LAWN TENNIS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22520, 14 March 1935, Page 4

LAWN TENNIS

By Smash. FIXTURES March 16.-—Otago v. Eastern Districts, at Dunedin. , March 16.—Otago v. South Otago, at Balclutha. „ , March 16.- —Otago v. Vincent Sub-associa-tion, at Clyde. . . . Auckland Lawn Tennis Association, Easter. Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association, Easter. Otago Lawn Tennis Association, Easter. OTAGO v. MANIOTOTO Though Otago sent a fairly strong side to Ranfurly on Saturday the Maniototo representatives proved too ami gained a very substantial victory. While the success of the country team was mainly due to the prowess of the ladies, the men also boro their shave splendidly and altogether there was ample evidence that 4he standard of play in the Maniototo district has reached a very high level indeed. For Otago Pearce, Ross, and Morrow registered straight-set vietories in the Men’s Singles, and J. Least, Halsted, and Mathewson evened matters by winning their matches for Maniototo. Mathewson defeated Smith in one of the longest matches of the day, the last set of which went to 26 games. The Maniototo ladies gave a very attractive display in all their matches, winning each of the six Singles. Otago was, of course, not represented by anything like its full strength in this department, but Miss Jolly. Miss Walker, and Miss Edwards, who are all A Grade players, went down respectively to Miss Peterson, Miss Scoullar and Miss Slater. Some interesting Doublets play was seen during the afternoon and the Leask brothers, in particular, recorded a meritorious performance when they defeated Pearce and Falconer in straight sets — 6—2, 6—3. Halstead and Simonsen accounted for Smith'and Morrow, also in straight sets. Halstead was very effective in the air and Simonsen placed well and made some excellent recoveries. Otago’s only success in this event was that secured by Ross and Phillipps. The Mixed Doubles were, evenly divided and the success of Ross and Miss Edwards in this event, in which they defeated J. Leask and Miss Morgan 9 —7, gave the Anderson’s Bay player his third win for the day. FORTHCOMING MATCHES Otago will have no fewer than three teams in the field next Saturday, when town and country will try conclusions at various points. The Logan Park courts will be occupied with-a match against the representatives of the Eastern Districts; at Balclutha, Otago and South Otago will meet; and at Clyde, a match will take place with the representatives of the Vincent Sub-association. The effort to encourage the "game in the smaller centres is much appreciated by the local associations, and if the present system is continued for a few years the standard of piay should be raised throughout the province.

SHIELD AND CASKET MATCHES Arrangements are at present in train for challenge matches against Canterbury for the Wilding Shield and Nunnely Casket, and it is probable that these fixtures will replace the annual contest between Canterbury and Otago. The suggested date is March 30, and nominations are already to hand from South Canterbury, North Otago, and Southland, so that there would seem to be a good deal of keenness in what ,is known as the Southern Zone. The shield and casket holders are very formidable teams and the southern group can scarcely hope to gain possession of either trophy, but the match certainly seems to be well worth while as a trial of strength and as a means of gaining experience against the type of game played in Christchurch. NOTES The programme of events for the. Easter tournament will shortly be distributed to club secretaries. Entries will close on April 9 and the draw will be made on the following; day. There is likely to be a greater demand than ever this year for reserved seats at Wimbledon. The championship meeting will be held on June .24 and following days. The application list for season tickets for the general public for the centre court and No. 1 court is now open, and so far as the centre court is concerned it closed on Monday, February 4. Prices remain the same as last year. Summarising recent lawn tennis events in Australia, a Melbourne critic said;— One of the most pleasing features from a national point of view was the several defeats inflicted on the British Davis Cup Doubles pair, Perry and Hughes. Should we reach the challenge round this year whoever represents us in the Doubles rubber will take the court with much more confidence on that account than has been the case during the last few seasons. “Gottfried Yon Cramm will succeed F. J. Perry as amateur lawn tennis champion of the world this year.” Thus (says (he London Daily Telegraph) forecasts Tilden in one of those sweeping statements for which he is famous in the tennis world. “Yon Cramm will sweep everything before him this season,” adds Tilden. “He will even surpass Crawford. the best amateur on the courts today.” So Tilden goes on. To the American, Yon Cramm and Crawford are “ the only first-class amateurs left.” The rest, we are solemnly assured, have been ruined by the terrific tension under which they play to-day. E. L. Bartleet, the reigning Auckland champion and, according to F. J. Peri'y, the best jilayer in the Dominion, is at the head of the Auckland ladder. He has played three matches. He occupied first place when the ranking list was declared, but at the end of November he was challenged by N. G. Sturt, to whom he lost 4 —6, 4 —6. He was then challenged by M. M. Morrison, whom' he beat in a very curious match. Morrison took the first set 7 —5, but Bartleet then struck a patch and won 12 games in a row. Bartleet challenged Sturt and regained his position at the top of the ladder, winning the match 6 —2, 3 —6, 6 —2.

NEW LAWN TENNIS VOLUME A compact little volume entitled “ How to Improve Your Tennis,” embodying in the main a series of articles on this subject which he contributed to the Sydney Referee, has just been published bv Mr A. V. Doyle, a woll-kuown Australian critic. Chief attention is paid to such aspects of the game as timing, stroke production, the half-volley, playing the rising ball, footwork, and courtcraft; and in dealing with each of these subjects the author reveals himself as a close student of the technique of the game, especially in its modern developments. An ing, if somewhat controversial view, is expressed regarding the second service. “It is not an enormity.” says the writer, “ to servo a double fault, provided that it is caused by the server trying to deliver a severe second service. I disagree with the old-fashioned idea that any sort of service is better than a fault, and 1 strongly urge young players to cultivate a strong second service.” Great stress is also placed by Mr Doyle on the art of timing, in which correct footwork, and a free follow-through play so important a part. While the hook is mainly designed to meet the needs of young players, it contains many authoritative directions which will be found no less valuable by those who have passed the beginner stage. It is published in a neat edition by Messrs Angus and Robertson, of Sydney, at a cost of half a crown. WHAT IS AN AMATEUR? Professional lawn tennis has arrived, and the position it has achieved a popular entertainment (writes E. J. Sampson in the Manchester Guardian) is in no little measure due to that good showman “ Bill ” Tilden. He it was who saw the real possibilities, who correctly gauged the appetite of the public for this variety of the game. The appetite remains unappeased; it is indeed actually growing. We have assimilated American music. American kinema films, and American slang. Are we now to assimilate American professional tennis, and if so what will be its effect on Wimbledon? There is not much danger of Wimbledon’s being mined. The L.T.A. will not cut its own throat; the ban on receiving money from kiuema companies will be

lifted. When the writing on the wall is large enough the 1.. L'.A. will swallow its pride. It certainly is an elastic body, a few weeks ago endeavouring to tighten the rule against players writing on the game for money, then permitting it, and now prepared to allow working for films. Still we arc left with that conundrum. « What eaxtely is an amateur '! ”nr ‘‘ When is an amateur nut an And the answer “ Nine times out of ten? ”