LAWN TENNIS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 12 March 1928, Page 7

LAWN TENNIS.

"TOO STRENUOUS.” INT TOURNAMENT PLAY. That the present conduct of championship tennis tournaments in New Zealand does not give the competitors a chance and does not make for pleasant tennis was the opinion expressed ny the vice-president of the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association at a meeting of ttie association at Christchurch on Wednesday last. He advocated extending the time of playing eliminating rounds. “We who have played tennis in the past,” said Mr. Seay, “played it primarily as a game for pleasure, and wo are getting away from this viewpoint in our championship tournaments.” It i\as not lair, be said, to ask members to play when they were in an exhausted condition, especially women. in England, America, and Australia players were never asked to play more than two five-set matches in the same day. it was the hardest on the best players who were kept in The best tennis was only obtained by getting lit for the finals.

Players could not give a creditable display if played to death. They should either extend the time or have preliminary rounds. As the tournaments, lioth Dominion and provincial, got larger, the position became worse. Mr. H. S. Wilkinson thought that the position was accentuated by a number of local players, who were far below championship standard, entering for the Dominion tournaments. They .should limit the number of local players in Dominion tournaments. Mr R- Browning’s opinion was that the Dominion tournament was held at tiie wrong time. If it were held later the players would know their form better. specific recommendations were forthcoming from the discussion.