LAWN TENNIS

Otago Witness, Issue 3713, 12 May 1925, Page 10

LAWN TENNIS

BY SMASH. In local tennis circles controversy still rages around the knotty point of u ball which is lobbed high in the air, crosses the net, but is blown back so that it eventually lands in the striker’s court. Whose point is it? The answer is not a simple one, and there is no rule which bears directly on it. Still, the laws of the game are based on expert experience Ind common sense, and if a problem dot;: lot come under one of these categories it Jomes under the other. My view of th< matter is that the man who lobs the bull undoubtedly loses the point, because we read in the rules that “a player loses the point if he return the ball in play so that it hits the ground outside any of (he lines which bound his opponent’s court.” St cannot be maintained for a moment tlmr the lobher has done that, and it is therefore conclusive Hint he had not fulfilled his part of the bargain. The right of the "receiver” to volley such a ball does not enter into the question, because if a player volleys a ball he does so entirely r.t his own option. To illustrate the point in another way. If, under similar circumstances, a player lobs a ball beyond the tiackltiie, and it is blown back into his Opponent's court the ball is unquestionably right and the latter must play it. If there are yet some doubters there is yet another rule which would prevent the Jobber from winning the point in the firs? case quoted. Rule 21 soys that "in case a played is hindered in making a stroke by anything not within his control, except n permanent fixture of the court, (he point jihall be replayed.” And none of us have ret acquired control over the wind. Some limes when we have to play at Anderson’s Bay we no doubt wish that we had. By the same process of reasoning used in the above argument it Is equally clear that a ball which lands in the proper court am! rebounds or Is blown bock over the net Is a good ball. That Is to say, if il la not played in the process, the striker wins tthe point. An announcement regarding the method 0# New Zealand's participation In the Davis Cup is still awaited, and It la high timo that one was forthcoming. The Australian team to meet Hawaii In th* first found was selected some months rg o, and the names of England's tenm hare been announced. Time is passing rapidly, an \ k the dominion is to fulfil its engagement grith Canada prompt and energetic meu

sures are necessary. As I have suggested before our tenm should have an excellent chance of defeating Canada, and there is little doubt that a match in America between the Australians and New Zealanders would produce an excellent "gate.” The delay in official quarters is difficult to understand, and it may be suggested to Wellington that the present "wait and se3” policy can be overdone. The following were the positions of leading players on the Auckland ladders at the end of the season:—Men: E. L. Bartlect, V. R. Johns, E. W. Griffiths, A. C. Johns, IT. L. Robson, A. E. Richardson. Ladies: Miss Macfarlane, Miss 15. Knight, Miss M. Payton, Miss J. E. Ramsay, Miss N. MacCorraack, Miss M. Macfarlane.

As a result of the controversy over the correct method of volleying, Huka, the writer in the Evening Pqst, obtained the following from J. O. Anderson, the wellknown Australian Davis Oup player:— “When volleying, the foot is the same as when driivng. but if caught out of position, throw tne weight on the foot nearer the ball, while the grip is shortened slightly. With the wrist stiff and racouet angled, the ball should be tempered when it is below the level of the net, and hit when above the net The chop volley or drop shot is more difficult, and should only he used to upset vour opponent occasionally. This should drop within three or five feet of the not to be of any use. Never drive a volley, always hit with the forearm.”

A New York cablegram a few days ago stated that “Vincent Richards, Olympic champion, arid ranked as the second best player in tho United States, believes that the ‘player-writer’ rule debars him from competing in national and international tournaments this year. Ho is under contract to a nows syndicate to write lawn tennis articles. Under the rule Riohards must choose between writing .on the more important tournaments, including the Davis Oup contests and national championships, or participating in them. There is little doubt that he will be selected again as a member of the Davis Cup team” (says tho Sydney Referee). In the light of history tho onances ore that a way out of this difficulty will be discovered bv the Unitod States lawn tennis authorities, or by Richards himself, and that if form warrants it ho will be found representing hip country this year in the cup matches. "Frankly, some of the photographs of Miss Oolyer, who U the moat snap-shotted tennis star after Suzanne Lenglen, ought not to have been token, let alone published,” said Mrs Lycett, commenting on the banning of the photographs of lady players. "Miss Colyer and I, like moet

girls, play a vigorous game, taking many shots off the ground, but why should the photographer kneel to take the pictures? The majority certainly have improved tremendously latoly. They no longer lie down to focus their lenses. Nevertheless, distasteful pictures often appear. I prefer a skirt to shorts, as it gives greater freedom. With suitable underclothing there i 9 nothing to shock the severest maiden aunt.” Miss Colyer said: "Action pictures are merely stupid, being taken at impossible angles. Whether they should be considered objectionable depends on the type of mind of the reader.” The manager of the London Sport and General Photographic Agency, Mr Hall, replying to Mr 9 Lycett’s comments, said: “Before Mdlle. Lenglen arrived here lawn tennis did not interest cameramen, but now every girl wears a short skirt and plays like a man. The newspapers won’t have dull, posed pictures. The public demand action photographs. Sometimes a cameraman lies at lull length on the ground to get a sensational picture, and always kneels so that he will not obstruct the view of spectators behind him. Mdlle. Lenglen revolutionised lawn tennis clothes and scrapped the listless, pat-ball methods. Everybody nowadays knows what girls wear. The Victorian era pruderies nave gone. Not a single player has complained of these photographs. Tho protests have always come from the killjoys and hypocrites. An instantaneous snapshot of a lawn tennis effort is tho perfection of athletic beauty.” The joint committee of the Lawn Tennis Championship meeting at Wimbledon, announces that, for the first time, a preliminary eliminating competition will be held this year for the purpose of filling the last eight places in the Men’s Singles and Ladies’ Singles Championships, and the last four places in each of the three doubles ohampionahipa. The players who will tako part in this competition will bo selected from those who nave not been definitely accepted for the various championships. The number selected for the preliminary competition will not exceed 32 players fer each of the two singles, and 16 pairs in each of tho doubles events. 'This competition will lie conducted on tho “knock-out” system, and the last eight players left in each singles event, and the last four pairs left in each doubles event will be included in the draw for the championship at Wimbledon. The eliminating competition will be held on grass courts at the Roehampton Club during the week commencing on Juno 15.

Speaking of lawn tennis prospects In America for the coming season W. T. Tilden says: "Harada and Fulcuda will carry the burden for Japan in the Davis Cup

matches, with Shimidzu as captain and reserve. Harada looks very good to me, and reports from Jamaica state that he was wonderful there. California will stage a series of exhibitions at Los Angeles in April, with W. M. Johnston. Miss Helen y ills, Miss Mary Browne, and myself playing. With the arrival of the Australian Davis Cup team and the English women players early in June, it is wise that we should have all our players tuned to the minute to meet them. We will need all our strength to repel the invasion. I am taking all the tennis I can before starting on my second ‘movie’ picture early in May. Manuel Alonzo looks to be ready for the greatest season cf his career. Vincent Richards has added 251 bto his weight. He is in perfect condition, and hitting all his shots with greater speed and pace than ever before.” BRITISH REPRESENTATIVES. . LONDON, May 3. The following have been selected to represent Great Britain against Poland in the Davis Cun at Warsaw on May 15:—Godfree (captain), Kingsley, Lowe, and Wheatley.

INDIAN SUSPENSIONS TERMINATED. LONDON, May 4. An emergency meeting of the Lawn Tennis Association terminated the suspension of Jacob and Fyzee. The discussion was prolonged, and when a deadlock seemed imminent the representatives of Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa intervened, and submitted a resolution which was ultimately carried—" That in view of the All-India Association’s acceptance of the English Association’s jurisdiction in the matter, and Jacob and Fyzee giving the undertaking required, the suspensions forthwith he terminated.’

THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL PRODIGY. LONDON, May 5. Betty Nuttall, the tennis prodigy, aged 13, has been selected for the English women’s team to meet Scotland. The selection of such a youngster for an international match is unprecedented in any sport.