LAWN TENNIS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3662, 20 May 1924, Page 50

LAWN TENNIS.

By

Smash.

MAKING READY’ FOR THE . CHAMPION SHIPS'. The Wimbledon lawn tennis championship to urn ament of 1924 is going to be the greatest in the history of tile game (writes Mr S. N. Doust in the Daily Mail). When one recalls the days when the championships were played on the old courts at Worple road, and a crowd of 5000 to 6000 people made the centre court unbearable, and contrasts them with the arrangements made at the new Wimbledon ground for a crowd of between 20,000 and 25,000 people, one realises the enormous increase in the popularity of the game. This year’s championships will be the third held on the new ground. But such further improvements have been made since last year that the ground is hardly recognisable. In addition to the centre court, where 16,000 people can witness the game, there has been added a “second gallery-” court, where accommodation for another 5000 has been provided. This court was originally intended for a hard court, but it has now been converted into a grass court. It adjoins the centre court and has four permanent stands round it, three covered and or.e uncovered. The court itself will be protected from rain by a new cover, which is a great improvement on the one at present used Instead of an “ army ” of men being- required to work it, this new cov4r will only require four men. II is run on rails in two seotions from each end, and will be moved either by electric or motor power. These two courts protected from the inclement weather will allow all important matches to be played under ideal conditions. This will provide a fairer test for those Continental players who are unaccustomed to soft and wet courts.. No longer will they have to battle against such odds as balls soddened by rain, but will at, least have a dry, fast., and true surface to play @n. Commander Hillvard. the All-Engla.nd Club’s secretary, who pointed out to me all the improvements, stated that with these two courts there is now no excuse for any important match being played under anything but perfect conditions. The grass on tho centre court, Commander Hillyard informs me, is wonderful, and he thinks that it will be even better than the centre court at the old ground. Owing to the exceptionally good entry that is expected this vear, the application for tickets has exceeded all previous records. Applications from the public number 8509 and, as there are only 3400 seats to be allotted, many applicants will be disappointed. There are, however, 2300 to he sold daily, and also plenty of standing room. The Management Committee of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association has recommended that, subject to satisfactory arrangements, the 1924 New Zealand championship meeting be held in Auckland. The committee is sympathetic to the Otago Lawn Tennis Association’s application for the 1925 championship meeting. The Otago Association’s application was made subject to suitable arrangements being made with the Exhibition Management Committee for provision for grass courts at Logan Park. The New Zealand Association has cabled to tneir representative in England asking for information regarding the reported selection of New Zealand’s Davis Cup team. THE DAY’IS CUP. WELLINGTON, May 12. Mr Kean secretary of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association, has been informed by cablegram that J. O. Peacock, F. M. B. Fisher, and Dr P. E. Allison have been chosen to represent New Zealand in the Davis Cup. COPENHAGEN, Miay 17. In the Davie Cup preliminaries Petersen (Denmark) beat Emmiohtakaca (Hungary) by

6 —-i G—3, 6—3. Baron von Kehrling (Hungary) beat Ulrich (Denmark), 19—8 6—o, 6—4. PRELIMINARY TIKS. LONDON, May 12. Kingscote (Britain) beat Watson (Belgium), 7—5, 6—2, 6—l. Washer beat Gilbert, 6— -3, 7—9, 2—6, t> —4, B—6. QUESTION OF TILDEX’S RESIGNATION. LONDON, May 13. Godiree and Woosnam defeated Washer and Watson, 6—4. 9—7, 6—4.NEW YORK, Mav 13. It is virtually assured that Tiiden will be a member of this year’s Davis Cup team. He will withdraw his resignation the moment the Lawn Tennis Association cahs a meeting to reconsider the plaverv riter rule. The president oi the association has intimated that the meeting will be called. NEW ZEALANDER DEFEATS A JAPANESE. LONDON, May 13. Dr Parker, a New Zealander, playing in the London County {*!uS> tournament, defeated Okamoto, a probable Japanese Davis Cup player, by 3—6, B—6 IC—B, 7—5. TILDE'N S RKSIGNATION. NEW YORK, May 13. In the forthcoming issue of a lawn tennis publication Tiiden criticises the amateur ruling, but declares his willingness to play in the Davis Cup matches if the Tennis Association should cali a meeting to re-hear his case, and if the constituent clubs should uphold him. Tiiden offers to withdraw his resignation when the meeting is announced, and promises to abide by the decision of the clubs. The article states that a so-called amateur, if called upon to play a hard match involving over-exertion, ceases to be an amateur because he is gaining therein neither amusement nor physical benefit. Surely an association which sends a man 45,0ui> miles in 18 months in order to briinr back a trophy has professionalised that man. Lawn tennis is commercialised by the association, not by the players. “The huge gate receipts of the national championships and the Davis Cup matches are a far more dangerous influence toward professionalism than written articles. The time has come to re-write the amateur rule; also the association must uphold its own standard and abolish gate receipts at official matches. Pursuant to Tilden’s request, the Lawn Tennis Association has announced that a meeting would soon be held at which the clubs would pronounce final judgment on player-writers. Prompt acceptance of Tilden’s suggestion has revived the hope that the matter will be amicably settled, and that Tilden’s amateur standing will be restored. PRELIMINARY TIE RESULTS. LONDON, May 14. In the Davis Cup preliminary tie, Britain beat Belgium, Gilbert defeating Watson, 6—4, 6—3, 6—l. PL AYER-WRITERS CONTROVERSY. NEW YORK, May 14. The Westside Lawn Tennis Club, the most influential within the United States Lawn Tennis Association voted by 181 to 155 to support the association's interpretation of the amateur rule respecting player-writers. This action followed one of the most stormy meetings, at which it was heatedly charged that personal spite had prompted the framing of that definition. Nevertheless, it is expected that the action will influence the clubs throughout the country, especially since the Westside Club, which last year constructed a new stadium for the Davis Cup matches, risks loss through depreciation of gate receipts, if Tiiden should be barred from playing. Tilden’s adherents, however, point out that the close vote presages a bitter country-wide debate on the ruling. NEW ZEALAND’S FIXTURE. LONDON, May 15. In the Davis Cup preliminary ties New Zealand plays Czecho-Slovakia at Prague on May 22-24.-CZECHO-SLOYAKIA TEAM. LONDON, May 16. The Czeeho-Slovakia Davis Cup team against New Zeeland will be Ardelt, Macenuer, Rohrer, and Zomla. THE “PLAYER-WRITER” AMATEUR. Mr Wightman, president of the United States Lawn Tennis Association, in a letter to members, recommends that a special meeting of the executive should be celled soon to end the controversy over the "playerwriter” interpretation of the amateur rule.