LAWN TENNIS

Otago Witness, Issue 3996, 14 October 1930, Page 48

LAWN TENNIS

By

Smash,

INTERCLUB COMPETITIONS.

The number of teams entered in the various grade competitions are as follows:— A Grade io Bl 12 B2 14 Cl 10 02 io The new teams in the A Grade competition are Roslyn No. 2 and St. Kilda. It has been decided by the Match Committee of the association that all men’s events shall be the best of three short sets; all ladies’ singles the best of 17 games; and all ladies’ doubles the best of three short sets. Men’s singles are to start at 1 o’clock, and the ladies’ events about 2.30. HINTS TO BEGINNERS. At the commencement of a new season the time is opportune to give some hints to beginners on the more elementary principles of the game. These may be set out as follows:—

Concentrate on your play to the exclusion of everything else. Keep your eyes on the ball. Hold your racket firmly and tighten your grip just before hitting the ball. If you are right-handed advance your left foot for the forehand drive and vour right foot for backhand shots. Play all strokes while turned sideways, with your shoulder pointed towards the net. Cultivate a free even swing in making your drive and try to acquire a good follow through. Learn to “ measure off ” the ball so that you can make your stroke comfortably Instead of rushing in to the ball go to the spot, as nearly as you can judge, where it wi l ' bounce.

Develop the faculty of anticipation and strive always to be in a position to make your stroke without flurry. Never take up a position between the baseline and the service line. Either move about a few feet beyond the baseline or within six feet of the net. If you are drawn in for a shot and cannot get back go right in to the net. Always volley down and whenever possible towards the sidelines.

Smash hard and deep, but beware of making this stroke too soon. Many a good smash has been ruined by precipitancy. Discover your favourite stroke and practice' it until you can play it with confidence. When the opportunity comes in a game to play it, play it decisively. Don’t attempt to drive balls that drop close to the net. Instead, play them quietly down the nearest side line.

Cultivate _ the _ art of driving straight down the. side lines, but remember that the net is higher at the sides than in the middle.

Endeavour to acquire accuracy before speed.

Learn to vary the placement of your service. In this, as in all other strokes, the idea is to make your opponent move, variety of placement in the service is not easy for a beginner, but it is well worth cultivating. Never question the umpire’s decision. He is not infallible, and next time may give you the advantage. Do not lose your temper, either with y?, ur . ,P ar tner or your opponent. After all, it’s only a game. Profit by your mistakes and know when to knock off.

NOTES FROM ABROAD. Jean Borotra, who says that he is too old to play in any further Davis Cup matches, is very jubilant over the fact that he has been able to persuade Rene Lacoste to come out from his retirement and help defend the Davis Cup for France next year. “It is absolutely settled,” said Jean. “ Rene and I sealed the compact when we were lunching together. As for me, I give up my place in the Davis Cup team. I am too old. M.v shoulders can no longer stand the strain.” A fault cannot be expunged; that is a rule (says American Lawn Tennis) almost as old as the game. It is a hardship to have the fault stand when something occurs to prevent another service being made immediately; and players are prone to call, “ Take two ” in such cases. The umpire should be firm, however, and declare that there is only one service (excluding “ lets ” ) to come, no matter how much he desires to accede to the request. C. Donohoe, who was in New Zealand last season with the Australian team, benefited considerably by the tour. “He has not improved perceptibly in stroke production,” said a critic, “ but he makes better use of his head.” In the city of Sydney tournament, when he reached the final, he served magnificently in all his matches. He has developed a service breaking both ways, which is alone very disconcerting to his opponent, but it is his variation of pace that wins him most points. is a safe bet that he scored more clean service aces than any other player in the tournament, his opponents being often taken unawares when he slammed a fast one to the corner,’following a medium-paced spin delivery. It is peculiar that his backhand should be made with a freedom and grace that is pretty to watch, yet his forehand is laboured comparatively, being made with a stiff arm action. His best performance was his defeat of Ray Dunlop, the Davis Cup possible, allowing him but four games in three sets. In the final he was beaten by Willard, 6 —2, 6—4, 10—12, 6—2. Australia has a promising boy in Dave Thompson, who, in the city of Sydney championships, beat an out-of-form C. Sproule fa member of the team which toured New Zealand), 4 —6, 9—7, 6—B, SATURDAY’S MATCHES. DUNEDIN. A GRADE. MOANA v. UNIVERSITY. Totals: Moana, 5 matches (70 games); University. 3 matches (61 games). ST. KILDA v. KAITUNA. Totals: St. Kilda, 6 matches (89 games); Kaituna, 2 matches (64 games). OTAGO v. ANDERSONS BAY. Total: Otago, 7 matches (10 games); Anderson’s Bay. 2 matches (82 games). COSY DELL v. ROSLYN 11. Totals: Roslyn 2 matches (56 games); Cosy Dell 5 matches (73 games). C GRADE. WAIMANA v. NGA MOANA. Totals: Waimana 10 sets (79 games); Nga Moana 3 sets (50 games). CAVERSHAM v. CONCORD. Totals: Caversham 10 sets (87 games); Concord 2 sets (36 games). ST. MARY’S v. PORT CHALMERS. Totals: St. Mary’s, 11 sets (75 games); Port Chalmers, 3 sets (37 games). TECHNICAL v. OPOHO. Totals: Technical, 8 sets (69 games); Opoho, no sets (35 games). BRITAIN AND FRANCE. WIN FOR THE FORMER. LONDON, October 11. Britain beat France by nine games to six in an international lawn tennis match at the Queen’s Club.

Austin beatßrugnon, 6—l, 6—2; Gentien beat Cliff, 2—6, 6—4, G—4; Borotra beat Sharpe, 6—l, 5—7, 6—2; Wheatley beat Combemale, 6—4. 11—9; Ritchie beat Decugis, 6—3, 6—2; Crawford beat Blanchy, 6 —3, 2—6, B—6. Brugnon and Gentien beat Gregory and Collins, 6—l, 6; —3; Borotra and Combemale beat Austin and Cliff, 6—4, 6—4; Wheatley beat Gentien, 12—10, 6—4; Austin beat Borotra, 6—3, 6—3; Sharpe beat Grugnon, 6—2, 6—2; Spence beat Combemale, 2—6, 6—2, 6—l; Brugnon and Gentien beat Austin and Cliff, 4 —6 6—4, 6—2; Decugis and Blanchy beat Dixon and Crawford, 9—7, 4—6, 6—4; Gregory and Collins beat Borotra and De Buzelet, 6—l, 6—3.

PROFESSIONAL RETIRES. BOSTON, October 11.

Vincent Richards, the holder of the American professional lawn tennis title, has announced his retirement from the game.

He said that professional tennis was too strenuous for what a player got out of it.