LAWN TENNIS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3674, 12 August 1924, Page 53

LAWN TENNIS.

By

Smash.

Australia signalised her entry into the Davis Cup competition for 1924 by inflict-i-ig the most severe defeat upon China that it has ever been the misfortune of any nation to suffer. Each of the five matches was won in straight sets, and of the 15 sets played no fewer than five weie won to love, the totals in the games being—Australia 90. China 15. Unquestionably the opposition was weak, but the Australians evidently took no chances, and polished off their opponents with the greatest despatch. Patterson and Wood will be matched against the Mexicans at Baltimore at the end of the present week and here again they should have the easiest of victories, with, no doubt, a correspondingly small “.gate.” Their next match will be against the winner of the contest between Canada and Japan in the final of the American zone, and if they are again successful in this encounter they will meet the Frenchmen in the actual final of the competition which precedes the challenge round. The Japanese team will probably include Shimidzu, Fukuda, Harada, Okamoto, and possibly Kashio. Shimidzu has represented his country several times in the Davis Cup competition, and has played at Wimbledon. On two occasions he has come very near to defeating Tilden, and last year ho beat J. B. Hawkes, in a five-set match at Chicago. Fukuda and Ilarada are ex-cham-pions of Japan, and the former appeared in the Davis Oup last year, when he took a set from J. O. Anderson. Okamoto is 23 years of age, and ho learned much of his tennis in Calcutta in association with Shimidzu. llis forehand drive, which is inelegantly referred to by some of tho critics as a swipe, is said to be much more severe than that of any of his predecessors from Japan. One write describes the manner of its production as follows:

“lie crouches clown low, head almost on a line with the height of the net, throws back his racquet far behind his right shoulder, and then Dings it forward with a terrific swipe at the ball as it reaches the top of the bound. The amazing thing is that he ever gets the gut into contact with the ball, but at every hit there is a resounding ‘ping,’ sure evidence of the clean hit. What is more, Okamoto can volley extremely well. He is always on his toes, ready to spring here, or dart there, and, using an extraordinary grip, never needmg to change his hold on the racquet, he is far quicker in the near in fighting than any Western player could ever be.” The Davis Cup contests in the European zone have ended in the expected victory 2i , e . Erenchmen, who defeated Czechoslovakia in the final round, and who will now cross. the Atlantic. After their recent successes in Europe where they have virtually swept all before them, they will no doubt go forward with high hopes, and they will certainly be formidable contenders for the title. In the doubles contest last year Anderson and Hawkes just beat Brugnon and Lacoste in a thrilling five-set encounter, the full scores being 6—B, 6—3, &—3, 6 —B, 9 —7, and the Frenchmen appear to have improved since then. At the same time the Australians will be able to place a stronger doubles team in the field this year than in 1923. The complete results of the matches in the European zone are as follows: First Round: Britain beat Belgium. Second Round: France beat Ireland; India beat Holland ; South Africa beat Argentina; Britain beat Slpain; Denmark beat Hungary; Italy beat Rumania; Switzerland beat Austria; and Czecho-Slovakia beat New Zea 1 and. Third Round: France beat India; Britain beat South Africa; Denmark beat Italy; and Czecho-Slovakia beat Switzerland. Fourth Round: France beat Britain; Czechoslovakia beat Denmark Final : France beat Czecho-Slovakia. Norman Brookes advertised his arrival m America by partnering Schlesinger in an exhibition match against Richards and Hunter, in which the Australians gained a handsome victory. The merit of the performance will be more fully recognised .when it is remembered that Schlesinger is not a particularly strong player, and that the Americans have just returned from their triumphs in Paris where they won the Olympic doubles. If Brookes continues as he has begun he may yet feel justified in including himself in the Australian team, possibly as the partner of O’Hara Wood in the doubles, but it is unlikely that Brookes at the age of 47 would care to match himself against Tilden and Johnston in singles. In any event, whether he elects to play or not, Brookes in the role of guide, philosopher, and friend will be able to render a signal service to his countrymen, and he will certainly provide them with some splendid practice. Up to the present Patterson’s form has been a little uncertain, but like other great plavers, he has a knack of reserving himself for great occasions, and then he puts his best foot forward. O’Hara .Wood will probably remain as Australia’s “second string” in the singles, and in this department of tho game he is capable of giving an excellent account of himself. All things considered, the chances appear to be in favour of Aust’jKia defeating France if these two nations should come together in the final round. In connection with the proposed visit to Australia of a French team at the end of this year a writer in the Wellington Post makes the definite announcement that tho New Zealand Management Committee has cabled its representative in London asking him to make inquiries as to the terms on which the members of the team would be prepared to visit the dominion. If, as has been stated, the team includes Cochet, Borotra, Lacoste, and Brugnon, a visit from it would be a great attraction, and it may be worth while endeavouring to arrange the date of the New Zealand championship meeting so as to synchronise with the visit of the Frenchmen. Failing that, every endeavour should be made to ensure a visit to each of the four centres, in which case the game in this country would receive an enormous stimulus. The South African lawn tennis authorities are anxious that a team, composed of ladies and men from New Zealand should visit that country (says a Wellington writer). The Management Committee has the matter in hand, and is making inquiries as to the possibility of sending a team. The South Africans have some very fine players, both men and ladies, and New Zealand would require to have its strongest team in the field to staud any chance with them. The British team beat the South Africans in this year’s Davis Cup contest, but it was no runaway victory, and but for Raymond spraining his ankle, the result would have been considerably closer. A week before the Wimbledon tournament the London championships were played at Queen’s Club. In the doubles Fisher and Richards played a spectacular game with Harada and Fukuda. All four men were playing well, and Richards had many opportunities of showing his capacity as a beautiful volleyer. Ilarada drove with great power, but the Japenese players were unable to win a set, and lost by three sets to love—6—4, B—6. B—o. In the third round of the singles F. G. Lowe beat J. C. Peacock. 6—4. I—6,1 —6, 6 —3. In the first round of the doubles W. E. T. Cole and Dr Peterson beat I. Mac Ewan and A. H. Percival. 6 —2, 6 —l. In the second round of the Mixed Doubles Dr P. E. Allison and Miss Bird were the victors against Gardiner and Miss Keymer, 6—l, 6 —2. The controversy of spin versus fiat drive is causing much interest in America, especially since Anderson’s success with the last Davis Cup team. The latter, who has probably the finest forehand in the world to-day, hits a perfectly flat ball, without any spin whatever. This carries more pace, as spin lessens the speed, but requires a player to be in perfect form, as play without the controlling spin must be more exact. W. M. Johnston, who is considered by many to be equal to Anderson for speed,.imparts a tremendous amount of spin to his forehand drive. Vincent Richards is another who uses spin on every shot. In fact, there are few players who do not. Williams, of America, is one of the other school, who plays a flat drive and in consequence is erratic, but on his day is deadly. W. T. Tilden varies his shots, using a fiat drive for speed and a top spin snot for safety. This probablv accounts for much of his success. Fashions are continually changing in regard to methods of playing shots, and tho flat drive is probably the most discussed stroke at the present time. Tilden, 'writing on the subject, advocates a middle course of spin, plus speed, and this means that a moderate amount of spin should be imparted to tho ball, but it should not he overdone at the sacrifice of speed.

There are now 49 clubs affiliated to the Wellington Provincial Lawn Tennis Association. The clubs extend from Lyall Bay to Feilding and Featherston. SOME SECRET HISTORY. An interesting piece of Wimbledon secret history is related by H. R. M’Donald in the London Evening News. “I was lucky enough,” he writes, “to see Norman Brookes play his first final at Wimbledon in 1905. What a game it was! It was so wonderful that the crowd —not so large as the crowds of to-day. but composed almost entirely of expert players—who watched the younger Doherty beat Brookes in “three straight” rose as one to shout, “Well played. Brookes!” It was a sincere and unforgettable tribute to the then little-known Australian, who had gone right through the allcomers’ competition to challenge the unbeaten and unbeatable Doherty. Doherty, who had played the game of his life, quietly put on his blanket coat and walked off the court in that unassuming way of his almost unnoticed. The crowd knew all about it, of course, but they just wanted to show tile first invader seriously to contest our supremacy at lawn tennis what they thought of a really magnificent effort. My next outstanding final was that of 1911, once again between an Australasian and an Englishman. It was the late Tony Wilding’s second year as champion, and Roper Barrett—without exception the greatest tactician the game has ever seen—had worked his way through to the challenge round on chess-board lines “Roper,’’ as his friends always address him, was not a young man even then, but Wilding (who was later to die for England on tho La Bassee read in France) was in his prime and trained to the hour—and he was tile fittest man who ever played the game. The challenge round, which has now been dropped, so that the holder has no advantage, was played that year in very hot weather, following other exceedingly hot days. Barrett had had a fierce struggle with C. P. Dixon in the final of the allcomers. and was really not well enough to take the court against Wilding. Tile Wimbledon authorities were naturally worried at the prospect of having no singles challenge round to offer the public, and Barrett, like the good fellow he is, agreed to play. (This, by the way, is revealing some more or less secret history). So Barrett, crushing his doctor’s' certificate deep into his pocket, entered the court, with a carefully-planned campaign for beating Wilding. For three dramatic sets he showed exactly what extraordinary lawn tennis brains could do against fitness and vigour. Although he just lost the first set, Barrett’s tactics of placing a soft, ball with exquisite skill triumphed, and Wilding became as a child in the master’s hands—some said he was mesmerised —and the older man won the second set at 6—4 and led by s—o in the third, before taking it at 6 —2. Then Barrett’s feverish strength left him. He kept on trying to make his arm obey his brain until the end of the fourth set, but when—as he told me afterwards —the turf of the court began to roll like a wave and the stands began to dose in upon him—he had to cry “Enough I” And that is why Barrett has never been champion. Twenty minutes more of reasonable strength would have given him victory. Wilding was seen in a very different light in the final of 1913, when Maurice M‘Laughlin, of the auburn hair and freckled face, literally smashed his way to the challenge round. Such kills had never been seen at Wembledon, and the young Californian was freely tipped to rob Wilding of his title. How Wilding won by coming inside the base line to take his opponent’s cannon-ball service is still fresh in the minds of all who were lucky enough to see the match. DAVIS CUP. PARIS, August 3. In the European final of the Davis Cup between France and Czecho-nlovakia Cochet beat Zemla 6—l, 6—2, 6—4, and Lacoste beat Macenjuer 6 —2, B —6, 6—4. August 8. Wood and Patterson, in the doubles, defeated Borbolla and Gerdes 6—4, b—4, 6—o, and thus won the match against Mexico. In the first set Borbolla began serving, and the Mexicans won the first game. They also succeeded in the third and fifth games, and prolonged the match by taking the ninth when on the verge of defeat. The Australians won the next and the set. In the second set the Mexicans showed considerable doubles ability, serving with strength and returning the hardest shots. Gerdes played accurately, and found open spots for placements. The Mexicans won the first, third, fifth, and seventh games. Then Patterson’s service proved too powerful, and, breaking through Gerdes’s service, the Australians won the last three games. In tho third set the Mexicans apparently tired and succumbed to Patterson's hard hitting and Wood’s canny placements. They gave evidence of shrewd understanding and good team work, but the Australians’ brilliance was too much even for powerful opponents. The Australians did not lose a game, and won the match easily. At Baltimore Patterson beat Borbolla, 6 1, 6—2, 6—l. Llano is indisposed. Gerdes was substituted against Wood. Wood beat Gerdes, 6-1, 6—2, 6—l. OTTAWA, August. 9. Japan won the Davis Cup series, Shimidzu defeating Wright in a tense contest, 4 —6, 6—3, 6—4, 6—4. CANADIANS BEAT THE JAPANESE. OTTAWA, August 8. At Montreal Crocker and Wright (Canada) defeated Okomoto and Harada (Japan) in the doubles for the Davis Cup to-day, winning three sets straight off 7 v 6—4, 6—3. SINGLES AT SOUTHAMPTON. LONDON, August 8. Fisher beat Tuckey 6—l, B—6 ; Bayiey beat Mack B—6,8 —6, 6—3, and will meet in the final on Saturday. Bayiey and Willard have also reached the doubles final.

DOUBLES RESULTS. LONDON, August 8. At Southampton in the semi-final of the doubles Brookes and Schlesinger defeated Snodgrass and Westbrook B—6, 6—3. INTER-UNIVERSITY MATCHES. SYDNEY, August 9. New South Wales defeated Stanford University at lawn tennis by nine rubbers, 20 sets, and 159 games to three rubbers, eight sets and 113 games. PRANCE WINS EUROPEAN ZONE. PARIS, August 5. In the Davis Cup preliminary tie Cochet and Brugnon (France) defeated Zemla and Kozeluh (Czecho-Slovakia) 7—5, 3—6, 6—4, 6—4, thus winning the European competition. Fiance will now meet the winner in the American preliminaries. MATCHES IN AMERICAN ZONE. NEW YORK, August 7. The Davis Cup match between Australia and Mexico began at Baltimore today. In the first game Wood defeated Captain Borbollo 6—3, 6—o, 9—7. Driving rain, which started shortly before the match began, made the courts heavy. Wood won the first two sets easily. Heavy rain then interrupted play for a time. • The match was resumed despite driving rain, and resulted in some unique tennis, naturally defying analysis, everything being wet and sloppy. Each man won alternately, and all through the rain fell without ceasing. At last the Australians got in front, and, taking the fifteenth and sixteenth games, won the set 97 —and with it the match. Patterson defeated Manuel Llano 6 —o, 6—l, 6 —2. When this match began the rain had stopped. Patterson served four aces and a double fault, but the Mexican was utterly unable to handle his services. In the second set Llano was overwhelmingly outplayed, and was totally unable to return the Australian’s sharp volcania shots. In the third set rain fell heavily. The Mexican liked the wet apparently. Llano, however, won only tho first and eighth games.—Reuter. ~ The members of the Mexican team have been in the United States for some weeks past. They are described by American Lawn Tennis as “all court” players, and as they are very keen they are expected to improve as a result of their participation in several of the large American tournaments. JAPAN v. CANADA. MONTREAL, August 7. In the Davis Cup contest between Canada and Japan, Okamoto defeated Wright B—6,8 —6, 6 —4, 7—5. Okamoto’d steady and sure game won against thd brilliancy of the Canadian, who forced into errors on crucial points. 1$ was a tense contest, in which bnlliani tennis was shown. In the second match Shimidzu . (Japan) defeated Crocker 4 —6, 7 —5, 6—4, o—6, 6 Shimidzu won through steady play, but it was a close contest, and the rfr* suit was doubtful till the end. THE AMERICAN TEAM. NEW YORK, August 7. It Is announced that W. T. Tilden and William Johnston will form the nucleus <4 the United States Davis Cup team. Tw6 additional players to complete the teairi will be chosen after the completion of the national doubles championship &$ Boston, from August 18 to 23. The selection will be made from the following players : —Vincent Richards, Francis Hunter, Norris Williams, Watson Washburn, Howard Kinsey, Robert Kinsey, and Clan* ence Griffen. AUSTRALIANS IN AMERICA, NEW YORK, August 5. At Southampton (Long Island) in the Meadow Club’s invitation tournament, Brookes defeated Kelleher 6 —l, 6—l, and Weinstein (California) 6—2, 6 —2 ; Voschell defeated Schlesinger 2 —6, 6—3, 6 —4. HAMPSHIRE TOURNAMENT. LONDON, August 6. At Bournemouth, in the second round, Bayiey beat Behrend 6 —l, 6—2 ; Willard beat Lamb 6—o, 6 —l; and Fisher beat Sumner 6 —l, 4—6, 6 — A. August 6. At Bournemouth, Fisher beat Willard, 75, 6—2. The Australian was nonplussed by the New Zealander’s unorthodoxy and variety of attack. Bayiey heat Helmore, 6—l, 6—2. BROOKES IN AMERICA. NEAV YORK, August 2. In an exhibition match Brookes and Schlesinger defeated Richards and Hunter 4—6, 11—9, 6 —2, B—6. August 6. At Southampton iu the Doubles, Brookes and Schlesinger defeated Guild and Dabney, 6—l, 6—2. August 7. At Southampton Snodgrass defeated Brookes 6—l, 2—6, 6 —4. Brookes and Schlesinger defeated Emerson and Long 6—2, 6—2. STANFORD UNIVERSITY TEAM. BRISBANE, August 3. The Stanford University team defeated Queensland by 10 matches to 2. THE HAMPSHIRE CHAMPIONSHIPS. LONDON, August 5. In tho Hampshire championships, at Bournemouth, AYillar.i (Australia) beat AYestmacott, 4—6, 6—3, 7—5; Bayiey (Australia) meat Ridgeon, 6 —o, 6 —l. ;F.M. B. Fisher heat Grimley, 6—l, 7-9, 6-0. August 8. At Bournemouth Fisher beat Brame Hillyard 6 —4, 2—6, 6—4. Bayiey beat Ferrier 6 —l, 6—3, both reaching the semifinal. AUSTRALIANS IN AMERICA. NEW YORK, August 4. At the Southampton tournament, in th* first round of the singles, Schlesinger and Brookes won their matches by default.