon additional improvements. The preliminary expenses cost £1500, The centrecourt. stand ran to £74,000, and the cover, which is of canvas, for protecting the court during wet weather, cost £1000. Exterior roads and fencing totalled £10,400, construction of court's £11,000, and' such things as paths, interior roads, drainage, sewage, water tower, etc., £16,100. The hard court stands cost £7000. The total money, expended to date is £121,000. The additional improvements will run to another £10,850, made np as follows:—Housing accommodation for staff, £300; new tea rooms, £1000; stands, paths, and a second gallery court_ and additional offices, £5500; and the improvements to circulation round centre court, £1350. In fact, before the new Wimbledon is'declared as being right up to date it will possibly have cost in preparation alone £150,000. Goodness knows what the land cost, but it has been stated that with a few good years the management expects to clear the whole of the cost. The "gates" must be very large, and. the charges also if such a sum can be wiped off in a few years. But big tennis does draw, give the public good games, with facilities for seeing such games in comfort, and the "gate" is sure to be good.