BIG TENNIS MEN

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10542, 19 March 1920, Page 8

BIG TENNIS MEN

THE DAVIS CUP PLAYERS MATCHES OPEN TO-DAY: AN INTERESTING INTERVIEW. To-day Messrs A. E. Beamish and A. H. Lowe, the British Isles lawn tennis players, commence their matches at Christchurch. Tho games will bo continued to-morrow, and as both players are feeling in good form soma fine tennis should be witnessed. Both Mr Beamish and Mr Lowe are Londoners by birth, and belong to that sterling type which has done so much to mate England pre-eminent in most types of athletic achievement. Beamish was in Kew Zealand in 1913 with the Dams Cup team, to which also was attached F. G. Lowe, a brother of the present visitor, '"ho is making his first trip to the Dominion. Both held commissions during the w,-ir, Beamish being in the Motor Transport section of the R.A.S.C. and Lowe holding a majority in the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry. ‘•We came out from England, said Mr Beamish to a reporter, “with Colonel Kingscote, who stayed with us as far as Adelaide, and was there, unfortunately, recalled. We were as sorry to lose him as he was to go, he, like most Englishmen, being very keen to see New Zealand. After our Dominion tour we are returning home via Vancouver, but it is not likely tbat we shall get any tennis in Canada, as the season there will be over/’ THE AUSTRALIAN CLIMATE. “How did you enjoy your visit to Australia?” queried the newspaper man. “Well, where shall I start? replied the visitor. “The people were delightfully hospitable, and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay in the various States. Our only complaint against Australia is tho climate.” Here the interviewer pointed out that the English climate was not exactly noted for its clemency. Laughingly conceding the point, Mr Beamish remarked that it was an extraordinary thing that every match arranged in Australia, with the exception of that at Adelaide, had to be postponed for one or two days, as the case might be, on account of heavy rain. “Sydney,” continued Mr Beamish, “is the ideal place for a collection of sportsmen to live. While there Lowe and I stayed at the Royal Sydney Golf Club, at Rose Bay, right on the harbour, and I can assure you we left it with many regrets.” GERALD PATTERSON. Naturally the conversation turned to tennis and tennis players, .and Gerald Patterson, the brilliant young Australian, was the first name mentioned. “Colonel Kingscote and I played Patterson and Brookes .at Sydney recently,” said Mr Beamish. “Patterson is a brilliant player, but at present is as erratic as he is brilliant. There can be no doubt tbat, ultimately, he is going to make a great player. Brookes plays yery well in doubles, but in singles be has not the same dash and speed ha used to have. “Australia, is well off for young players,” said Mr Beamish. “North, Hawkes, Thomas, and O’Hara Wood and others are all good men. Not enough attention, however, appears to be given by the Commonwealth players to ground strokes, but most of the attention is given to net play. This is one of the reasons whw Australians are better players in doubles than the English, who are very sound in ground strokes. Rice, a New South Wales player, is very clever in this class of play.” WONDERFUL SUZANNE LENGLEN. “Have you ever met Mile. Lenglen?” the interviewer next asked. “Tes, I played against her at Nice, on the Riviera, where she lived, in 1918,” replied Beamish. “M. Simon, the well-known referee, arranged the game while I was a convalescent in the Michelin Homo there. Mile. Lenglen plays every stroke in perfect style, and the only thing which prevents her having a man’s proficiency at tennis is the requisite physical strength. She and Mrs Larcombe, an Englishwoman, are the only two ladiee I know who can take their place in men’s doubles, and not cause the play to deteriorate. Back-hand, lob, volley, and over-hand play—in all alike she is proficient. She is the most remarkable lady player. Mrs Lambert Chambers plays tho typical English game, with strong strokes from the base lino.” Here the interview was 'broken short by the entrance of Mr B. Brown, ing, the secretary of tho Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association, with plans for the entertainment of tho visitors. Mr Beamish asked to bo excused from “his torturer,” as ho termed him, and, reluctantly leaving his victim, the inquisitor went in search of Mr Lowe, whom he discovered unpacking his rackets in readiness for ■ a practice game this afternoon. Mr Lowe, had, however; nothing to add, except that ho was very glad to be in New Zealand, and looking forward to his tour. A CIVIC RECEPTION. TEE PRESS ASSOCIATION. CHRISTCHURCH, March 18Messrs Beamish and Lowe were accorded a civic reception to-day. Mr Seay, president of the Canterbury Tennis Association, said that OUivier was playing a fin© game at present, and would put up a good performance against tho British, team, and would, he believed, provide an adequate reply to Norman Brookes’a statement that New Zealand bad no players up to international form.-

“Wo are going to make him chow that,” interjected the Mayor, Dr, Thacker. i