A CHAMPION TENNIS PLAYER

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6871, 15 July 1909, Page 4

A CHAMPION TENNIS PLAYER

MR HORACE RICE. Local lawn tennis enthusiasts, have, had in their midst during the past week a renowned player in Mr Horace Ilice, of Sydney, who is now on a visit to Dunedin, and will remain for a lew days (writes the “ Otago Daily limes ). iVLr nice holds a leading position among Australian tennis champions. Ho had beaten H. A. Parker on the last three occasions on which they have met in public, and, next to Brookes and Wilding, can safely lay claim to the title ot the finest player in Australasia. He has played for New’ South Wales in twenty-one out of the forty-two inter-State matches against Victoria; he has captained the - Now South Wales team in the last ten matches; he has carried off the Single 'Championship of New South Wales on three occasions, of Victoria and Queensland twice, the Metropolitan Singles in Sydney .nine times, the Double Championship of New South Wales sis times, the Double Championship of Queensland twice, and the Metropolitan Doubles in Sydney five times. His most recent achievement was to secure the Single and Double Championships of Wellington at the last Easter tournament. Mr Rice has now seen a good deal of play in New Zealand, and he is not without hopes of it. The material is there,- but there are lacking two or three’ essentials to the making of a first-class player. He considers, in fact, that the standard of play, has deteriorated during the past six years. Among the reasons for that, he considers. ho stated in an interview with a ‘.'Times” reporter-yesterday, that, for one thing. New Zealand players are far too reckless. They hit too hard 'at everything, and their play lacks judgment. Thev want to use their hoads a little mere. ' One thing they ceuld study to advantage is the alow drop, instead of cultivating which there was a general tendency to smash. A great deal more was required than B‘rength and pace, and the sooner Was realised the better. “ Another matter which nhycg liereshniit] pivo study to,” said Mr Rice, “is ucsi-t-'om X have noticed that after playing the hall they stand still, and make no attempt to calculate the whereabouts of'their opponent's return. It irery often happens that, as a result of istahdihg after they have played, they inre too late to reach the return.. iFurrher. plavers here, as a whole, are 'not half keen enough. The game

needs constant, intelligent practice, ant! for those wno play m tournament! real hard training. To bring about improvement there is nothing like single play. Everyone should get as much oi it as possible. As to practice —why,, this is just ideal weather 1 Some of your players say, ‘Oh, it la too cold! ’ The climate could not he bettor suited to the game—very much better than the heat of Australia, i have met most of the prominent players in Dunedin, and there is some good matoiial amongst 'them. They have vho faults I have outlined, but/ with more experience and close study of the game should develop into very good players. The ladies of New Zealand seem to play more vigorously than they do in Australia, i'robuuly the climate has a'good deal to .do with it, as they have a better physique .than the Australians.” Referring to the Davis Cup, Mr Rice thinks that, with Brookes and Wilding to defend it, it may bo held in Australasia for a time. England would have a good chance, for the cup if her best team were to come out, but ho considered that there are a ■good manv difficulties in the way. Mr Rice stated, in conclusion, that he” was going to. make an earnest endeavour to get a Now South Wales team to visit New Zealand. It only wanted two or threo to come forward and a team was practically assured. It would mean a great deal to New Zealand tennis, and ho considers there is every prospect of New Zealand receiving an early visit from a New South Wales combination.