TENNIS VISITORS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21952, 8 November 1934, Page 16

TENNIS VISITORS

-'ENGLISH LAW PLAYERS

P ' ■ * > {/SiSS ROUND'S RISE TO FAME

UNCHANGED B# HER SUCCESS

Ward-working doubles pair »; • 7 '

BY FRED' J. PERRY

• Some 12 months ago a British lawn tennis team was accorded a real New Zealand welcome, and none of tlhe members of that particular team will ever forget the marvellous times they experienced during tlaeir short stay on shese shores. Their only regret and that a unanimous one —was that their stay was much too short, and disappointment of the/fact was voiced by an. ,

Many tours have been ma'de since that last visit, and, many championships won and lost. This present team itself has already broken two New Zealand records. It is the first time that a British team has toured New Zealand for two years in/succession, and for the first time in history the enthusiasts out here have 7 been Enabled to see English women players in action. More is the piiy that the stay is to be even shorter than the corresponding one of last year. ; All previous visitors have returned home with glowing accounts of New Zealand and its unsurpassed hospitality,/ and all the members of tho 193-1 team were highly delighted at the prospect of their visit. Personally, I am one of th 9 lucky ones, as this is my second tour, and my delight at being here once again is just as great as that ol: my colleagues. Pen Pictures For all enthusiasts in New Zealand to see the games will be an impossibility, but! I will endeavour to draw bridf pen pictures of each player, so that those unable, to see the matches will have some slight idea of the personnel of the side, particularly the ladies.

Each member of our team has been in the game for many years, although their names haye not always been headlines. Their tennis ability, however, has been brought to the front by diligent and sound practice. It is this sound practice that. makes perfect. The three lady members of the team possess the most engaging personalities. Each is eager to play good tennis, have a good time and stQl remain a unit of the side. They all are great friends—one; qf the greatest essentials ill any team that is so far away from home for so long a time. All were members of the 1934 Wightman Cup team —a good though unsuccessful one. ■We have with us-a girl who is probably the most prominent of her sex in the world to-day—Dorothy Round. She reached, the Wimbledon final in 1933, only to losd to Mrs. Moody after one of the sternest battles ever seen in the women's final. She achieved., the distinction of winning a set from her famous adversary—and in 1933 that indeed was a- success, as Mrs. Moody had not dropped even a set for years. Civic Pride

' Dorothy Round hails from Dudley, in Worcestershire, a town . which is extremely protid of her achievements, and one whjch has shown its pride by showering civic gifts upon her. In her earlier days in junior play, she always provetd to be a thorn in the path of Betty Nmbball. Their battles were always strenuously and closely fought, but Betty always seemed to emerge victorious during those junior days. Since then, it has been quite a different story. ; . _ xl By dint of hard practice, Dorothy ' has raised her . game to great heights. No amount of tffouble has been too much for her in order that she might bring those skimming 6hots of hers to their present effectiveness. Her first lessons were taken under the care of her brothers on the court at home. They built the foundations upon which she has since climbed. Soon it was apparent that th,ey could'teach her nothing More, so she was placed in the care of a near by professional. His hard Work had its results too, and, with increasing confidence in her shots, Dorothy began to carve a. niche for herself in the ranks, of the seniors. More coaching lay Dan Maskell, under the auspices of the English Lawn Tenliis Association, and select ion for the Wightman Cup team in 1931 and 1933 presented her with two trips to America. It was the constant practice / under varying conditions that consolidated her game and brought out the good results started by her brothers years before. To-day, Dorothy stands on top of the world in women's lawn tennis. Success has not changed her. She has her ideals, and has stuck to them throughout. For the first time in many years •we have an English girl as champion of Wimbledon, and it is a fitting gesture that her first appearance abroad since showld be on British soil. t 7 Our other two ,players are always so much together and so friendly that they can almost' be said to be as "thick asi thieves." Nancy Lyle and Evelyn Dearman have combined to make one of the strongest women's doubles in the world. Each has many good singles performances to her credit, while Nancy Lyle can boast a Victory over the redoubtable Madam«» Mathieu—a victory gained in the south of France last jrear. Ambition Achieved

Evelyn Dearman has always been regarded as a fine player —her junior record would bear comparison with any in-England. She played but little for a year or so after leaving junior ranks, with the result tjbat her singles effort* did not meet with enough success to gain her a place in the English rank-

ing. However she and Nancy Lyle have practised together for some considerable time nowj and the hard work •"phey have put in 011 their doubles tactics has reaped it 3 reward. Each has now achieved her ambition in playing

in the Wightman Cup team. The confidence gained by this recognition, \ coupled with the good practice they Nrill have' on this tour, should make the team of Dearman-Lyle one to be even more feared' than it is to-day. Nancy Lyle hails from a family keenly interested in lawn tennis. She herself has always been very eager to make good and repay her family for r the chance they have given her. She has worked hard to perfect each shot in "turn, and has 'a forehand drive with t a natural sharp angle across the court •—a great asset for doubles. She has also perfected the drop-shot for singles, as many 'of her opponents have learned to their chagrin I To watch these two charming girls play is a revelation, as they possess an amazing understanding jof each other's game. . , We have with us three great players and three most personalities. New Zealand and Australia will like them. : ■ ■ . =