LAWN TENNIS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22710, 24 October 1935, Page 4

LAWN TENNIS

By Smash

Untimely showers early on Saturday afternoon interfered seriously with the competitions, and on some courts play was rendered entirely impossible. As a result the report of one C Grade match and several union games did not make a very brave showing in Monday's paper. M'MILLAN CUP TOURNEY As the first of the association's jubilee celebrations a special feature is to be made of the M'Millan Cup Mixed Doubles tournament this year. * The tourney is to be held at Logan Park on November 30, and entries, which must be made through club secretaries, will close on November 25. The competition is to be run in three grades —the first grade comprising A Grade players, second grade intermediate, 81, and 811 Grades, third grade CI and CII Grades. Mr M'Millan has presented prizes valued at £1 Is to the winning pair of each grade, and it is proposed that the winners of the three grades be rehandicapped and play off for the M'Millan Cup. Under this system it is felt that all players will have an equal chance of not only being the winners of their grade, but will also have an opportunity of winning the M'Millan Cup. It is to be hoped that the grading of lairs into three grades will be the means of inducing a number of B and C Grade players to take part in the tournament. The entry fee has been fixed at 2s 6d, and balls will be provided by the association. It is understood that from the St. Clair Club alone some 24 players are prepared to enter. FORMER RIVALS After 43 years' service in the employ of the Bank of Australasia, Mr R. N. K. Swanston, manager at Auckland, is about to retire. Before the war he was one of the best-known figures in the lawn tennis world of this country, having been New Zealand Singles champion in 1912, and Doubles champion in 1905 with that great nlayed Harry Parker. Not only that, but he represented New South Wales against Victoria and'Queensland before coming to the "tight little islands." He also represented New Zealand abroad (Australia 1904) and at home (against the victorious British Davis Cup team at Wellington, New Year, 1913). And on at least half a dozen occasions he won the Wellington Provincial Singles Championship. The Auckland Star, remarking that his old friendly enemy, Cecil Cox, has also recently retired from the same service, in which he held the position of manager at Dunedin, reproduces the following vignette of thepair in action in the Wellington Championship at Easter, 1904: " Mr Cox, the ex-champion, is down on the centre court playing with the doughty Swanston. Mr Cox has the intense tennis expression, is thin and wiry and always plays with the indicator ' full speed ahead.' Once he smiled—but that is history. Mr Swanston looks like a footballer. He is a nuggety fellow, with a confident air and a gayer, more debonair expression than the average tennis player. He treads the white-lined courts (in knickers buckled at the knee) like a gladiator rejoicing in his strength, and is not afraid to meet his enemy in the gate." FAMOUS PLAYERS FOR AUSTRALIA At the last monthly council meeting of the New South Wales Lawn Tennis Association it was stated that a visit to Australia from the world's woman lawn tennis champion, Mrs Helen Wills-Moody, was probable. A cable from Henri Cochet, the French professional, stating his terms for a visit to Australia, was also discussed. The terms upon which Mrs Wills-Moody would come to Australia were not disclosed. The secretary (Mr M. H. Marsh) said that he Tiad received a private communication which stated that Mrs WillsMoody would make the trip provided satisfactory financial arrangements could be made. Mr Marsh said that he thought Mrs Wills-Moody's wishes might be complied with, and it was decided to notify the Lawn Tennis Association of Australia of the fact. When Cochet's visit was first discussed, Mr Marsh said, some French woolbuyers in Sydney were prepared to help the association, providing £2OO of the £SOO requested by Cochet, who also desires £2 a day extra, travelling expenses excluded. A discussion took place on whether professional tennis in Australia was of a standard high enough fully to extend Cochet. Voting on a motion that Cochet's offer should be declined was even. It was eventually decided that a cable should be sent to Cochet informing him that the proposed visit was still being considered. NOTES The "North Island Championships have been allotted to the Wanganui Association. W. G. Robertson, the well-known Timaru player, has been transferred to Invercargill. He should be a valuable acquisition to the game in that town and will strengthen the Southland representative team. The Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association has decided to give £ls towards the expenses of the three Canterbury members of the women's tennis team which is to visit Australia-this month. E. D. Andrews is the world's most widely travelled lawn tennis player, lie has circled the globe more than once, and prior to the commencement of the trip on which he is now engaged he had visited 26 countries.. -Before it ends he will have added six more countries to his bag—Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Venezuela, Panama and the West Indies. Australia has not held the Davis Cup since 1919. despite many efforts and high hopes. Now Norman Brookes suggests that Australia should not enter for t-hc Cup contest next year, but should concentrate everything on a big bid in 1937. He still p' n s faith on Crawford, Quist, and M'Grath, despite the fact that Crawford is now 27 and not improving and i the other two are the reverse of consistent. A mysterious cable message has been received by the Australian Lawn Tennis Association from the United States, requesting advice of the dates of the Australian and State championships, particularly those in November and December. Although the reason for this unusual request is not known, members of the council hope that it might mean that there is a possibility of American players visiting Australia during the coming season. The 1935-36 lawn tennis championships will be played at Wellington at New Year. It is hoped to make arrangements for some overseas players to be present at the tournament. it is understood that E. D. Andrews will be competing. The present title-holders are as follows:—Men's Singles, F. J. Perry; Ladies' Singles, Miss D. Kicholls; Men's Doubles, F. J. Perry and D. G. France; Ladies' Doubles, Misses

D. Nicholls and N. Beverley; Combined Doubles, F. J. Perry and Miss S. Whittaker. In his report of the tour of the Australian Davis Cup team, the manager (Mr D. P. Turubull) attributed the team's failure to defeat Germany to the close and worrying nature of the tie against France, coupled with the fact that the players had only three days of rest before the tie with Germany. Crawford and M'Grath left Paris very tired and were not in perfect condition on the first day of the tie with Germany. He strongly recommended that the council should take action to guard against two ties being played within such a short period. METHODS IN SINGLES Some time ago a correspondent wrote to " Server," the lawn tennis critic of the Australasian, asking: "What are the various methods a player can adopt to win a singles match? " There are many plans, replied " Server," which a player can endeavour to carry out and which may prove successful. First, there is the method of keeping the

ball in play with good, consistent length and allowing your opponent to make the errors. If you are opposed to a brilliant, hard-hitting player who endeavours to hit winners off almost every ball the tactics mentioned are sound and almost certain to bring success. When endeavouring to adopt this plan you should not try to aim for the sidelines or hit the ball in such a manner that it just clears the net, but rather get the ball back into play at all costs. There is nothing more disconcerting than to play against anyone who keeps returning the ball and retrieving your best shots, but it requires great stamina, determination and concentration successfully to carry out this plan. Another plan of campaign is to endeavour to get the ball out of reach of your opponent by driving fast and deep to the opposite corners of the court. In this respect Jack Crawford and J. 0. Anderson excelled. Anderson would make a terrific forehand drive to one corner and follow it up by another equally hard to the opposite corner, until his opponent was unable to reach the ball, and the effort required to make the recoveries tired him very quickly. _ Now if you are opposed to a good baseline player who is getting the better of you from the baseline or who is passing you as you attack the net, the wise thing is to endeavour to force him to take the net by playing short angled or drop shots. Then the player who possesses a good strong service should always vary his game by following in his service at intervals, for it is far easier to decide the correct shot to play if. you are certain that the server is coming in to the net than if you are in doubt as to his procedure. Of course everything depends on the style of game you are capable of producing and also the characteristics of your opponent's style, for it is absurd to endeavour to carry out some plan which does not suit your own style and which you are incapable of executing. The foundation must be consistent control off both forehand and backhand from the baseline, backed up by brilliance in the fore court. Perry has shown clearly the manner in which control, speed and severity can be successfully moulded in one's game. LAWN TENNIS UNION In common with other summer sports, Saturday's matches wore considerably affected by unfavourable weather conditions. It was pleasing to see some enthusiasts endeavouring to overcome the difficulties by making an effort to play. On the other hand, some teams adopted a very lax attitude by not appearing on the courts set down for play. It would be well to realise that, although weather conditions appear unfavourable in one locality, it is advisable to ascertain conditions on the actual playing court. On Saturday a number of courts appeared to be unsuitable for play at 1.30 p.m., but later these courts dried very quickly to permit play from 3.30. At one particular court four courts were available from 3.15, but unfortunately only one team was in attendance. Clubs are requested to have all unplnyed or uncompleted matches concluded at the earliest possible date. In last weeks notes it was erroneously stated that postponed matches should be completed within seven days. Postponed or uncompleted matches, according to union rules, are to be completed within 14 days. In such cases team captains should come to some definite arrangements as to completion. In the A Grade match on Saturday an incident worthy of comment occurred in a singles match. The score wis live games when one player signalled her inability to continue. In this instance the ruling must be interpreted that the opposing player wins the set 7 —5. If, on the other hand, plav was interrupted through weather conditions or failing light, etc., then the match could be completed or replayed. Clubs are requested to note the following alterations to matches.as outlined in the draw:— B Grade: Ravensbourue v. Kensington, from October 20 to November 9, at Kensington. D Grade: Aotea v. Kensington, from November 9 to j\ovember 23. Owing to the non-completion of Saturday's games, comment will be withheld until next week's notes. The question of what constituted a "permanent fixture" on and near the courts is causing more than one club considerable anxiety. Until the matter is determined, it is suggested that the particular point should be replayed. Hullo! A string gone—take it to GUY'S, LTD., Tennis Specialists, SS George street.—Advt.