LAWN TENNIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12818, 18 March 1905, Page 5 (Supplement)

LAWN TENNIS.

The schools competition, which has been inaugurated with every prospect of becoming an important function in the future, will be continued to-day on the Eden and Epsom courts.

"Fair Play's" letter, published in last Saturday's issue, needs a few comments. The writer points out that the inter-club competition is held merely to decide which is tho premier club, so that any club caring to give a. bye suffers accordingly. That the club suffers is perfectly true, but I .should like to say that in mv opinion tho chief object of this competition should bo tho encouragement of esprit de corps and friendly rivalry; also, the experience gained by meeting different players each round is to be considered an advantage, especially for thoso young at the game. When the competition was revived this season was there any doubt which club would come out on top? If it was only a matter of deciding tho supremacy tho matches need never have been played'. All club members well (knew that Eden and Epsom would win. but for the love of tho game, kept faithfully to all their engagements. No. it is not only a question of supremacy, and I assert again, knowing well that all true enthusiasts will endorse my views, that some arrangement should be made which would preclude tho possibility of games going by default. My recent remarks on Parker obtaining the assistance of the best player in the district, when visiting outside, meetings may have had nothing to do with tho new departure, but the fact remains that the champion played at Waipawa with a young lady from Wellington who was not- a top-notcher, The ladies have been busy the last week or so with their club "At Homes," and several enjoyable gatherings have resulted. The weather has been delightful for tennis, and the various club tournaments have made good progress, most of the events being now completed. It is expected that the banner won by Eden anil Epsom in the. inter-club competition will Ive to band in a few days. Arrangements will probably be made for the president of the association to formally present the trophy on the club courts. The annual inter-State match at Adelaide between Victoria and South Australia has been fixed for March 25 and 27, and the tournament to decide the various championships of South Australia will be played on the 2.Bth hist, and four following days. H. A. Parker, the New Zealand champion, who also holds the South Australian championship, will be there to defend his title, and the committee are trying to arrange for Brookes and Dunlop to go to Adelaide on their way to England, and to take part in the matches.

The question of an Australasian championship was again brought up at a recent meetin? of the Lawn Tenuis Association of Australasia, and it was decided that, if arrangements could he made with the M.C.C.. two events—a gentlemen's singles and doubles— should be competed for at the inter-State tournament, which will be held in November next, which will be known as the Australasian singles and doubles championships. Owing to tho rough state of the courts, and to the Easter holidays falling so late, the Nfraruawahia Tennis Club has decided not to hold its usual annual tournament this year.

THE DAVIS CUP CONDITIONS. Tho conditions of the Davis cup competition, in which the Australasian team will take part in England next .Tune, provide that "the players shall be chosen in the singles and doubles contest by their respective captains from- not more than four players nominated for each tie by the Lawn Tennis Association of tho opposing nations. The result of each tie is determined by the combined totals of the four singles and one doubles matches. In tho singles each team consists of two players, who play each against each of the opposing team the best of five advantage sets. In the doubles each team consists of two players, who play tho opposing team tho best of five advantage sets." Tiie competing nations may therefore be represented by four playerstwo for singles and two for doubles, or they nominate two players only to carry the burden of attack in both singles and doubles matches. The Australasian Association has decided to be represented by four players, or rather to nominate four players, leaving the question of whether two or more should fight but the issue to be decided in England. The colonials will meet, America, France, Belgium, and tho British Isles in a series of contests for the Davis cup and the right to rank as " the champion nation of the world." If successful the international matches of 1996 would bo played in Australia, the country of the holders of tho cup. In addition to the Davis cup matches it is proposed to play a "test" match, England v. Australasia, on tho same linos as the interstate fixtures. In addition to the cup quartette, Doust (New South Wales), Poidevin (New South Wales), and Eaves (Victoria) will he in England, and if necessary Dewhurst (New South Wale.-), at present in America, would bo willing to join a representative Australian team.

The regulations for the international lawn tennis championship provide that "the lawn tennis association of each of the nations concerned shall appoint a captain of its side." The Australasian association decided, after Dunlop and Brookes had both been nominated, that Dunlop had the better qualifilinos for the position, on the grounds that though Brookes was perhaps the more skilful player, Dunlop had had more experience as captain of Victorian teams in inter-State mutches. An advisory committee, consisting of Poidevin (New South Wales) and Wilding (New Zealand) was also appointed to confer with the captain of the team in final arrangement of players in singles and doubles matches.