LAWN TENNIS NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 117, 17 April 1934, Page 2

LAWN TENNIS NOTES

The final of the ladies’ championship of the Palmerston North L.T.C. was played on Saturday, at the Linton Street courts between Mrs Anderson and Miss Margaret Rutherford. This was their third meeting in this event, neither having lost a life to any other player. On the first occasion Miss Rutherford won in the third set after Mrs Anderson seemed to have the match in hand, while on the second occasion the position was exactly reversed, Mrs Anderson winning with six consecutive games in the third set after her opponent had led 4—o. On Saturday Mrs Anderson was clearly the better, and getting into her stride at once took the first three games. Miss Rutherford won the next three and took the lead at 5 —4. Mrs Anderson again led at 6 —5 and took the first set at B—6.8 —6. In the second set the first five games went with the service, Mrs Anderson leading at 3—2, and taking the next three won the set and match at 6 —2. This is the second time that she has won the club championship, the previous time being in 1928. when as Miss Hazel Litchfield she beat Miss N. Astle in two out of three matches. Miss Astle won for the next three years, and then had to give way to Miss M. Rutherford who won two years in succession. The men’s championship advanced a stage when Robertson beat Hankin liy 6 —4, 6-—2 in a liard-liitting game. He was to have played Wehipeihana in the final on Saturday, but the latter failed to turn up. Robertson and M. Rodgers very easily beat Johnson and J. Barnett in the final of tire doubles, the score being 6—3, 6—l in their favour. In a trial between the juniors, Cope and Tapp, the former took the first seven games. Tapp then struck a bit of form and took the next four and looked like winning the set when rain stopped the play. On resuming Cope had matters all his own way and won the second set at 7—5. JIRO SATOH. OFFICIALS RESIGN. PATHETIC FAREWELL LETTER, The suicide of Jiro Satoh, captain of the Japanese Davis Cup team, who jumped overboard from the steamer Ha.kane Mam shortly after leaving Singapore for Europe, has created a sensation in Japan. The West Japan section of the directorate of the Japanese Tennis Association has resigned because it assumes responsibility for Satoli’s suicide in urging him to remain in the team, despite his desire to return owing to illness. Public opinion generally is condemning the association for pressing Satoh. who in character was reserved and melancholy, to enter the team, despite his questionable mental and physical condition, and then urging him to continue from Singapore, and over-ruling his desire to return. Members of the association, however, say that they acted as they did for the sake of upholding Japan’s honour in the world of tennis, and because he was the nation’s finest player. They did not dream that such a tragedy would result.

The captain of the IJakone Mam sent a wireless message that Satoli was pale faced and despondent before liis suicide, and that he left in his cabin a hasty message to his brother in the following terms : —“Forgive my sin in leaving you in this way.” INTERVIEW WITH FIANCEE.

In an exclusive interview, Satoh’s finance, Miss Sanae Okada, who is 21 years of age, and a ranking woman tennis player, said: —“I believe that Jiro committed suicide solely out of a sense of responsibility after acceding to the Tennis Association’s request to proceed to Europe, even when he wanted to return from Singapore. He was still haunted by the fear that his illness would endanger Japan’s chance of victory, and he removed himself, like the Samurai of old. But, oh, it only lie had patiently gone a.t least as far as France, I should still have him. I hate them for obstinately forcing Jiro against his will, driving him to desperation and death. . ‘‘Jiro had stomach and intestinal trouble, which in Japan was not so bad, but as the ship got farther and farther from Japan, doubtless it grew worse, with many mingled feelings or loneliness of spirit, perplexity, and anxiety over physical weakness m the momentous games causing a nervous breakdown. Though he wrote me a bright letter from Shanghai, Jiro oiten said that he had already played for several years, and did not want to play this year. He wanted rest and quiet during the summer in Japan, happily with me. However, he was of a loyal, logical and retiring nature, and so uncomplainingly consented, but few understood. . “Jiro liked everything Western. His favourite flowers were roses and carnations. He affectionately chenshed his friends abroad, for whom he took manv lovely gifts. We went shopping together, and I helped him to select beautiful neckties, cigarette cases, and other articles, and all the while he was eagerly exclaiming, ‘This is for Crawford; this for Perry, tins for Austin, this for Borotra,’ and so on. PRESERVING FAMILY NAME. “I first met Jiro on the courts, and often played in the mixed doubles with him. He proposed to me last New Year’s Eve. 1 waited about a month to make np my mind before accepting in February. I wonder if he would still have been alive if I liad not accepted. Weeks before departing, Jiro kept me constantly at his side everywhere he went. Perhaps it was a presentiment. He wanted to take me to Europe this year, but refrained, owing to probable public criticism. The day of the departure from Tokio he danced with me until an hour before the train left to take him to the ship. He said he would return via Siberia to save a fortnight in rejoining me. “I am an only child, and so must remain in my family, according to Japanese custom, and maintain the family name and line. I could not enter Jiro’s family, and, therefore, it was necessary that Jiro should enter my family and take my surname. Some of his relatives objected to this. Jiro had no parents, but his brothers consented. Therefore, we fully intended to marrv next spring, after Jiro graduated at Waseda University. “Jiro carried five or six of my photographs. He carefully and tenderly planned for me during Ins absence. He told me with whom to associate and where to spend the summer, and he bought me the newest phonograph records. He never forgot mv welfare. So the last precious message for me, which I hear J\ as found among his belongings on shiphoard. surely gives the greatest forethought for my future course. LETTER TO COLLEAGUE. A pathetic farewell letter, showing that he sacrificed himself because of an obsession that he was a burden on liis colleagues, was left by Satoh. In' a farewell message Satoh wrote: “Play your best and uphold the honour of Japan. Although I will not be with you in body, I will be with you ill spirit. Play the game as sportsmen, and take defeat in the spirit as you would victory. Good-bye.” An improvised altar, on which were

set up his photograph, rackets, an offering of cakes, and the Japanese flag, held tragic symbols of the death of Satoh when the Hakone Maru arrived at Penang. Yamagishi, Satoh’s cabin mate stated that Satoh seemed in better spirits when he left Singapore. He seemed so much better that he agreed to play in an exhibition match at Penang. . Satoh had dinner in Ins cabin. When Yamamshi ivent to the cabin at midnight 0 Satoh was missing The ship turned round and searched fruitlessly for seven horn's over the calm Straits of Malacca.