TENNIS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 7 January 1928, Page 11

TENNIS

COMMAND OP THE NET. KEYSTONE OF DOUBLES PLAY. AMERICAN TENNIS CRACK’S ADVICE. ' . ...... . Valuable hints to tennis players concerning doubles play are given by Jobu blennessey, one of America’s best exponents, in the following article: Before dealing with, doubles play, I want to add an extra point or two to the hints given on overhead work and volleying. When smashing a lob, always strike the ball about a racquet’s length from the shoulder and as high, as possible; never (unless you are a Borotra) take the ball directly above the head. If you Keep these two maxims in mind, your smashes will be both stronger and better directed; by smashing an early ball you can get both pace and direction; by hitting at it blindly, when it is over your head, you are ensuring a .weak return —;anct also an aimless one. I have already stressed the dangers inherent in trying to kill overhead when standing deep.

An additional point for the voileyer is the supreme importance of keeping the eye closely on the ball. This needs no elaboration, and speaks for itself; the greatest volleyers—Borotra, Mile Lenglen, Norman Brookes, Til den and Vincent Richards—owe their success to this diflicult branch of the game to the fact that they watch the ball as closely as Hobbs does at cricket. The secret really lies in the one word, concentration,, and it is a rule of universal application in .a 11 ball games. It seems an obvious tiling to insist on, but players are. apt to let their minds wander"under the influence of new and strange surroundings. There are so many, things to distract one when for tlie first time the ordeal of the centre court has to be faced, and the truth of this observation is just as applicable to the club player called on for a big test before a crowded tournament gallery in the suburbs as it is to the champions “higher up.” Another elementary rule for the vollever is to volley at a nice length from tlie body. All of us cannot be such master's of the lialf-volley as Oochei. . The keystone of the doubles game is command of the- net. and the whole strategy of partnership should be directed to attain this object with the least possible delay. Those who have taken the trouble to read the hints I have endeavoured to give will probably have noticed that I have continually insisted on, the, importance of taking the offensive. When you are at the net you are. on the offensive ; everything is subordinated to this battle for the net in the doubles game; it must be “both up” from tho word go. Do not try, at tin; outset, to ace your opponent’s service; get the ball into" play and advance to the net; the pair who can do this, and stay there, have the advantage. In regard .to position, it is a golden rule, when your partner is serving, to stand close in to the .net opposite tire service court into which the ball is nomg, and about the same distance

from the sideline. . . , Don't get in a' direct line with your partner’s service, as so many doubles players do, but see that you. give him a clear shot to both corner,s of the service court. The server should come up at once, if he secs the receivei shaping for a drive, and out oil the return. It is fatal _ lor the server to be caught at the service line ; to. stop short there usually means' being caught with the ball at your feet, necessitating a low volley or half-volley, which puts you at once, on the defensive. Come right in to the net then for interceptions, advancing at once on your service without loss of time. There is another disadvantage in failing to come up smartly on your service; you are inviting reprisals on an unsupported partner, and the heaviest metal of the attack will be directed .at him. There are occasions, of. course, when you are forced back, either by sustained driving or clever lobs; but get back to the net at the first opportunity, and play the “both up” formation all the time.

Mv concluding advice on the game generally is to (lose no opportunity of practising shots. The- best training I can recommend is to eschew smoking altogether if you can; if you cannot, limit yourself to one smoke after the day’s play is over. One hard match a day is a fair thing for the best-conditioned player in tournament?. j£k> many players make the mistake of playing several sets in the morning before their big match comes on, and then they wonder why they are not keyed up! Above all things—plenty, of sleep: late hours are. the worst possible training for lawn tennis.

HELEN WILL’S WIN OVER BFTTB NUTHALL. ■ Tlie final for the American ladled championship, turned out to be a niucß more thrilling game than the mer® scores implied. “American Law* Tennis” pays a tribute to the popt® larity and dashing methods of th® English girl, Miss Betty Nuthali, wh® appears to be the most fascinating peronality of the tennis courts develop® ed by the Uhl Country for many years® Tlie 'story given 'below is taken iron® out* New’ York contemporary. I The annual women’s national chaml pionships, on the courts of the Wes® Side Tennis Club, Forest Hills, L.f.l were featured by one of the stronges® entries that the tournament has eve* enjoyed, and without any doubt b® the greatest element of Internationa® competition in its history. Miss Helex® N. Wilis completed her successful come-back after last year’s sicknes® and enforced absence from the defenc® of her title by duplicating her Wimble® don win, and exhibiting clear superior® ity over all other competitors, in th® tournament, regaining her title with® out the logs of a set. I She was, however, the only Ameri® can to grace the final of either thel singles or doubles event, and, in fact,! the latter was practically. .. dominated! by the English, laidies, members jof] the Wightman Cup team. Of the four teams in tlie semi-final round, three were English and the lone American pair, Miss Eleanor Goss, and Mrs. Charlotte Hosmer Chapin, were eliminated by the ultimate Mrs. Kathleen McKane Godfree and Miss Ermintrude H. Harvey. This is Airs Godfree’s second win of our doubles title, for in 1923 she annexed it with Mrs B. C. Cbveii. As Jar as i>opuJar appeal is concerned, a. more desirable finalist than Miss Betty Nuthali, of England, could not have been found. In view of the unsurpassable play of Miss Wills through all of her early round matches, it will not be deemed possible that any other competitor would be able to keep her from the championship. A great deal of the interest, therefore, was centred in who would come through in the other half of tlie draw, which, after the default- of Mrs Godfree because, of poor health was the stronger half. Besides Miss Nuthali, it included Airs. Molla B. (Mallory, defending title holder, Airs Chapin, Alias Gwendolyn. Sterry, and -Miss .Joan Fry, of England, Aliss Goss and Aliss Penelope Anderson. Although Alns Chapin, by beautiful play, accounted for Aliss Fry and Airs. Mallory on successive days, when she met Aliss Nuthali in the semi-final round, sentiment was with the 16-year-oid visitor. It was not only the desire to see such a youngster in the final, and to get the International flavour, that empted popular favour on Aliss Nuthali’s side, but also the feeling that she would be able to press Aliss Wills to a greater extent than anyone else; and this was proved by the excellent encounter which resulted when they met. It was undoubtedly the greatest exhibition of hard hitting that has ever been seen in a women’s match in America, especially the first set of it. The score of this period was 6-1. and Aliss Nuthali was able to garner but 12 points. Considering the speed with which both players hit the ball arid their excellent placement, the rallies were long Alias Wills Was clearly the superior in this type of play, however, and Miss Nuthali. with characteristic good judgement, changed pace and letting up in her speed of stroke, she found Miss Wilson more vulnerable, with the result that it was a. nip and tuck tattle up until the very end, when the Californian gii'l took her own serve for the win and the set at-6-4. It was a fitting ending'.to such a wonderful ' tournament, and tlie 6000 people who took advantage of the sun’s shining, in spite of the that the match was held on a. week-day, were wholly repaid for having had to forego the tennis because of terrible weather on both Tuesday and Sat-ur-iav of the first week, and for having waited through a thunder shower on the previous day, Alonday.