LAWN TENNIS COMEDY

Evening Star, Issue 14529, 3 December 1910, Page 10

LAWN TENNIS COMEDY

MU P. A. VATLE AS LINESMAN. “AN AMUSING AFTERNOON.” [From Our Special Correspondent.} LONDON, October 2i. Much amusement was earned among tho spectators in the finals of tho London coveree. courts lawn tennis championshijis at Queen's Club on Saturday by the constant footfaulting of tho champions by Mr P. A. Vailo, of Now Zealand, wlm was eno of the fine umpires. Anthony Wilding, ot New Zealand, and M. J. G. Ritchie, Uio All-England Doubles champion, had u> undergo tho unique experience of being double foot-laulLed in turn. Other players wero also loot-faulted, but it was especially noticeable in the case of the champions “It was an amusing afternoon,'' says Oldie Times’ in its report of the proceedings. “ There was a linesman who called ‘ lootfault ’ to frequently that even the players began to smile. As for the spectators—cheerily indifferent to tho rights and wrongs of the case —they roared with laughter whenever the conscientious objector opened hj:? mouth. ‘ Beware, or you will find what you are looking for,’ says the drench sago; but if we aro entitled to assume that too many foot-faults were called at ono end, it is likely that too few wero railed at the other. 'The rule ought to bo insdied on more strictly than is customary, hut the server should have the benefit of tho doubt.' 1 “You can lake it from me,” said Mr P. A. Vailo— for he was the linesman m question—

“ that I care nothing tor adverse criticism in a matter of this kind. 1 am not defending the foot-fault rule, but- when I am inviicd to take a lino 1 feel it to be my duty to oiiforco it, and this is what most linesmen are afraid to do. Their passive altitude is duo to ignorance or mural cowardice, or both. They tear to hurt the feelings ot tho players in the first flight.” WILDING TMNALLSED.

Asked what was wrong at Queen's I'iub on Saturday, Air Vailo replied that looifauUs were rampant, and that it was. rermirkublo that no calls wero made from the other base line, mid that all the unpleasant work was left to him. " Wilding was nut only dragging his foot over the line, but also jumping, and t penalised film for both continued Air \ uile. “ Ritchie, ullhough 1 consider him to have one ol the laircsi services in the game, was tool-faulted tor dragging Ids foot over; and R. I s . Barnes, Uwynne Evans, and A. 11. Lowe wore walking'on to their service. 1 should have called more faults, but 1 felt, sympathetic because of the many delinquencies by men who did not servo at my cud being allowed to pass unchallenged at the other end. f lhc toot-Luilr rule should be either observed or not. -'•leu who observe it are. handicapped when iliev play thoso who do noi, and tor linesmen and umpires to ignore the rule is grossly mitair. "It, is said by some players and ulliciaU that tho foot-fault is a small mailer, and docs not seriously a fleet the, game. “Absurd,” replied Air Vailo. "If a nu.u takes a walking start be applies greaur bod-, weight and momentum lo his service, and if ho drags lus foot- over he steals from 4li to 6ft on' his way up to meet tho return v service. Tho habitual ollciulor who unchecked bas the advantage of ibo o'-eaaional and unwitting offender, "lake the case of Air Core, who is splendidly conscientious over tills rule, but was pulled up for a fcot-tauli at a critical stage ef his mulch with Wilding at Wimbledon. Tie- division is not disputed, but Air Core, like others, lias bad to suffer for repeated breaches ol opposing players, and the conditions cannot be. equitable unless the rule is regarded seriously by everyone. ’’ THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT.

‘The Times’ remand lo the subject in irt Tuesday's issue will, ihe following comments on Mr Voile's altitude towards foot-laults; —

“There was a great deal of 1 foot-faulting ’ oil Saturday by ono of the linesmen, "ood illustration was thus afforded of _inc situation whicli arises when a conscientious umplro interprets striclly the rocomnKiidation of tiiQ authorities to cry ‘fault’ when in doubt. Before this recommendation is incorporated into the laws of the, game it is to bo hoped that some time will he allowed to elapse. It is presumably desirable to prevent the server from obtainin'? a_ start on lib way to the net; but where it is doubtful if he has broken the mlo the advantage he can havo gained is so slight that it is a pity to stop the game. Moreover, so many nmvcmenU have to he considered bemre comm:: to a decision that the ordinary inexperienced linesman will seldom ho absolutely certain. To compel him to call ‘fault’ in these circumstances would he regrettable tor many reasons. Everybody who watches football knows bow the constant use the whistle takes the life cut of the players.”