BY RACQUET.

Otago Witness, Issue 2803, 4 December 1907, Page 63

BY RACQUET.

Miss Bak^r, who played fox the New) South Wales ladies' team in the champion* ship tournament in Chrietchurch at Christmas, intends taking part in the New Ply* mouth tournament this year. There iB some degree of truth, in the faofc that the Dohertys are likely to visit Aus) tralia for the Davis Cup competition next year. Already people outside tennia circles are talking 1 about it, and no doubt such a visit would load to a large increase in the followers o* the game. The foot-fault rule is being broken All over the world. The rule is divided into two parts— both feet must be behind the line, and players must not take a running or a walking start. It is frequently hard to decide whether the moving-start part of the rule is being broken, but that part which provides that both feet must bei behind the line should give little troußle. to enforce. It is claimed by many that no player should be foot-feulted unless by an umpire for that line : but as line umpires cannot be provided for all matches the central umpire is required to take all lines, and he would certainly be more competent to decide whether a server's feet; aro behind a line th-in whether a faat« travelling ball is in or out. On dit that the Crown Prince of Sweden! gave another proof of his interest in lawntennis when he invited the foreign com-* petitoro in the international tournament at Stockholm la3t month to dine with him at the royal residence. On previous occa* > Grions when players from abroad have visited Stookholm the Crown Prince has. given a dinner in their honour at one o{ the principal restaurants, but this year thai banquet was held in the Prince's own private apartments. To each guest at the banquet the Prince presented a little card* board box. inside of which was the gold and blue badge, decorated with the crown and two tennis racquets crossed, which 1 made the recipient an honorary life menu ber of the Crown Prince's club. — Exchange. Mr H. W. Wilberforc« l a man of long association with tennis, at the dinner given to the international teams, in the course of a happily-humorous and skilfully-clever, after-dinner speech, said that Brookes was, the finest player in the world ; also that ho was, without fear of contradiction, th* finest server in the world. At the same»|dinner G. W. Hillyard said, amongst others things, that "no better player had ever* stepped into the centre court at Wimbleij don." : It is pleasing to notice two well-knownii tennis enthusiasts* again flitting over the . courts— yiz., F. J. Stilling and F. E. Britfj tain. The former was more than art average player in the old Carisbrook Club* days; v/hile the latter, though never ani aspirant to championship honours, iras oxxdj of the most energetic secretaries the. Otaga Association and the Otago Club eves possessed. Both players are playing merely] for recreation. The Roslyn Club is busy at present witfi its club tournament. Several generous donors have promised trophies for the various events, and a considerable amounf of enthusiasm is being shown in them* These club events are a splendid instittft tion for keeping up interest in a club, ans at the same time assisting to generally im* prove the individual nlay. The Valley Olub intends playing tha Meadowbank (Oamaru) Club at some not) far distant dete. The same olub is to receive a visit from eight gentlemen playere from tho Goldfielde Club some time about Christmas, It is to be regretted that some of the town clubs did not make use of November 30 for a country match. It was a firstclass opportunity for country players tgf take advantage of cheap fares on the Friday, play on Saurday, and leturn by last) express. <■ One of the surest eigns that tennis is, becoming popular is the' great interest that players are taking in the "Ladder" matches^ All the clubs make use of this system, which is undoubtedly a. capital one. If a player considers that he or she is placed) on the ladder below a player whom they* consider inferior to them a challenge is" immediately issued through the secretary.. The challenged and the challenger must play within a specified time, otherwise the secretary can change their respective places on the "ladder" — that is t provided it is the challenged player's fault for not turning up. There is no doubt it ib the only fair way to arrive at the position a player holds in a club. The Lawrence Club has just had its asphalt court top-dressed, consequently the opening of the eeason was considerably delayed. A few new members have joined, and more may be expected to join later. Miss Jeffrey is playing again, and is already showing good form. Her sister, Miss Eva Jeffrey, and the Missee Taylo* are also rapidly getting into form. Same of the gentlemei players are showing much promise, the beef in this respect bemtr E. B. Fraser (wonderfully quick on) his feet), R. Norrie, and L. Taylor, the last-mentioned (a lad in hi* teens) playing quite a surprising game, although only irr hie second season. He is very certain and clean with liie strokes ; but he, as well ac all the others, requires to practise placing a good deal. R. O. Moore, late of the Valley Club, is takinjr a great interest in the game, and his enthusiasm will help tennis along wonderfully in the gold-mining town. J. S. Sinclair (Otago Club) was in Lawrence for a fortnight lately, but ha* returned to town. While there, tho players were all anxious to have a single with him and pick up a few hints, although none ol them yet can even extend him in play. The Lawrence courts arc filled nightly, and there is t>lct»tv of enthusiasm. Any moderately 6trong town team may rely on getting a good game against this club. There are now 262,000 Sunday schools in the world, with a total of 26,000,000 pupils.