LAWN TENNIS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23006, 8 October 1936, Page 4

LAWN TENNIS

By Smash Practically all the clubs in Dunedin have now disposed of the opening day formalities- and the season may be said to be well under way. A start will be made with the interclub matches on Saturday afternoon, the Competitions Committee having addressed itself to the formidable task of arranging courts and making the draw. INTER-CLUB MATCHES In this year's inter-club • competitions 66 teams are engaged, representing about 500 players, compared with 69 teams last year. The numbers of teams in the various grades' are as follows:—A Grade, men, 8; A Grade, ladies, 7; Intermediate Grade, No. 1 section, 8; Intermediate Grade, No. 2 section, 7; Bl Grade, 10; B2 Grade, 10; CI Grade, 8; CII Grade, 8. The main alteration in the rules governing, matches, the draw for which appears elsewhere in this issue, is that in future Intermediate matches will be played on the following basis: —Men's singles, women's singles and men's doubles, best of 17 games; women's doubles and mixed doubles, best of 13 games. The effect of this alteration, is that women's singles matches are increased from best of .13 games to best of 17 games, and the mixed doubles are reduced from best'-of 17 games to best of 13 games. ,v, ■ •'A Grade and Intermediate matches will commence at 1 o'clock, and all other grades at 1.30 p.m. Punctuality Is desirable in all cases. * Men's matches in the A Grade competition are the best of three sets; the third set only being an advantage set. Women's matches are the best of three sets; all "short sets.. The competitions will- open on Saturday afternoon with'the- Intermediate, Bl and.Cl matches.' : -■':'■.;'.} '..* THE PROVINCIAL LADDER Amplications are', now-being received for "the. provincial' ladder,, and will close.'with- Mr T. Grimsdale at the Sports -Depot 6n ;! Oct6ber. 17. The ladder :wUJ; be open.for challenges on Monday, October 19. /.;•.' . ' ' • (". CUP .TOURNEY ; The M'Millan Cup .Yankee Tournament; .one Qf ithe' feature 'events, of .the earl*-? pari of thetseason, will be played on' Saturday, October 21: , It will again be run'ih,three sections, onthe'same system as proved; so "popular last year. , ' • ~ \.. I CLUB ''NOTES: ■ f. ,?■}■ Practically 100 per Cent.: of the clubs affiliated'to the'association paid their levies last year—a very satisfactory record:' A remarkable feature of-the opening of the Roslyn Lawn Tennis Club's thirty-third season on Saturday afternoon was the presence of three of the original members—Mr R. S. Black (president). Mr A. C. M'George and Mr E. H. Calder. The gathering was attended by over 80 people, and a tournament was conducted during the afternoon, so that everyone could enjoy a game. 'Court's .-arid surroundings were in: excellent .order/; and the president, in the course of his remarks, requested the assistarice.of,members in building an adequate^pavilion, which; Mr Black stated, would materially "enhance the facilities-'. at 'present possessed by the Club. -. : ,'i, !! ''..i-.: ■• ■/■' ■ .., ■' '''

. Keen interest' on the part of members and"'friends, was reflected in an attendance of over 80 persons at the Moana Club's ■ twenty-sixth opening day on Saturday. In the course of his remarks the president'.(Mr F.'H. Campbell) mentioned that' the club had had only "one; wet opening day during-the •past 20-years.. ■>■ Mr Duthie, oh.behalf of the association; congratulated the intermediate/team on .winning the banner last "year;; and wished, the club every success in the coming season. A liberal display of bunting and the presehce-of .well over 100 members •and friends made the opening of the .St,.Clair Club on Saturday afternoon a festive occasion. The president (Mr C. F. Fowler) referred to the proposed additions and improvements to the pavilion, and requested ther co-opera-tion of members 'in-this .project. He remarked on. the satisfactory, financial position of the. club, which,.:in;the 19 years of its existence, had.reduced a liability of £I2OO to ;less ~than £IOO. Another notable point was .that for 12 consecutive years the i club had not had any outstanding subscriptions, a tribute to the efficiency ,ol Its management. Following the opening ceremony, officials had a busy time arranging games on the. five,courts for the large crowd present. A successful day was .brought to a close, by the holding of a well-attended dance at night. While speaking, of well-managed clubs, the case of Waimana comes to mind. About two years ago, to tide it over a difficult period, this club took up a debenture of £IOO in the association, and ; already, as a result- of capable financing, it has been able to pay off.a good'proportion of. the debenture fund. The membership of Waimana'jhas been increasing to such an .extent-' that the club has made application ;. for, the use Of a third court at Logan. Park, -and it is understood that the associationMs Willing to grant the request. .',-.., It is indicative of-the growth of the game in Dunedin that inquiries have been made by two clubs for court accommodation at Logan Park. One of these clubs has been formed by a wellknown local firm which already has a badminton club, and is. believed to be the first business concern to launch a lawn tennis club.

NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIPS After no little argument the New Zealand championships have been de•finitely t all6tted to the 'South Canterbury Association, and will be held at Timaru from December 30 to January 5. The secretary of the New Zealand Association (Mr H. N. Burns) recently visited Timaru, and on'his return to Wellington he reported that the courts and facilities available for players and spectators at Maori Park were adequate. One matter of interest arising out of this year's championship,is a Wellington remit to be considered at the next quarterly meeting of the council proposing that the number of entries in championship events should be limited as follows:—Men's singles, 32; ladies' singles, 16; men's doubles, 16; ladies' doubles, 16; mixed doubles, 16. This is a rather revolutionary proposal both from its effect on the game and its probable results on the finances of the governing body. A limitation of entries not only means a reduction of entry money, but it means the probable exclusion of young, promising players.who are working up to championship class and to whom tournament play is of the greatest value from the viewpoint of experience. Moreover, the basis of choosing the 32 "select" Singles' players and the 16 " select" pairs would appear to present considerable difficulty and could not but cause a good deal of dissatisfaction. The proposal is' not likely to find favour, and, indeed, does not seem to have much to commend it, at the present time, at any rate. At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Association the following motion' bearing on the method of making entries was carried:—" That all entries from New Zealand players for the New Zealand lawn tennis championships be made by the association of which the competitor is a member, subject to the right of any excluded player to appeal to the Management Committee of the New Zealand Association." The effect of this regulation will be that all local players who intend playing in the championships at Timaru will be required to forward their entries through the local association.

FOOTWORK AND RHYTHM Discussing the value of footwork and rhythm in stroke production, a northern writer states:—W. T. Tilden, probably the greatest genius the courts have produced, breaks many rules of classical style, but has great speed of foot and unlimited power at his command. His powerful drives start from his feet and ripple up through his

back and shoulder muscles and through his arms to his wrists and the racket. He generates great power with very little apparent effort.

F. J. Perry is a genius in a way, with a lightning quick eye, and anticipation which enables him to hit the ball sooner on the rise than anyone else has ever done. In this way he gains that fraction of time which is the vital factor in almost every rally. He just lacks that fullness of rhythm in his stroke which marks Tildens game. Suzanne Lenglen is the female counterpart of Tilden. At her peak she had a superb grace of movement which caused people to come from miles round to watch her—a great many of whom had no knowledge of tennis as a game. ) PERRY'S DEFEATS THIS SEASON The victory scored by J. Budge, the Am'erican Davis Cup player, over Fred J. Perry, the world's champion player, in the final of the recent Pacific Southwest lawn tennis tournament was not the first registered against the famous Englishman this season. In an exhibition match at Rye, New Yofk, last month, Frank Parker beat Perry, 6—3, 6—2. In a doubles exhibition at the same place Parker and Budge defeated Perry and Allison 6—4, 6 —3. 6—2. NEWS OF THE PROFESSIONALS It will be October 15 before a decision is reached on the visit to Australia of Ellsworth Vines and W. T. Tilden. By then it is possible that one or two other leading players will have joined the professionals. Fred Perry, the present world champion, whose many stirring encounters with Vines in 1932 and 1933 are still fresh in the memory, would be the greatest attraction. Donald Budge would be another attractive candidate. Those who remain amateurs until October 15 in the United States are eligible for national ranking. Since this date has been named by Vines as the time for then; decision in regard to the Australian tour and as the time for the "new professional developments," it would seem that some high ranking Americans are contemplating a change of status. New blood is essential to the touring troupes of tennis professionals. It is also necessary that the new players should have a high world or national ranking, hence the delay until October 15. . Perry was reported to have received an offer of approximately £15.000 a few weeks ago for a series of matches with Vines. Tilden and Vines are particularly keen to secure Perry, for besides being the only player to have scored three consecutive wins at Wimbledon since the Great War, Perry has that personality and temperament which is the very life-blood of professional exhibitions. There are several reasons to believe that Perry will turn professional. He has stated, however, that while Great Britain retains the Davis Cup he would not change his status. His plans, as announced shortly after the Davis Cup challenge round, included a holiday of one month at Hollywood after the American championships, and then a tour ot Australia and the Far East before his return to England. Actually, Donald Budge is the only really attractive player for professional exhibitions among the leading. American amateurs. There has, however, been no talk of Budge turning professional. Perhaps the most important reason w.hy Budge would not change his status at this juncture is that he is on the threshhold of major world honours. Bryan Grant, the diminutive player from Atlanta, might be sought, for his spectacular retrieving and mannerisms have a great appeal to galleries. The delayed decision seems significant, and Australia is sure to watch developments closely. HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR TENNIS You will notice an immediate improvement in your tennis play if you use the new ball which has set a world standard for accuracy and entire consistency. This new ball is the 1937 Dunlop Fort, and owes its increased service and playing life to a super felt, the discovery of Dunlop Ask for the new ball at' any leading sports dealer.—Advt