LAWN TENNIS

Evening Star, Issue 15537, 6 July 1914, Page 3

LAWN TENNIS

BROOKES WINS SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP. "THE GREATEST~EXPOSTTTO>- OF TENNIS TO DATE." Press Association—By Telegraph— Copyright. ""LONDON, July 5. Tn the final.; for the English championship, played to-day at Wimbledon, Norman Brookes (Victoria) beat A. F. Wilding (New Zealand), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5. The match was played in brillant weather, and was witnessed by 10.000 _ people, including many Australians. Wilding- was too erectly troubled by a strong sun, and failed in "many easy smashes. It was a match of hard driving against scientific volleying. Brookee was almost impenetrable at the net, and Wilding after a while abandoned back-line driving and tried lobbing, wherein he was faulty. The Australian's •victory was received with a hurricane of cheers. Brookesi in the first set Jed 4-0. scoring repeatedly by beautiful little- push shots just over the- net, which Wilding strove in vain to reach. By powerful finished drivin2 the New Zealander secured the next three games. Brookes led at 5-3, and Wilding w.i,? within a point of squaring at 5-L but- Brookes won the set with a netcord stroke. In the second set Wilding obtained the first, lead. o-2. Then it. was alt square - 4-4—and there \us a keen struggle, do in c repeatedly called. Even tin a Wilding nearlv t-aved himself, picking no from C-40 to :>O-40 in the tenth game. In tin- third .set it v>n- a, battle i.f giant.-. Wildin- was 2-0. hut let Brookes in by losing the .-en nv. 'I he latter had wen jerfn! luck in 'tin- next game <i ith cord otrokv-. tiiougU ,'verv winning shot was vigorously contested. Wihiiug I'.'d nt 32, out l>rooi<e> :-h'-.-,ve-i line judgment in handling the champion's lobs, many of which wen- short. Hiookes'.- cross volleys were marvellous, and nonplussed Wilding, who relied so ninth on the. strength of his drives. Br.-oke.. led at 1-3. but lost his servh.v. From 40-30 Wilding led--3-4. Brookes square l ! by capturing Wilding";' next fervice. The !a.-t ..ariie was the most thrilling seen in the centre court. Brookes led at 30-0. Wilding squared, and it was 30 all. Twice Brookes came v, ithin a point oj the .-et. ami twice Wilding saved, but tkn netted the b:dl. and Brookes clinched th? match with an imtakable drop volley off a swift drive. Brookes'.* anticipation of tho champion's 'returns w;i< masterly. It was the skill of a tactician versus the power of an athlete. Few of Wilding's drives g.t bevond Brooke*. The 'Observer' says that Brookc.;"s volleying settle! ti■-.> match. He gave the greatest exposition of ienni.; to date. LADIES' SINGLES. Mrs Lambert Chambers t holder! beatMrs Lnrcrihe. 7-5, 6-4. [The Ladies' Single- last year fell to Mrs Lambert Chamber-, who accounted lor Mrs M'Nair in the- final. 6-0. 5-4. Mrs Larcombe, who won the event in jJi2. being incapacitated from playing owing to un accident to her eye ou the courts.] MIXED DOCBLES. Wiklin- and Mile Broqr.edis heat Aitken arid Mrs Hainan in the semi-linci. o-5, -1-6. DAVIS CLT FIXTURE. AUSTRALASIA v. LAN AD A. SYDNEY. July 6. 'Received duly 6, at 9.30 a.m.) The secretary of tho Lawn Tennis Asso riatinn has been advised that the tie Australasia versus Canada in the hist round -of the Davis Cup will be played at- Chi:a-g;). beginning on July 25., NOTES BY "RECORDED."' The All-England and World's Grass Court Championship Singles for 1914 are now concluded. The idea of world's championships originated with the French. In 1912 they instituted a World's Hani (curt Tournament, which was held in Paris in May of that- year. Tins tournament was so successful that a, conference of international delegates was held, and it was decided to officially sanction the holding of. Hard Court, Covered Court, and Grass Court Championships for Men's Singles and Doubles, Ladies' Singles, and Mixed Doubles. The first tournaments under the auspices of the International Federation were held last year. The grass court- events were allotted to England in perpetuity. The first- and second years' contests for the hard court and covered court- events were given to Franco and Sweden. It is now ancient history that A. 1". Wilding, representing New Zealand, captured the three singles events at Paris, London, and Stockholm. He also reached the final of the Men's D.-mbles with Froitzheim, to be beaten by ;t German pair. The Mixed Doubles final went to Decugis and Miss E. Ryan, who received forfeit from Wilding and Mme Cdding. The 1914 Hard Court Singles again went to the New Zealander, who defeated all comers with great ease. At >'.<•; khohn last year he contested the Snigies only. The 1915 Grass Court Championship at- Wimbledon is memorable for the great contest between M'Loughlin and Wilding, which the- latter won in three strenuous sets. Mrs Lambert ChamIk is won the Ladies' Singles. About 10.000 spectators viewed the'M'LoutihliuWilding contest, and thousands more could net gain admission. The victory of Norman Brookes (Victoria.; in the challenge round will have surprised the great majority of tennis experts—men who follow the game, and study form and results closely. "" On Wednesday last he just pulled through—partly aided by bad umpiring—against Froitzheim. 'That performance was not too inspiring, although the German is in the world's first- six. Moreover, we were advised that Beamish made splendid openings against Brookes's hack h;md, but failed to clinch the advantage. One would naturally expect a much stronger player like Wilding to not <.idy make more, and better openings, but to take full advantage of them—hut- lie seems, to have relied altogether on his base-line powers. Brookes's genius would at erne impress him with the necessity for keepii'c him there, and to that end he w..uld keep to his well-known centre-court tactics —i.e.. he would return the services down the middle of the court, and then i h,se in on the net. Brookes knows that .t is useless to return across court, and i hereby make angles for drivers of Wilding's type- In Thursday's 'Star' I commented upon Wilding's objections to compelled to stand out and wait for the challenge round, as it prevents hi.s getting good hard match practice. For some years Wilding has furbished up his form by playing in the Singles at Beckenham and Queen's during the fortnight prior to Wimbledon, but for some reason he did not do so this year. Though Brookes has won, it cannot be said that there was much difference between the players. It was a contest between a base-hner and the world's cleverest volleyer, and the vollever won; but according to the cahled news"lie was fortunate with net-cord strokes. He won the first set with one, and in the critical third set, when Wilding led 2-1. Brookes is said to have had wonderful luck in the 4th game with net-corders, which brought him to 2 all. In Thursday's notes I wrote: "If Brookes defeats the present holder he will be congratulated on accomplishing the finest feat of the last 10 years, and none will begrudge him the victory." Let us now congratulate hiin on his great and hard-earned triumph—thoroughly well deserved. We would have preferred to see our man win, but the best go down in turn. His last defeat on a grass court was in May, 1910, so he has had a long innings. Brookes has now won the All-comers' Singles thrice. In 1905 he went under to H. L. Doherty tn straight sets in the challenge round, and in 1907 he gained the Championship, Doherty not defending. —Winners. All-comers, Championship 1906 ... Brookes H.L. Doherty ■ 1907 ... Brookes Brookes 1908 ... Gore Gore 1909 ... Ritchie Gore 1910 ... Wilding Wilding 1911 ... Barrett' Wilding 1912 ... Gore Wilding 1913 ... M'LoagolinWildißf 1914 r~ Brooked Brookes

THE FOREHAND CTROKE. [By J. C. Pakkts.] "57' It is a general precept that in attempting to explain anything one should always start at the- beginning. so in this case I shall try to follow the counsel of the sages, and start with what I consider to be the very beginning—viz., the grip. First of all, <io not use too thick a handle, for the only result is that you tire and strain the muscles of your fingers and wrist, and thus lose firmness of hold, a>nd that elusive quality known amongst the more expert as "touch." Exactly the same remarks apply to a heavy racket and for exactly tho same reasons • with a medium balance is quite heavy enough for any man, and I myself use a 14oz with a similar balance. As to the ehape of the handle, I prefer an oval one. as it seems to fit more firmly into my hand, but this, of course, is a matter of choice, and each person must please, himself. Just a word of advice here. Having got. a racket which suits you, try to get all your new rackets as nearly as pce-sihl-e models of the old one. and don't chop and change about. —How to Hold the Racket.— Atvl now. how are you to hokl this beautiful racket? Well. I can only tell you how I hold it myself, ami explain a little as to the grips used by other*. ; but. again. 1 do not wish to be dogmatic as 1o what is the best or most correct method.