POPULARITY OF TENNIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18943, 14 February 1925, Page 13

POPULARITY OF TENNIS.

PROGRESS IN AMERICA, jf DEMAND FOR FACILITIES. | TWO PROMINENT PLAYERS., ( Bi - W. T. TILDES.) < Tii«> growth of tennis stadiums is little short of phenomenal. Five years ago they were unknown. To-day Wimbledon,. Enßand Forest Hills, L.1., arid San Fran'kco California, have completed stadiums, while work is ready to start on the p>o■posed one for Lqngwood Club. Boston. I lie two great stadiums at \\ mib edon and Forest Hills seat 15,000 people. They are for such events as world s champion all ins or Davis Cup ties. The stadium at San Francisco holds but <SOOO at present, yet to my mindl is the •most interesting of them all. it is a municipal affair, situated in Golden Gate Park, beside tho great new track and football stadium, and is one link m the first chain of public athletic fields 111 tho world It was opened with fitting cu-e----monv bv a series of exhibition matches, in ■which Little Bill Johnston, Helen Wills, Helen Jacobs, Vincent Richards, John Strochan, Pay Casey and I took part, rfhe honour of hitting the hrst ball in the new stadium went to Johnston, when he served to mo in the first match ot the dav It wa * singularly fitting that tins was the case, for Johnston has done more for San Francisco tennis than any other *'Vhe new stadium is a bowl, surrounding two courts, one, the finest asphalt court 1 have ever seen, tho other, as yet uncompleted, will be tho first grass court in California. Tho special grass court will be used for exhibitions or to afford practice for the California!! team before its annual Easter invasion. The present seating arrangements, though not of tremendous size are slendidly laid out .so that a fine view of the courts is obtained from every seat. There is a possibility of building additional seating facilities on all four sides, with the opportunity of increasing the capacity to more than double its present size. It seams as if the demand will speedily force, the increase, for on the opening day every soafc was filled, and fully 2000 people, were turned away. These unfortunates took refuge on high ground, porches and roofs in the vicinity, and enjoyed longrange views of the matches. The completed club, when tho dream is finally realised, will include about twenty more | courts outside the stadium, and one of the finest clubhouses in California. It will be a magnificent monument to the men \»ho had the civic pride and far-sighted public spirit to have made possible tho marvelions public playground. . The .play at> the new stadium convinced me of one' tiling, which I believed before, namely, that Little Bill Johnston is very much in tho game still, and will he back East next year in his accustomed place at the forefront of the game. He played splendid tennis against me, notwithstand ing the fact that he had had no practice •.or weeks. Seldom have I seen Johnston jn better condition, and I know his hosts of friends will welcome this assurance of his return in 1925. Helen Wills will shortly have a serious rival in Helen Jacobs. Helen Jacobs is not yet in Helen Wills" class, but she is ■very voung. Little Miss Jacobs has a fighting, dynamic temperament that will spell disaster to many an opponent. I was greatly impressed by her inherent tennis sense and fighting attitude on th® court as well as her magnificent stroke equipment. Helen Wills is doing a very fine thing jn tennis around San Francisco. Notwithstanding the fact that her studies are taking much of her time and thought, and that she is a natural victim of too much tennis after her long and remarkable season, Miss Wills is generously playing many exhibitions. She is spreading the propaganda of the game with that sweet generosity so typical of her, often, I know, at great personal inconvenience. | AUCKLAND COMPETITIONS. THE INTER-CLUB CONTESTS. POINTS FOR OTHER PLAYERS. The inter-club tennis matches to be played to-day at Stanley Street are:—B grade, Remuera v. Devonport; C grade, y.M.C.A. v. St. Heliers; Eden and Epsom y. Onehunga Central. Opportunity will also be taken to play off club matches which have been much delayed, owing to many of the players being away on holidays." Members of the various clubs whose rounds are not completed are specially asked to attend. There' are many players who do not realise their responsibility in respect to club matches, and a little consideration is due by them to both officials and other players who are keen on the match play. Several of the clubs, which were full at the beginning of the season, have now vacancies for members, who may join on paying half subscription only. The selector of the team to represent the Auckland University at the forthcoming tennis championship, to be held at Christchurch at Easter time, is getting busy considering the capabilities of the students; Ail who wish to be considered for selection arc requested to send in their names.