LAWN TENNIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11538, 24 November 1900, Page 7

LAWN TENNIS.

For the second week in succession lawn tennis has been practically imnossible, owing to the unsettled state of the weather. This means that tho championship matches in the earlier rounds will be played without any preliminary practice on the part of the players, which was a state of things not anticipated by the association in fixing the dales so early in the season.

The match between champion J. R. Hooper and A. H. Brabant, the well-known Ponsonby crack, takes place this afternoon on the West End lawn. Hooper's want of practice should even things up considerably, but after allowing for this it is thought in lawn tennis circles that he should still win fairly comfortably. A victory "for Brabant would undoubtedly prove the biggest upset of the season. Wo understand that quite a number of spectators and players from other clubs have expressed their intention of watching the game. The other two matches in the first round, Mair v. Rice and Vaile v. Brown, will also be played on Saturday on the Eden and Epsom courts, the closing date being extended one day by the association to permit of this.

Mr. C. J. Parr has been elected president of tho West End Club in succession to Mr. J. Kirker, who has resigned owing to pressure of business. Mr. Kirker has always been a genuine supporter of the game, and the prominent position held by the club at the present time is in a great measure due to his very liberal assistance. A correspondent writes suggesting that each club should appoint one of its leading players as honorary coach during the season. This would unquestionably be a move in the right direction, as many young players acquire faults at the beginning which they would avoid were a coach present to check them and instruct them in the finer points of the game. I understand that the West End Club intend taking some steps in this direction.

The contributor to the lawn tennis column of the Australasian considers that the majority of events will be won by members of the Victorian team. The combination is certainly a very strong one, and I do not anticipate they will have much difficulty in securing the doubles, but if all our best men are taking part, the winner of tho singles should have a fairly tough row to hoe. The voyage and tho changed climatic conditions affect a player's form considerably, and admitting that the Australians are slightly superior on their own or neutral ground, it is fairly within the bounds of possibility that a slight deterioration from tho above causes may result in a New Zealander coming out on top. The New Zealand team which visited Svdney in 1896 experienced all the difficulty of playing under the changed conditions, and with the notable exception of Miss Nunnelly. failed grievously in the open tournament, but after an acclimatisation of about 10 days, beat New South Wales handsomely in the intercolonial match.