TENNIS.

Evening Star, Issue 12874, 25 July 1906, Page 3

TENNIS.

[Bt Smasher.] Our London correspondent writes under date Juno 15:— The final tussle between Australasia, and America to decide which shall meet Ensr- | land_ in the challenge round of tho DwightDavis Cup competition for file international lawn tennis championship took place in gorgeous summer weather at Newport (Trio of Wight) last Saturday, June 9, .when, as was generally anticipated, America won. The event deciding tho issue wan the second bout of the singles championship. A. F. Wilding opposed Holcombe Ward, and L. 0 S. Poidovin had to meet Raymond Little. Interest centred in the Wila-ing-Ward match, for it was recognised that on form there was little between the two, and that unde such atmospheric conditions as prevailed stamina would count for a good deal. So it proved, for. Wilding, after appearing hopelessly beaten, showed such slaying powers and pertinacity that in the end he won by three sets to two. The contrast between (he rivals was most marked, both m appearance and methods. Holcombe Ward’s nonchalant “ rt-doesn’t-rn niter ” style, combined with cat-like agility, mode him by far the most pleasing player to watch. Wilding was ail seriousness and strenuousnefß. Slower in his movements than Ward, he at times appeared quite a second-rate player, but he stuck to his work resolutely, and thoroughly deserved the victory that h© eventually claimed. Wilding won the first set (6 —5), taking the first, second, fifth, sixth, seventh, and ninth games. He started by playing a more varied game than he had shown iu the previous singles and in the doubles on Friday, and at' no time was bo troubled by Ward’s service, but after be had got three all in the second set Ward won a deuce game, and then for another nine games the American gave him no chance. It was a wonderful exhibition of cleverness, placing, tactics, and Ward’s volleying, back-band cross-shots, side-shots, and smashes seemed to suggest that Wilding was quite secondrate beside him. But after Wilding had been beaten 6—5 and 6—o be commenced to drive with great power and accuracy. Ho met the American’s lobs with steady imperturbability, and having won 6—4 and made the match two sets all, he entered upon the deciding set with an apparent determination to carry all before bmi. But still Ward showed himself the tactician, end he was four games to one in the deciding set- Undismayed, Wilding gradually wore down his opponent, and, playing with greater variety and accuracy than at any stage, won at B—G, and thus put Australasia on a level Thus it was left for Poidevrn and Little to decide the competition. The Australian played in improved fashion, and showed much cleverness in hia placing of tho ball, but Little, playing a much sounder game than be exhibited when opposing Wilding iu the first of the jingles mutches, was always a trifle the better man, save in the second set, which he lost easily. The American won the first set at 5—2, but Poidevin smothered him in the second, and claimed it at 6—l. The third was “ a teaser,” and both players were pretty well “baked” before Little ran out a whiner at 7—5. In the final act Poidevin lost his game, and though he stuck to bis work “like granulated glue,” he was overmatched by the more agile Yankee, and beaten rather easily at 67—2. Wilding wtm his game with Ward by three sets to two, but the American claimed twenty-five games to Wilding’s twenty-three, whereas Little beat Poidevin by three sets to one and twenty games to fifteenOver the whole series America won eleven sets and ninety-two games to Australasia's seven sets and eighty games. I append the results of the matches?—

—Singles.— Ward (America) beat Poidevm (Australasia), 6—2, 6 - 4, 7—5. Wilding (Australasia) beat Little (America), 6—2, S—6j 6—1.. . Wilding beat Ward, 6—3, 3—6. o—6, Little beat Poidevin, 6—2, I—7, 7—5, —Doubles.—• Ward and Little (America) beat Wilding and ■ Poidevin (Australasia) by three sets to love, 7—5, 6—2, 6—4.