LAWN TENNIS

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 5474, 31 December 1904, Page 14

LAWN TENNIS

(By “Foot Fault.”) Hie Wellington representatives again secured the championship banner at the New Zealand Association’s tournament held at Dunedin during the past week. Wellington players were also conspicuous in the finals of some of the handicap events. H. Ai. Parker (Thomdon) was neveir extended in the championship singles until he encountered his club-mate Lycett in the semi-final. He retained the championship by winning an easy victory over Borrows in the final. Parker dropped out of the handicap singles on Wednesday. With Lycett as partner in the championship doubles he had little difficulty in winning the event for Wellington. Certainly the pair lost one set to White and Salmond (Otago’s best) in the third round, but they won the next three sets and match. In the final they defeated the Brown brothers (Dunedin), 6—4, 6—2, 6—2. The title of Parker and Miss Nunneley as combined doubles champions was not seriously challenged until the final with Lycctt and Miss. Powdrell. This was certainly the match of-the meeting; the score (6 —3, 3—6, 7—5) shows that it was “anyone’s game” right to the finish. ' B. Lycett (Thomdon) has shown that he is not only a doubles player of the first-class., but one of the colony’s' best in a singles match. His performance against Parker (the latter winning, 3—6, 6—-2, 6—3, 6—3) was thoroughly creditable. In the combined championshin with Miss Powdrell he played up to fdrm, and his smashing contributed largely to make the game a brilliant one. V. Cacbemaille (Thomdon) was put out of the championship singles in the second round by Harraway, of Dunedin. He reached the semi-final in the handicap, when he succumbed after a close contest to another Dunedin man, Friedlander. Cacbemaille and P. Jackson

(Petone) are to be congratulated upon their doubles play; in the second round of the championship they were beaten by White and Salmond (Otago), 6—3. 6—3, 6—2. Jackson and Cachcmaille were run-ners-up for the handicap doubles; they were defeatd in the final by Penn and Cowper (Christchurch). P. Jackson (Petone) met B. Brown (Otago University champion) in the first round of tho championship singles; he was beaten after a hard tussle, 6—2, 6—3, 7—5. In the handicap ho met tho same opponent in tho second round and was again conquered by the narrow margin of 70 points to 68. Mias Powdrell, of Patea (holder of the Wellington provincial ladies’ championship) has proved the most capable lady player from this district. In the championship singles she won a set against the champion. Miss Nunneley and came within an ace of winning the match. Again, in the combined doubles, with Lycett her play was remarkably brilliant; “the finest exhibition of ladies’ mixed doubles play ever seen in tho colony” is the opinion of an eye-witness. Miss Van Staveren (Victoria College) was beaten in the second round of the singles championshin by Miss Jamieson, 6 —3, 5—7, 6—4. With Miss J. Glasgow (Newtown), as partner she played another three-set match in the ladies’ championship doubles, being beaten by Misses Bauchop and Campbell (Dunedin), 2 —6, 6—l, 6 —-2. Miss Van Staveren was one of the most successful handicap players competing in the tournament. In the 'final of the singles she was 'beaten by Miss Nicholson, of Christchurch; with Miss M. 0. Ross (Taita) she reached the semi-final of the ladies’ doubles; she was successr ful in the combined handicap doubles with a Dunedin partner. Ward. Miss F. G. Roberts (Victoria College) was beaten by Miss Powdrell in the first round of tho championship singles. Miss Roberts and Bliss Glasgow reached the third round of the handicap doubles. Bliss J. Glasgow (Newtown), played into the second round of the handicap singles. Mrs 6. N. Goldie (Brougham Hill) was beaten in tho championship singles by the Dunedin champion, Miss Campbell. Miss I. Ross (Taita) played into the third round of tho handicap singles when she was beaten by the winner of the event, Bliss Nicholson. In the same round Miss M. O. Ross was beaten in an advantage game by Miss Van Staveren. Bints for the Service.—The following hints will be found useful whatever service is adopted. Tho ball should be served not into the middle of the opponent’s court, but to either side: generally it is better to serve to his backhand. It is a mistake to sacrifice accuracy to pace in serving; The hall should not be served as fast as possible if the server intends to follow up to the net. An effective surprise may bo sprung on an opponent by serving the second ball as hard as the first; some American players make a rule of doing so. When once the hall has been thrown up the eye should not be taken off it. Car© should be taken not to throw the ball up too much in front of the body, if this is done, the player will have to reach forward, thus spoiling his pace and direction. The body should bo “sideways on” to the net and should swing in unison with the arm and racquet. When running in on the service it is advisable to get: into a well-bal-anced posture before the return comes, so as to he able to get in a good volley whether forehand or backhand; on the other hand it is necessary to run in with sufficient speed to get within a few yards of the net to receive the return. • It is fatal to stop short about the service line, since that is one of the worst places at > which to take a return.