LAWN TENNIS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5737, 4 November 1905, Page 15

LAWN TENNIS.

(By “Foot-fault.”) Fixtures for the Shield, Cup, and Pennant competitions, of which the opening matches are to be played next Saturday, will probably be published on Tuesday. Numerous entries, have been received in each class. The same clubs as last year With the exception of Petone, are entering senior teams. Wellington is entering two senior teams. Some, idea of the comparative strength of the senior clubs may be obtained from the following lists of players from whom ihe senior teams will probably lie chosen: —Thorndon A. Young, Swanston, fimytho, H. M. Gore, Slonum, Didebury, Revell. Guy (and possibly H. A. Parker). Mrs Holmes, Misses Gore, Merchant, Botham and Kennedy. Wellington (A team) —Wilson. Brown, McLean, ri Blundell, Cooke, Green (and possibly jf. M. B. Fisher). Misses Travers, Williams, and Ward (2). Brougham Hill—Laisley, Hunter, Hawkins, J. A. B, Howe, Fraser, and Lindsay, Mrs Howe, Misses Nunneley, Ritchie, and Fairolough. Victoria College—Q. S. and D. Prouse, Beero, F.' P. Wilson, Be la Mare, Graham, Gower, and Putnam, Misses Van Stnvoren, Roberts, MacKellar, and Cox. Newtown—West, H. Y. and C. Eedward, Nagle, Brailsford, Grady, Staples, Mrs Grady, Misses Glasgow, Robinson. and I. Christie. It is seen that Wellington has a powerful combination of ladies. Priority in the men's teams depends largely upon whether Thorndon and Wellington have the services of Parker and Fisher respectively. 1 am informed that Wellington's B team will bo well up to senior standard. Handicap tournaments are under way it the Newtown, Brougham Hill, and Wellington courts. Finis of the Brougham Hill—Thorndon dispute;—The committee of the Thorndon Club has decided to take no further action. This decision shows either generosity or satiety of squabbles; for it was quite' competent for the club to refuse to recognise the last letter from the Wellington Association (awarding tho dispute to Brougham Hill) on the ground that it had previously received what purported to be the decision of the English Association, awarding the appeal to Thorndon. Happily no objection was raised. After its recent vigorous protest against tho procedure adopted by the New Zealand Aas-ciati-n in forwarding an appeal to the English governing body, tho Wellington Association will not leava the

matter there unless it is willing to risk being charged with lack of spine. It hus not boon disputed by the m r >st ardent supportore of the Now Zealand Association s cause that the principle of bonding home a one-sided statement of tho case and oi receiving a statement from a club otlioiwieo than through tho affiliated Association was wrong. There was no defence; fho exposition of wrong-doing was simply ignored, and tho aggrieved affiliated Association was "directed,’’ with a threat of force, to bow to the sovereign will tho Now Zealand Association. Now that tho sovereign will has been carried out, however, it ia juet possible that the autocracy which governs tennis in the colony may bo induced to consider a huinbl© petition for a constitution that will bp binding on the sovereign body itself: it may even possiblv issue an imperial ukase promising reforms such cs equality to all in the process of the law. At any rale, it is worth agitating for, R. Lycott. late of Thorndon Club, is winning fame as a doubles player in v ictoria. Partnered hv .1, C. Blair, who was champion of South Australia in 1903. lio won the Metropolitan Championship at Melbourne. Tho pair defeated C. \ . Heath and R, W. Heath in tho Romi-finnl and in the final defeated T. Tatchell and A. Campbell, 5—7, 3—6, 6 —2, 6—2, fi— o. The deciding match, says tho "Age, provided the'most brilliant game of the season. Tatcholl carried everything before him in tho first two sets, but Blair and Lycott made a great recovery, and evened tho score in tho hardest hitting game ot tho year. Tho first two games ot tho dopining set went to Tatchell and Campbell, hut at tho 3-2 stag© Blair and Lycett ran out in a winning sequence ot four games. This is the Erst championship Blair and Lycott have won in Victoria. Lycott again distinguished himself last week in an exhibition match in which ho was pitted against A. W. Dunlop, who recently returned to Melbourne from Eng. land. A doubles match—best three out of five sets—was arranged between Dunlop, partnered by R. W. Heath, tho doubles champion of South Australia, and the provincial champion. ‘l’. Tatchell, partnered bv R Lycett. Dunlop demonstrated "how wo beat tho favourites," tho Dohertys, in England- but his best efforts were frustrated by the powerful driving on tho part of Lycett. who is rapidly qualifying ns the best doubles player in Australia. The outcome of a prolonged tussle was a win for Tatchell and Lycott by 7—5. 4—6, 6—3, 2—6. 6—4. The annual interstate matches, Victoria V. Now South Wales, and Victoria v. South Australia, are to be held on the 18th and 20th lust. It has been decided to use Llazcngor’s (not Ayres’s) balls at the meeting. Norman Brookes, of Victoria, won the Eastbourne championship in England, defeating F. L. Riseloy iu tho semi-final (C — 3, 6—3, 6—l), and S. 11. Smith in the final (B—6, 6—4, 6—2). Brookes and another Victorian, Murphy, won the Doublets Championship, At Christchurch recently A. Borrows beat W. Goss for the championship of tho Linwood Club. 6—l, 6-y3, 6-3. Aiken defeated R. D, Harman in the final for tho championship of the Cranmer Club by 3 sots to 1. Miss Way G. Sutton, champion ladyplayer of the world, writes in the "Sunset Magazine” an interesting article on "How I Play Tennis." The general remarks with which the article opens are good. They are given below. On the other hand, her description of strokes, with the accompanying advice are of a rather mixed character; even allowing for the fact that tho game best adapted to women is in some respects different from the men s game, many of her statements are very debatable. In fact, the latter part of tho article (which must be reserved for future publication) is an example of how little some of the best players can tell you about the science of the game. HOW I PLAT TENNIS. (By May G. Sutton.) It is a fact. I take it, that there is a knack of playing tennis, and that not every one is bom with the trait. But it is quite as certainly a fact that love of the game, practice, and an aim to succeed | at it have made ninety-nine, first-rate players where natural ability has made ono. lam satisfied that any girl who is strong enough to play a set of tennis without resting continually can learn it she will to play a first-rate .game.' Ido not know it all. I do not even think that I do. But tournament play gives one more experience than mere pleasure games, and I believe that I would be counted stupid if X did not know something of how to learn to play tennis and what not to do. I would not like to guarantee that every girl who reads this articio will go out next year or in ten years and win the national or even a local championship. But I think she will get more pleasure from her tennis and bring up the standard of her game. In the first place, tennis, like all other sports, requires a certain measure of physical strength and fair health. X never did much training in my life. Before the championshin matches an Philadelphia X prepared myself to bo in perfect health and was very careful to eat regularly and of wholesome food. I have always been in oood condition, and able to stand the hardest sort of tenuis at a moment’s notice. I think the reason for this is that 1 eat carefully, sleep soundly, and at least nine hours a day, and that I spend much time out of doors. If a girl is naturally weak, she would, of course, have to begin with a small amount of play, and then some light exercise, say a walk of a mile or so. I walk a great deal, not because I need it, but because I like it. But I think that if I were not as strong as I am I would choose walking as the best possible exercise to gain strength. Begin easily and do not try bo learn too much at once. The first thing, of course, is to hold the racket properly, and until this is mastered it is not much use to try fancy strokes. Tho racket should be hold never farther than an inch from the end. and never with two hands. If you allow yourself to support the racket with the second hand on anv sort of stroke you will get into a habit hard to break. Hold,the racket firmly, but do not tire your hand with a hard stiff ■ grip. Tennis is preeminently a graceful game, from first to A strong service is only a matter of much practice. There are some players that never acquire an efficient serve, and only a few who can hope to win points infallibly with their serve. Content yourself first with getting the ball over the net and into the proper court, then gradually you will find yourself able to put more strength and speed into your serve and to sand the hall closer each time to tho top of the net. The lower a ball is served the greater the angle it makes in rebounding, of course, and the more difficult it is to return. Now you are well into the game. There are balls to he returned, and not only that, but to be returned where it is as hard as possible for your opponent to reach them. Girl’s tennis is often referred to in tho newspapers as "ding-dong” play, that is, tennis made up of long rallies in which both players are content merely with getting the ball back In any way whatsoever. In fact, there are very few girls who can come up toward the net and volley or smash the ball. But the young player should always endeavour to place the ball she returns in such a way that her opponent will have difficulty in reaching it. This serves n double pnrposa—flpst making it probable that the ball will bo missed entirely or else sent out of court; and secondly, that in recovering tho opponent will have hard work to return the hall when you send it back to her a second time.