LAWN TENNIS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13649, 19 July 1906, Page 10

LAWN TENNIS.

Tito British Sports Publishing Company have, just issued their book, "The Strokes and. Science of Lawn Tennis," by that authority Cll the game, P. A. Vaile. Thi.i is tlio t.liii d book that Mr Vaile has written on i;i\vn tennis within two years, yet each one is fresh and original. Mr Vaile's "Kreat La.wn Tennis Players," illustrated by tieorge W. Beldam, v.lie well-known cricketer, was published at 32s 6d; but. the price of this book is 6(1, anil the author his pleasure at having ha<l the opportunity of writing it, as it must have so mmih wider a circulation than his expensive volumes. The book is bound to command attention ami create discussion, as, indeed has everything that Mr Vaile has written about sport. The author a.scerts that the Brothers Dohcrty are the only iirst-cku* player* in. the world who use the holds of the racket they do, and insists strongly that these grips a.ro ruining English lawn tennis He aleo explains clearly by diagram and letterpress how thu champions wcri beaten by Dtuilop and Brookes and Smith and Riseley on account of their wrong formation, and einphasist-s the fact that they abandoned the faulty position when playing the final against the Americans. There aro 7-3 (itiile wonderful illustrations of all strokes, including the American .service, the forehand and back, band drives, and nil modern strokes. The l>ook is gracefnllv dedicator! to the Right Hon. I/ord' Alverstone, ti.O.M.ti., P.C., Lord Chief Jua'ice of England. Mr Vaile's writing lido done lawn tennis in England ar. immense service, and: this book will undoubtedly increase its popularity. The results of the contests for the Championship of England are to hand by cable. In the All Comers' Singles, F. L. Riseley heat A. \V. flare in the final, winning the RcnsHaw Cup and rijiit to challenge the holder, U. I''. Doherty. In the challenge round Uohertv again asserted his supremacy. and retained the title for the fifth year in succession. The only Australasian representative competing this year was A. I''. Wilding, who worked his way through live roundc, but failed to pass the semifinal test in the match against Gore. In the Doubles Championship, Smith and Riscley, the winners of the All Comers' Doubles ldft year, again qualified to challenge the holders, R. F. and H. L. Doherty, and succeeded in breaking the latter's long chain of wins. Tlio Doheriys won the Doubles Championship of England in 1897. and were unbeaten for five years, but in 1902 had their colours lowered by this year's winners, Smith and Riseley. They regained the title in the following year, and held it against all comers for three years, tili another successful bid

by ■Smith and Rieeley wrested il. from their tired grasp. In the Ladies' Singles, Miss D. lv. Douglass regained the Championship of Kng!a.nd bv beating tllo holder, Miss Sutton, of America. In Iho Mixed Doubles Championship, Miss Donglass was associated with A. F. Wilding, of New Zealand. and the pair boat A. W. Gore and Miss Thomson in tile deciding match, reversing last year's result, when Gore and Miss Wilson beat Wilding and Miss Thomson in the final.

A recent, cable conveyed .the intelligence that, A. F. Wilding, of New Zealand, the only Australasian representative at Wimbledlnu this year, after working his way through the All England Championship event to the semi-final stage, had been beaien by the veteran, A. W. Gore, tho "bigoted haseliner." who won bis first prize at- Dinard move than a quarter of a century, ago. In last year's contc-st (says ail eichange), Gore qualified for tho fenli. filial (after beating Wilding, E—6, 6-2, 6 —2), when ho was paesod out by the Victorian champion, Norman Brookes, who beat liini at 6 —3, 9—7, 6—2. Australians wero hopeful that Wilding would be able lo repeat I'rookes's achievement, and annex the second Renshaw Cup. The Incw Zealander has had a remarkable run of success in preparing himself for tho "blue riband" event at- Wimbledon. He toured file Continent, and *:ractically swept the hoard at Wiesbaden. (Germany), Cannes (France), and Barcelona (Spain). On his return to England he captured t-ho tlirco championship events at Heading, but was beaten at Queen's meeting by Gore, after a great struggle, at 4—6.'2-6, 6—o. B—4, 6-3.