LAWN TENNIS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20288, 22 December 1927, Page 4

LAWN TENNIS.

Bv Smash. The draw- for the New- Zealand championship tournament was published at the end of last week, and was followed by the list of seeded players on Tuesday morning. In the list are included the names of practically all the leading exponents of the game in the Dominion, and with such a litie field contesting the various titles there should be many close and exciting matches. In the men’s singles, for which Ollivier will easily be “ favourite,” the seeded players are Ollivier, D. France, Wilson, Seay, Bartlect, Malfroy, L. France, Laurenson, Patterson, and Peacock. It will thus be seen that Ollivier is placed in the han.-'r half of the draw, his most formidable opponents being Don France, Wilson, and Seay. Lcn France seems the most likely to emerge successfully from the lower half of the draw-, in which case he and Ollivier should meet in the final, as the Christchurch man has only to be in form to win through in his .own section. The indications are that Ollivier will win the title for the seventh occasion, and thus eclipse the record of H. A. Parker. By the way, it may be mentioned that J. C. Peacock has ample claims to be regarded as the veteran of the tournament. He made his first appearance at the championships just on 30 years ago, and in 1000 he won the doubles and the following year the singles title. J. T. Laurenson, who is jjrcll-known in Dunedin, was a very fine player both in doubles and singles some seven or eight years ago, but he has been living in the Waikato district since that time, and it remains to be seen whether he can " come back,” in the parlance of the boxing ring. P. Haege, the Victorian, is a notable absentee, as it was generally expected that ho would be a competitor at the tournament.

The ladies’ single event is not strong numerically, but the calibre of the players engaged will provide plenty of interest. Miss May Spiers will be at home on her own territory, and seems likely to regain the title, whic-h she held in 1923 and 1925. Her most dangerous rivals will be Mrs Adams and Miss Tracy', while Miss Marjorie Macfarlane’s recent practise in England may make her a more formidable contestant than she has been in the past. Miss Tracy does not always reproduce her best form in tournament play', and for that reason the ‘ final is most likely to be played between Miss Spiers and Mrs Adams.

Ollivier and Seay and the Prance brothers are to be fancied for the men’s doubles in that order, though Bartlett and Laurenson would only have to show their best form to make matters interesting for cither of these pairs. Both the Aucklanders play a very vigorous game, and are especially severe on anything loose, especially in the air. Knott and Sturt, the holders, are unlikely to retain tho title, and it docs not seem -probable that Peacock and Wilson, who wore successful in 1925, can defeat a pair like Ollivier and Seay.

Mrs Adams and Miss Tracy seem to be the strongest of the pairs engaged in the ladies' doubles, and it would not be surprising if their opponents in the final are Misses Spiers and Partridge. The mixed doubles should provide some of the most interesting games of the tournament, and in this event the Otago pair, M'Dougall and Miss Pattison, have had the honour of being seeded. D. Franca and Miss Spiers may be expected to put up some big games in defence of their title, and the final stages will most likely see these two, together with Wilson anil Miss Tracy, and L. France and Mrs Adams still in the running. At Wilding Park the courts for the championships appear to be nearly perfect; There is practically no clover shelving.

The Canterbury championships this year will have best of three set finals instead of five sets, as was the case last year.

, In a rcccnt practice game Fulton beat M Dougall, 6—4, I—6, o—4, and followed this up by defeating Bray, 6—2, 6 —3, in a club challenge at Otago. Fulton has gone north to play in the New Zealand and South Canterbury championships. Steadiness at critical moments alone enabled Ivan Seay to defeat K. J. Walker (challenger) in a match for Xo. 1 position on the Canterbury ranking list at United on Monday evening. The score was 4 —6, 7 —5, 6 —3. Both men played well, and Walker at times was brilliant, but he failed at critical moments, while Seay, although not so aggressive as nsuai, was very sure in his handling of ground shots. _ This steadiness was the deciding factor in the game, for it allowed Seay to even the scores when he was trailing, in both the second and third sets. In a close and interesting match, whicn might have gone either way. L. G. Knott recently defeated X. Sturt, 7 —5, 5 —7, C— 4, for the fifth position on the Auckland Association ladder. In the first sot Sturt led 5 —4. Knott's service game was closely contested, deuce being called several times before ho won it, and then he took the next two games for the set. In the second set it was Sturt who staged a recovery. Knott led 5—3 and 30— love, only to lose the next four games. In the deciding set Sturt scored the first game, but Knott then won four in a, row. lie led 5—3. and eventually won at C—4. The following advice on the subject ol placing was recently given by G. Ollivicr, tho New Zealand champion. In view of the approach of tho tournament season it is worthy of careful study“ Many can play correctly from the baseline,” says Ollivie/, “ but very few can handle "a short ball. Lcn Franco is one of tho best. He places the ball back accurately deep to the baseline. His out stroke gives accuracy, but necessarily tho pace is slow. One rule in playing a short ball must bo remembered. Never play the obvious. Play the difficult shot. If the ball is near the side lines and a singles is being played, then play your return along the side lines. It is harder. The net is higher. But no matter It is the shot. This is especially necessary when your return is a reply to a cross-court shot. It is easier to return tho ball cross-court. The net is lower, the length of court available is greater. The racket hitting the ball straight back will mod the hall fairly, while if tho hall is set beck in another direction the path of the racket will bo across the direction of the ball, and this will make the shot harder to time and increase the margin of error. Also tho hall will have spin and there will he a tendency to curl out. Still while these tilings imperil the return, yet the fact remains the difficult shot pays. And this is the reason. Usage has accustomed us to expect a return of a cross-court shot, to come back across court. Therefore wc exnect it there. We are ready waiting, and that is (be reason why the return down the side line is effective. Tt catches us on tho wrong foot, or in anv case, compels a change of position, and success in tennis consists of this one great, thing; Always make your opponent move. A short ball returned down tho side lines has a high not, to go over, and a shorter distance to land in,' and if any speed is to_ ho used ' top ’ is necessary to bring the ball down. As tbe return of a cross-court should bo down (he side lines, to compel.your opponent to move, so everv stroke should have something similar for an object. Hie return of serve should be to the corners. He who first makes his opponent run will win tho stroke. A serve ha? fulfilled its function if it has made the receiver move. There are exceptions to (hi? rule. The reply to the player who make? us move is to anticipate. Brookes never ran after a ball. He made his run almost before the ball had left hi? opponent’? rarkcl. Move a? soon a? possible, get there before the ball. Be (here first. Get the feet right. Pause. Then hit tho ball. That: is"* the ideal for good stroke making.