CHAMPIONSHIP TENNIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18929, 29 January 1925, Page 6

CHAMPIONSHIP TENNIS.

THE AUCKLAND TOURNEY.

FIXTURE COMMENCES TO-DAY

PLAYERS AND PROSPECTS. The Auckland championship tennis tournament commences this morning at Stanley Street and will bo continued tomorrow and on Saturday. Considerable interest is being taken in the men's singles for the Home Gold Cup. The holder, Dr, Laurenson, is not • defending this year and the winner is expected to come from E. L. Ban ion, E. W, Griffiths, V. K. Johns, A. C. Johns, H. L. Kobson and H. Brihsrlen, who are the seeded players in the draw. The injury sustained by Bartleet at Taranaki will j not prevent him from competing, Mrs. Scott-Watson, formerly an Auck-! land singles champion and a New Zealand representative, has returned from England and figures among those competing for the Syk.es Cup, the ladies' singles trophy. Misses Macfarlajie, Knight, Pay ton and Airs. Scott-Watson arc the seeded players. The committee in control comprises Messrs. A, Goldic, E. Hickson, A. C. Johns, E. Tonks, 11. G. Thomson, A, K. Turner arid M. E. Ward (secretary). All male competitors must bo ready for play at. 9 o'clock, and ladies playing in the combined events at, 10.30 a.m. Many Young Players. The championships will bo contested almost entirely by local players, a pleasing feature being the number of young players competing. Auckland has some promising juniors, who, in some cases, show better stroke production than many of the seniors. Competitors can help considerably by being ready for play when called upon, occupying the courts promptly, finding umpires for their own matches, and umpiring in their turn. One rule the committee intends to enforce strictly is that, requiring competitors to report on arrival and to obtain the consent of the official in charge of the board before leaving the ground. At the New Zealand tourney considerable confusion occurred at the railed portion of the pavilion reserved for tenure ticket-holders, owing to the. trespass, of casual spectators, and the management is guarding against any repetition of the occurrence at this week's gathering. The Amateur Rule. A good deal, of misconception exists regarding the amateur rule governing tennis, and there seems an impression among some players that any person, ■who makes his livelihood by selling tennis material or stringing racquets, is not an amateur. This idea is entirely wrong. Probably 50 par cent, of the champions competing at the world's- big tournaments are connected in some way with the making or disposing of tennis gear. Of the last Australian Davis Cup team at least three had agencies for sports goods, yet they ware accepted as amateurs. The rule regarding players' names appearing on racquets, though perhaps a little ambiguous, applies, only to a player of note selling the right to a maker to use his name as a particular brand for a racquet. So far as New Zealand tenuis is 'Concerned, and here there are no professional coaches, who come under a special clause in the rules, all players at present competing at tournaments axe strictly amateurs. Matches With Country Players. It is a pity the attempt made in Auckland last season to establish a country week was not better supported. There is a movement among some oi" the country clubs to arrange a visit from a first or second grade team from the Auckland association, or from individual clubs. This is the reverse to a country week, but it is probably easier for Ancklanders : to visit the country than for our country members to come to the city. From these visits a country week may grow. It certainly is one of the chief events in New South Wales, and creates a deal of enthusiasm. With Easter approaching country clubs desirous of a visit from a team should make application Chip courts are generally available, and matches late in the "season could be undertaken. Kntries for the Dunlop Shield matches close on Saturday, and for the veterans' doubles gnd the father and son tournament, on February 18. The iatter events are to be played on February 21 and 28. Schools' matches are delayed owing to the. prevailing "pidcm.'c. ! Ausirana nas just completed another successful country week, the Metropolis overwhelming their country cousins. J. 0. Anderson once again established himself on a pinnacle and beat Halms, his team mate of the last Davis Cup tour, 6—2, 6—o. Schlesinger, who is : now a resident in Sydney a." Patterson's representative for a particular make of racquet, was beaten in both singles and doubles-—not a very good performance for a Davis Cup representative of two years' standing. The outstanding lady* player was Mrs. Martin (nee Miss A. Gray), who visited Auckland as a member of the New South Wales ladies' team, and who is reported: to .be playing exceptionally well at present. She defeated Miss St. George with the greatest of ease, 6—l, 6 —l, and with Mrs. Henry captured her two doubles matches.