Lawn Tennis Notes

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 49, 27 February 1937, Page 23

Lawn Tennis Notes

(By "Deuce.")

DATE OF NATIONAL TOURNEY V,

VIEWS OF CHAMPIONS

The discussion which has been proceeding in different parts of New Zealand regarding the proposal to hold the National Tournament either in February or late in January concerns not only those players directly concerned with such a tournament, but also those other players whose own district tourneys take place during this period. The Wairarapa Association, for instance, has commenced its tournament every year since 1908 on January 22, and this association is naturally concerned that the New Zealand Championships should not be the cause of its own stars or visiting players being unable to compete. This subject dominated the quarterly meeting of the council of the NeAV Zealand Association in Wellington on Wednesday night, the Wanganui Association' proposing that the national championships should be held early in the year, and the Manawatu Association that they should be fixed for the Christmas-New Year period. The meeting decided to leave the position as it stood, the date of the tourney, in any one year being fixed by the New Zealand management committee in conjunction with the association managing the tourney.

The. main arguments advanced by. Mr..'..G; •'• Powriall, whp.; moved the motion,: for.' .holding ' the: ■' tournament, later, were that, there ■'■: " f would be a greater opportunity for players obtaining more competitive play, that they would be'fitter and would show better form, the tournament would be.a more satisfactory test, and that the weather after Christmas and into February was generally better. than • during Christmas time. Mr. ; H. W. ;Watson, who moved the amendment favouring the Christmas-New Year- period, said that the weather was, as much a gamble then as later, and that -. the holiday period was better, both for getting leave, for seeing matches, especially those of overseas players, and for the chances of getting a bigger "gate." He cited the earliness of the big continental tournaments, particularly the French championships, the Davis Cup early rounds, and Wimbledon.

Christmas, . Those who don't- belong to the professions find little difficulty in getting . a ' few extra days,- off ,at „ this time of Ithe year.. -..Further; .all. courts are far better at Christmas, than, say, the'beginning of February/Good courts are essential to the,-. success of . any tournament. After Christmas courts become worn and the standard of play is affected., From the, association's point of view I think they get better gates at Christmas-New Year. I may

, Mr. Watson quoted the views of a number of former champions. Mr. Powriall contended that modern players were not of the same opinion as former champions, as many at the present time work in shops, and could not get away over Christmas. Mr. Watson did not agree that the ■ conditions ■ had altered. ' , ' :'..'

.. The-opinions: of. former. players of considerable prominence are set out below. • . , ,

G. Ollivier, Singles 1924, 1925, 1927; Doubles' 1914, 1919, 1922.—"1. am most certainly in favour.' of the Christmas dates for the tourney, no . matter where it is held.. More players are able to arrange their holidays at that time, thus ensuring more entries and more entrance money, and probably producing better tennis for all concerned. In my tennis days we were quite satisfied with the Christmas dates, and'on the average the weather was good at that time. I can.see no object in the New Zealand Association changing the dates at all."

. C. Angas, Sihgles'l929, 1931.—"Christmas .time is easily the best time to hold the" New. Zealand championships, as more players, can spare the time to attend, and also the gate-takings would be better at Christmas."

P. C. Fenwicke, First, Champion of New Zealand, 1886.—"As regards holding the championship meeting at Christ-mas-New Year I consider it the best, date."

E. L. Bartleet. Singles 1928.—-"I think the Christmas-New Year dates are the most convenient for the majority of players. This is certainly the case with all players: belonging to the. professions as they all have their long vacations at

be an isolated case, but I know' that altering the dates until after ChristmasNew Year practically ended my tennis career. I attended every year whilst, held at Christmas,, but when the dates were altered to the middle or end of January I could not possibly get away. All law and other professional offices are closed each year from Christmas until about January. 10. It is'obvious that to be able to compete in a championship, commencing, say, on January 20, it would mean, taking about six

weeks away from business. This point must attain with many other-players. I cannot agree with the argument that players'have not had-an opportunity to'get into form. Most of the leading players' have some tennis; in the off season^ Those who are keen . enough have ample time to get ready: by December 26: Theyhave: at least two months to do so., With regard to the ■weather, this does'.not outweigh arguments: for Christmas-New Year. The weather isl more or less always a gamble in. New -Zealand, and ' quite often we have better weather at.Christmas: than we dp in -February. I feel that the condition of the courts is, a very important1 argument-.". '>■■~... .

.' Edward Smyth, Doubles: 1924.—"Although. I personally would rather have played at times . other than.Christmas in the championships, '- I firmly:; believe it is the best time, if ..only because most of the players* are free then."' .

, F. ;m. B.1 Fisher, doubles, 1901, 1902, 1909, 19iO,;and -: mixed ■ doubles, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1911.—"Regarding the date for i the New Zealand championships, things may; have, changed: since my day, but we young .players .would never have ■'participated in this,. our great event ■of the/year, unless we could;combine .the.Christmas .holiday with our leave."- '■':'; .>'. v-s .."■'.'•■■. ..'■-. ■":■ ADVANTAGE TO YOUNGER •' -■ ■■ ■ - .PLAYERS.. ' . :, ■ . C. C. Cox, singles, 1898.—"I'have always favoured the-New Zealand meeting being held at Christmas, which allows quite a number of young players to attend, who would otherwise find it difficult to get away later when no holidays .can be'-worked': in' with their leave. I think the council should fix the date at Christmas and New Year and stick.to.it. ' As far as. practice is concerned, most, players keep up: their , form during the winter months by playing on hard courts, and two or three months on grass is all that is necessary.. ■ When I stated that two or three months .of' grass practice should satisfy most players,." I had in mind the .months of October, November, and December, in which months we usually managed to get practice in in my early days. I quite understand that not many, grass courts are available till the end of October.. Provided a player gets good hard-court practice through the winter. months, he should, be able to accustom himself to the .different.timing. and flight of the. ball < on-, grass, within a. month. I . myself always ' found .it : easier to go from asphalt.' to grass, than, from grass.to asphalt. This is. the. general opinion.. What really, counts in lawn tennis is general fitness, and a player of! the first flight who. trains, well before, a tournament is , the one who usually comes through, at. the finish." R. N. Swanston,.'.Singles 1912.—"As to-the date of the New Zealand championships. I personally favour Christ-mas-New Year periods. If players ar.e keen they:can be in good physical condition by that date.'. I know it could be done by personal "experience,"' "• J. R. Hooper, .1894,-1897,. 1899,—"Re r garding holding .the championship tournaments, at' Christmas,, this alw.ay? seemed a good time to me-on-account of the holidays." ' .. ....'-■-.■■ M 'Fenwicke; Singles 1887, 1392, 189.-5, president,. N.Z.L.T.A.—''I certainly think that the n championships should be held during 'the Christmas-Ne.w Year week as most convenient for all the■ players." ,': ; ■'•".':. ■ A. W. Sims, Singles 1923.—"1. fully agree that Christmas-New' Year dates are the most -convenient ones for v hold 7 ing -the New 'Zealand \ championships. Some of: the leading players may be quite unable to compete .if, the dates were permanently ; fixed' for later ou in the season. "..I never found' any difficulty in reaching my best form by Christmas tinie." V. . U. Browning, . life ...member.— "My committee is unanimously '. of the opinion that- the .championships,', when held at Christchurch, ■. should ■ take place during .the Christmas-New Year holidays." ■• ■■ , ' ::' " ... •' . ■ AGAINST CHKISTMAS DATES. : A. G. Wallace,-Singles 1913, Doubles 1913.—"1 have always' been an: advocate of holding j the";;'championship meeting towards the . end -of 'January, my main reasons ..being that, as there has been very little'• mateh ■' arid no tournament play before Christmas it is

quite impossible for players to produce their best form, whereas at the later date they have had the opportunity of getting as much' tournament practice as they need. I hardly remember a season,- bar 1934, in which the weather was sufficiently settled before Christmas to'permit us to get into'real-form. The spring season in' New Zealand is notoriously windy and we can seldom play on the grass before the middle.of November" • ' ;

Peacock, Singles 1901, 1910, Doubles 1901, 1902, 1909, 1910, 1925.—"With regard to the date of the New Zealand meeting I know that there are arguments for and against the present system of changing the date from year to. year and some pf them. may be parochial. Had I .been playing.now I would have preferred the. holding of the tournament.. after < Christmas when there is a'better, .chance., of settled weather and plenty of opportunity for prior practice in ■' local tournaments. I can. remember time after time when the.tournament at. Christmas was interfered with by rain, particularly in Dunedin and Christchurch. ■ On the other, hand, you . have the'perfectly sound arguments as to gate.and facility of getting leave; From the point of view of the standard of; tennis I am inclined: to. think that the holding of the tournament after Christmas is better than before. Christmas." ■-■-'■■

. Edward-■ Smyth.—"Although, I. personally, would rather- have played at times other than .Christmas in the championships, I firmly believe it is the best time.if only because most of the best players are free to play then." .;...;..

Stan Gridley, •of . the Hannah's Cricket Club,'has: come, back to the fine form he was showing at the:beginning of the year. Except for a few uppish strokes to mid-on on Saturday against Berhampore he : gave a fliv> exhibition of batting and gathered 90 runs. .-..;.•