TENNIS

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 6 February 1926, Page 12

TENNIS

NKV ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA. An outsider's view of New Zealand tennis was given in an interview to a Christchurch paper by Mr. P. Haege, of Victoria. He said that New Zealand tennis was under-rated in Australia, as l'ar as the standard in the singles was concerned. The style was different from that in Australia. In the first; place the players were probably litter and went in for long driving rallies, on both backhand and forehand, whereas in Australia the game was of more brilliant character, with net play. A good many New Zealand players had good backhand shots as well as forehand. In Australia most relied on a very strong drive and went up to the net. Very few New Zealand players could serve well, while ihe net play was not nearly as good as that of Australians. The standard in the doubles was very mue.i inferior. Mr. Haege said that in the singles he believed the New Zealand style was the better tenuis, although the public liked to see plenty of volleying. It was essential for a player to be equips ed with good sound strokes.

New Zealand is to send a team to Australia at present, but its personnel, although at present under consideration, has not yet been decided upon, J. C. Peacock should be a certainty (writes “Forehand” in the Dominion), not'for his play only, but for his invaluable experience that is available as captain and manager. Cllivier, as the Now Zealand champion, should be a certainty. I for one would oppose his inclusion because of his unreliability. His previous experiences in international and 1 provincial tennis should have given the selectors sufficient warning.

Len and Don France, E. B. Smyth, Bartlect and I. Seay are worthy of consideration. Any one of these players paired with Peacock would make an admirable doubles combination, having as they would, the advantage of Peacock’s generalship.

It is stated that the team will be known before the meeting of the New Zealand Tennis Council, some time next month.