Lawn Tennis

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 146, 21 June 1924, Page 19

Lawn Tennis

[BY "HUKA"] PLAYERS ABROAD

A PROMISING NEW ZEALANDER

CHAMPIONSHIPS OF KENT.

The championships of Kent, played at • Beckenham from the 9th to 14th June, attracted two New Zealanders in J. C. , Peacock, of Wellington, and T. E. Clark, of Auckland. The Kent championships, ! which date back to the same year as tho New Zealand championships—lßß6— have always attracted the best players iin England, as the tournament is a good try-out just before Wimbledon. 11. S. Mahoney, A. W. Gore, H. L. Do- ; herty, N. E. Brookes, A. F. Wilding, H. ! Itoper Barrett, A. E. Beamish, Beals, C. Wright, and A. E. F. Kingscote are a. few of the champion players who have | won the Kent championship singles. At this year's contest C. J. Tindell Green beat Peacock 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 (14 games lo 11). Tindell Green won the Irish championship in 1914, and the same year re_presented England against Ireland. He also won the championship of Sunderland in 1920-21-22. In 1922, in the Kent championship, Lycett beat Tindell' Green in the liflii round 8-6, 6-3, and last year the latter' fell to F. E. L. Crawford in the third round, 6-1, 4-6, 7-5. Crawford was beaten by W. JM. Johnston, tho American champion player, in the semi-final, 6-3, 6-1. Johnston won the event, beating Greig 6-2, 6-3. Toni Clark, of Auckland, beat. ; Denis Brown, 6-3, 6-4, and then went down to N. Mishu, of Rumania, 6-3, 6-4. If the genial Tom had only beaten Mishu, he would have had some wonderful tale to relate on his return to Maori- : land, as the highly-strung Eumanian is , rather a difficult player to deal with. Henri Cochefc, the French player, met N. Mishu in the fourth round of the South of France championship, which was played at Nice in March of this year. Cochet had just arrived on the eve of the tournament, and it was generally believed that Mishu. would beat him, as he had been down south, in tho sunny zone, for some weeks. The most unexpected happened in several ways, as Cochet galloped away with three games in quick succession', upon which, much to the surprise of some colonial onlookers; Mishu cried like a child. He took tho train tho same day for Calais, and went on to England. Goodness knows what would have happened if the New Zealander had won at Beckenham, or what Tom Clark would have done if Mishu had cried. The many friends of the Aucklauder need not supply the answer. But the incident only shows that the English-speaking races do not understand the temperament of the Continental people, as such breakdowns are not at all unusual amongst champion athletes of some European countries. Some when they win even embrace some near relation or friend, 1 and both have a good weep. Tears of joy or regret come easily to them, but it looks strange, and out of place to the Englishman. According to the English | "Lawn Tennis Journal," New Zealand : has a. young player in England who is somewhat above the ordinary. This young New Zealander is K. D. Fairley, and he came to light at the Magdalen Park tournament, which was played on hard courts at Wandsworth Common : from the 14th to 19th of April. Fairley lis described as a fine volleyer with a I kicking service. H. W. Austin, who as i tho schoolboy champion of England last ! year beat Latchford in the final of that event, only to fall to him in the final of last year's junior championship of England, surprissd one and all by beating 'Latchford 6-0, 6-0, in tho boys' invitation singles at Magdalen Park tournament. Austin and Fairley met in the third round of the open championship at this meeting, and after a ding-don^ go Austin just won 7-5, 2-6, 12-10, so New Zealand has something pretty good com- > ing along in the Old Land, and it is to be hoped that Fairley will not be lost sight of by the New Zealand Council. Both he and Austin must be pretty good, as P. D. B. Spence, the Scottish champion and South African Davis Cup P!ayer> was all out to beat Austin 7-5, 4-6, 7-5 in. the semi-final. Fairley and Lezard beat Austin and Wheatcroft in the third round of the doubles, 6-3 7-5 and their win in the next round was sensational, as they beat Spence and C P. Dixon, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. C. P. Dixon was m that famous British Davis Cup team of 1912, which took the cup from Australasia at Melbourne, when J; C. Parko beat Norman Brookes, 8-6, ' 6-3* t'l' I:f' A nd I>ixon beafc Eocl Heath, 5-7 6-4 6-4, 6-4. For'Fairley and Lezard to beat such a pair was a triumph for youth, and in case anyone should think that it was Legard that was the st.arpla.yer it is well to record that Fairley beat Lezard, 7-5, 6-2, in the second round of the singles. Unfortunately the young New Zealander was taken ill on the last day of the tournament, and with Lezard had to scratch in the final—for which they were favourites. Fairley also showed up splendidly in the mixed doubles championship with his 12-year-old partner, Miss Betty Nutu „t ,yo"n S Pair beat s- M. Jacob, the Indian Davis Cup player, and Miss Rose 6-1, 2-6, 8-6, in the third round. Mies Rose is an experienced I tournament player, therefore the victory, ; was full oi merit. In the next round I Spence and Miss Reid Thomas beat the j young pair, 6-2, 7-5. K. D. Fairley" ! from all accounts, has it in him to be something above the average, and as New Zealand is badly in need of some brilliant young players it is to be hoped that _ we shall see him in the near future j playing m his native land.

AT WIMBLEDON. The championships of the All England Lawn Tennis Club start at the club's grounds Wimbledon, next Wednesday ■and will continue into the first week of ! Jnly. The new Wimbledon has now come into all its glory, and in many respects completely overshadows the club's old grounds. The new grounds are largermore courts, more seating accommodation for spectators, and there is more room for the general public to wander around and see the games that are played on the outside courts. The term outside may not appear clear to some . readers, hut as there is the "centre1" court in the huge stadium, and a second court which has also covered stands around it, the others are tetriied "outside courts. These courts are not protected from the weather like tl«> two , "centre" courts, and consequently the .star players are hardly ever, unless the weather has been very fine, asked to play on them. The usual classic entry will Ijo received tin's year for WimUedon, and the "gn to" ' should a gain break all records, as it has now become more than fashionable to attend this i famous gathering. The seating accommodation was sold out long aco in anticipation of seeing tlic American player-; in action, and the likely meetiu" of Mile. Lcnglen and Miss "Wills has : also caused added interest. . Norman I Brookes will be a competitor, and, alU&SBgb. he is hardly likely to be a ser.

ious competitor in the singles, it is quite posibie for Brookes End Stan Doust to go very near winning Iho doubles.

SOUTH AFRICA BEATEN,

The British team, by the defeat of South Africa, has noiv reached the final iii the top half of the European zone contests, but the losers were somewhat unlucky, not only in Raymond losing to Gilbert, but in net being able to play the former, owing to an injured ankle", against Wheatley. Raymond and Spence beaVthc British doubles pair, Godfree and Woosiiam, 11-9, 7-5. 6-4. Richardson, who took Raymond's place against Whoatley, gave tho British' colt a good run, but was beaten in straight sets. 6-3. 6-4. 6-4. Spence opened well against Gilbert, and took the first set at 6-4. but the Britisher won "le next three easily—all at 6-1. The British Isles won by 4 matches to 1, 12 sets to 6, and 103 games to 76. ■NEW CLUBS. From what one can gather there are plenty of people in Wellington eager and willing to play tennis if they can only find somewhere to play. It is not only the young that are looking for a chance to join a club, but adult players as well. A new club was lately formed in the Mount Victoria district, which will have two doubles courts and one singles court, and at the very first meeting the full 50 members were enrolled. In fact, there is now a waiting list as far as lady players are concern" ed The new club, the writer believes, is to be known as the Victoria Club and Mr. W. E. Jackson has been elected as the first president. It is said by those who are supposed to know that there are hundreds of would-be players in Wellington only waiting the chance of joining some club where they can get regular exercise and recreation, but they are not keen to join clubs that are not so organised so that they have an equal chance of of getting as many prumes as other members of the clubs. The timo -is coming when club officials wili have to give their members more attention as far as the order of going on the courts is concerned. At some of the courts a, retiring player hardly gets a Kame at all. in fact, is left to sit out all Saturday afternoon. Of course that cannot last, and, slowly maybe but surely, clubs that are run in such a haphazard manner will find that their membership jhas started to dwindle. Players are jnow looking around for the club where : they can get singles practice as well as :dobules and mixed doubles, and soon ; will not be content until they con play three, four, or five sr»:s before coming oft' tho court. There is no doubt that , one-set play, and then an interval of an ; hour before the player gets . another set, does not give any player much of a ; chance to improve, especially if they ar<» beginners, nor does it give tho good player much of a chance to strike cham- '. pionship form. It is well worth looking into,, and if players are invited to join ,up with any organisation where they can get first-class practice, both in singles and doubles, applications would roll in '. by the hundreds. Even where such g, '■ place is in full working order, there will be new clubs springing up every year, a-s the game has attracted many of .those who in years gone by were content to stroll by the sea front during their leisure hours. Many are joining clubs simply to meet others and spend a pleasant afternoon in chat and laughter. But the keen player wants more play, and will not be satisfied until he or she gets it. The Jilirnmar grounds should j supply this long-felt want.