TENNIS IN ENGLAND

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20141, 10 January 1940, Page 3

TENNIS IN ENGLAND

DEATH OF FAMOUS COACH STARS DISAPPEAR HARD MATCH RECALLED With the passing of Mr. Clement Pfiaum, a former chairman of the English Lawn Tennis Association, lawn tennis youth has lost a very good friend, says an English writer. He was a fine spotter of talent in young players and rarely made a mistake. Right from the start her career he had a great belief in the tennis of Miss Peggy Scrivcn, championing her claims at a time when others in authority were inclined to belittle her skill.

It is funny, by the way, how some of the stars who strutted across the Wimbledon stage to the plaudits of thousands seem to disappear altogether. 1 was reminded of this when running through my birthday book and finding that Manuel Alonso, the great Spanish player who represented his country in the Davis Cup as recently as 1936, is 44 years of age. Wc have heard nothing of him for years. He was one of the big noises at the last Wimbledon to be played on the old Worple road ground in 1921, when, in a meteoric dash to the final, he became known as "the Flaming Spaniard ” For all his fire in that memorable meeting Alonso could not beat young B. I. C. Norton, the South African, who, being only 52, was nicknamed "Baby” Norton in the all-comers' final. But Alonso did overcome Scnzo Shimidzu. of Japan, who was said to train only on rice and water. In an earlier round Shimidzu came through a terrific battle with Randolph Lycett, who, although exhausted, tried hard to hang on to the match through frequent visits to the side of the court for cold water douches and champagne.

The match upset the hitherto tranquil air of the old Wimbledon, which had its first demonstration by . the crowd since the inception of the meeting, when there were loud cries for Lycctt to “play on" while he kept the Japanese waiting to serve after a change-over. It was amazing how Lycett, almost completely played out, could stagger up court when occasion demanded to put the ball away with that wonderful smash of his. which has rarely, if ever, been equalled.