LAWN TENNIS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3117, 10 December 1913, Page 58

LAWN TENNIS.

BY SMASH. On Saturday next a team from the Balelutha. Club will journey to Dunedin per motor car to play a return ruateh against North-East Valley, and an interesting game is anticipated. In the C Grade matches throe rounds have already been played, and the NorthEast Valley, St Kilda, and Cosy Dell No. 1 and No. 2 teams have been unbeaten. Roalyn, Hauraro, Kaikorai, Taieri, and Anderson’s Bay have won two matches, while Port Chalmers has won one. The Cayershum, Ravensbourne, Arthur Street No. 2, Hanover No. 1, and Hanover No. 2 teams have lost all their matches. 11. A. Parker will be a competitor at the Now Zealand championship mooting at Auckland. The true test as to whether he is going off or not will depend upon his ability to defeat Swanston and Fisher, and a contest with either of these players should provide some excellent tennis. G. Ollivicr, the ex-New Zealand champion, who is at present stationed in New Plymouth, is not likely to bo a competitor at the New Zealand Championships at 4wd dand next month. Quito recently he strained his back rather badly, and in oonfleqitcnce will have to take a good rest. R. N. K. Swanston, the present New Zealand champion, is fast getting into form at Thorndon, and will defend his title at Auckland next month. The Hon. F. M. B. Fisher will, .it i» understood, take part in the Now Zealand Championships, but as

yet he has been unable to get any serious practice this season. Commenting on the defeat of Brookes by Doust in the interstate match between Victoria and iNetv South V'aies, “ Austral,” in the Referee, states the t the latter player lias risen to his very zenith. Brookes had spent weeks in preparation, and was beaten quite on the merits of the day’s play. As m November last, he was taken aback by speed of foot. Parke is a line runner and a great athlete, but he is not nearly so fast on the courts us Doust, who can do the 100 in a little over lOseo. (He is a cousin of N'igel Banter.) Brookes’s scheme of late years is clearly to direct all his strokes short down the centre court, and, .closing in after them, to hold the net till he scores. But ho found time and again that Doust reached balls that ho regarded as clear winners. In one game Brookes went four times for finishing strokes to opposite corners, and three times Doust retrieved these strokes most skilfully. None the less, the champion took an early lead, and won the first set, but Doust took the second set with splen-didly-angled volleying and fine saves, and reached s—o5 —0 in the third set, and in the next game had a match point. Then his exertions told on him, and ho necessarily slackened up. After a couple of games Brookes seemed to sparkle, and then, amidst encouraging cheers, ran to 4 —5. Doust renewed his energies, and Brookes took only one stroke in the last game. Mostly Brookes was feeble in all his strokes, and neither his service nor his volleys had any sting. When ho went for pace he invariably hit the ball out. Doust’s methods, and the almost entire absence of severe strokes save in his finishing volleys (especially overhead), were a lesson to those who revel in the swooping drive, or in violent methods. In that he largely copies Brookes. In making excuses for Brookes “ Austral” goes on to say that the general opinion on the other side is that in his match against Doust he played quite his most feeble game in interstate contests. After the first set it. entirely lost all the elements which make it formidable, and while Doust’s fine win is not overlooked, the success of Heath over Doust indicates clearly that Doust was not above his known form. Brookes has been practising only in Doubles. I have no doubt that when ho gets to Europe the good practice ho will have there will bring him back to his old perfection. Indeed, why hot? Ho is still well below the ago at which tennis players decline, and no one can bo always in form without practice that extends, and the courts and conditions on Friday would bo entirely destructive to the delicacies of Brookes's game, and render playing extremely distasteful to hiai. This (says “Austral”) in no way detracts unduly from Doust's win, but A is difficult to see what other effect such remarks can have. THE DAVIS CUP. SYDNEY, December 2. A letter has been received from Wilding definitely stating that he is not only able but anxious to play for the Davis Cup. Dunlop will leave for England in January, and Brookes in February. They will play through the season of the European tournaments, finishing with the AJI- - championship at Wimbledon. If the Australian team emerge successfully in the preliminary matches for the Davis Cup they will proceed immediately to the United States to play the challenge matches there. ALL ENGLAND CHAMPIONSHIP. LONDON, December 2. The Tennis Association has largely adopted an international agreement allow ing each country to determine the question of paying its representatives their expenses when attending the world’s championship meeting at Wimbledon. It was announced that a referendum favoured the holder playing through the championship series, but tliat the necessary twothirds majority was not secured.