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Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 96, 20 October 1934, Page 22

Lawn Tennis Notes

By "Drive."

THE AUSTRALIAN INVITATION

It was made clear by official advice from the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association' to the AVellington Lawn Tennis Association this week that tho national body has determined not to accept the invitation to send a women's team to Australia to competo in the Melbourne Centenary matches; and, naturally, to play elsewhere in matches.

The absence of any statement by tho New Zealand Association makes it impossible to set forth tho full terms of the invitation, but it is understood that there was an offer to billet players in Melbourne during their stay in that city and that the cost of sending a team across the Tasinan therefore would not bo as high as might have been expected. A complicating factor, of course, is thai as the invitation came only for a visit to Melbourne a tour of Australia would not be possible without much negotiating, and possibly a satisfactory tour would be difficult to arrange; But it seems unfortunate for the game in this country that tho National Association could not see its way to take the opportunity of giving our wonjen players the,chance to prove what is in them.

There is no doubt that women's tennis in this country is badly in need of a fillip. Year by year promising players arise and show overy sign of becoming champions, but year by year they lose that dash and ability at the

net which marks the play of most oycrseas teams and. fall into the habit of baseline duel and high tossing. Their game slows down just when it nifght bo speeded up. By contrast, the play of the men has marched ahead in stead progression over a number of years. For this there are two things responsible, the fact that some-of our leading men havo visited England and then returned-to this1 country to give us the benefit of their overseas experi-

TOUK NEEDED BY WOMEN PLAYERS

once, and the further fact that there have been quite a number of overseas visits to this country.- Americans, Australians, Englishmen, all have beeu matched against our own players ana they have reached such a standard of play that in doubles we have been able to produce several pairs which have defeated overseas combinations by sheer superior play and have gained notable victories in singles also. Keitli Gledhill, then Australian singles chani" pion, was defeated in New Zealand, so was F. J. Perry.

The ladies have had no such advantages. The really significant thing about their play tcJday is not that they; will be unable to benefit by an overseas tour, .but that when they have had the chance they have benefited very greatly. Tho *fast Australian team in this country sailed away with, a very good record against^New Zealand players, but it did noT meet two leading players, Miss D. Nicholls and Mrs. H. M. Dykes with .anything like the frequency of the previous (and better side) which included Miss Joan Hartigan and Mrs. Molesworth. Of that team only Miss N. Hall (now Mrs. H. Hopman) managed to remain unbeaten in singles, for both Miss Nichoils and Mrs. Dykes were constantly in action against them and both tho New Zealand players revealed form which they have never exceeded. It is the opportunity to gain similar hard match-play practice and the fact that by presenting more stern opposition to the younger players they will materially raise the standard of effort in this country that should bo considered when the question of sending a women's team to Australia arises. If the New Zealand Association had pleaded the difficulty of making satisfactory arrangements for the team as a team after the Melbourne matches that would have been an understandable reason for declining the invitation with regret. The Australians • will have many other tennis attractions this year and the touring of such a country | would bo costly and not likely to earn much at tho gate when Miss Bound is at the head of a rival team. It has been proved-over and over again that the Australian public will go only to soc the' top-noteliers of the game. But a determining factor, it seems, has been the plea that at present there is nothing to be gained from sending a team, a statement which is both mistaken and which reveals a misconception of recent >tennis experience. :\ '

AUSTRALIA'S NEW FIND

Australia; has brought to light .another freak player, who in the semifinal of the City of Sydney champion* skip went near to defeating K. IJunlop, the ultimate winner of tho event.. : Vivian McGrath has.always appealed to one as the Clem Hill of lawn tennis, while the new star, Bromwieh, gives one the impression that he will become tho Victor Trnmper of the game (writes tho Sydney "Kcferee")- If ever a boy in this country looked like developing into a champion with the right experience, the right guidance and coaching, that boy 5a Bromwieh. He has already gathered in. somo laurels, surprisingl ones in a boy of his years. He is only fifteen years old.

tonnis' rpstririgs—the "Black restring" at Gilwprth, Ltd., is well worth. while. Eestrung all black gut, 12s-fid.■ Only at 111 Customhouse Quay, opp« Bank of New Zealand.—Advt.