TENNIS.

Southland Times, Issue 18975, 23 June 1923, Page 12 (Supplement)

TENNIS.

AUSTRALIAN TEAM AT AUCKLAND. Excitement was caused in Auckland tenis circles last week through the visit of the Australian Davis Cup team en route for New York, says the Auckland Herald. The The R.MB. Makura, by which the team travels to Vancouver, remaining in port for a full day on Wednesday, enabled the team to practice in the morning and attend the Auckland Racing Club’s winter meeting in the afternoon, as guests of the Racing Club. The tennis practice took place on Mr H. G. Thomson’s chip court, with which the players expressed themselves well pleased.

Hard play was indulged in. four sets being played. For brilliant and spectacular tennis the exhibition has not been surpassed in Auckland, even at Davis Cup time, and the spectators who attended indeed enjoyed the treat.

The players themselves were delighted with their form, and considered it much above that shown in the exhibition matches at Sydney, where weather conditions somewhat lowered the standard of the display. Starting patchily, with glimpses of good play, the four players soon accustomed themselves to the bcund of the ball, which was slightly different from that of the grass courts, to which they are accustomed, but finding the bounce true and reliable they soon opened out and gave a finished display of the double game. Probably the Victorians are ahead of the other Australian States in doubles, and one cannot but realise that Brooke’s presence in that State is accountable for that superiority; in fact, it is hard to estimate the value of this great player to Victorian tennis. The hand of the master is certainly visible in the strokes of the colts, Mclnnes and Schlesinger, their volleying being crisp and clean, with clever direction. Of the two, Mclnnes took the eye of the spectators probably on account of the cleanness of his strokes, but his team mate is very little behind him, and in driving he is certainly his equal. To the critic the experience of the older players, Anderson and Hawkes, was plainly discernible, and although at times the strokes were almost on an equality the honours of finish and judgment rested with the older men—this, of course, is to be expected, and makes one cogitate about the future of the Davis Cup when Tilden and Johnston commence to wane, and these four Australians, for they are all young, are all experienced players, and Australia will be bringing the Cup back some cf these days. THE INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS. J. O. Anderson needs no introduction. His performances with the last two teams stamp him as in the first flight of world’s champions. He is certainly improved, his fore-hand drive is terrific, perhaps exaggerated by some of the Australian writers, but when he gets fairly on to it, his opponents must look out. His back-han I seems to have improved, and some of his back hand drives were terrific, also they occurred frequently. It would be expected that Anderson would put much over-spin on his drives, but this is not so, for he hits with a flat racket and turns his wrist slightly at the last moment. He has acquired the art so difficult of attainment of hitting a rising ball, and this accounts for his great pace. Hawkes has matured a lot. he has furnished well physically, and his game is sounder than when Aucklanders saw him last, while his demeanour is that of an experienced player. He put a lot more body into his work; in fact, the weight he gets into his drives seems at times to take him off his balance. His headwork is very clever, while his volleying has improved wonderfully. He was only seen here in double play, and certainly he is a worthy partner for Anderson in this department. THE “COLTS.” As regards the colts, and taking lan Mclnnes first as the more attractive player, one cannot but rejoice that, from the slender youth of 21, such wonderful tennis strokes can be produced. It was a revelation to the writer, for, in mufti, one could not credit the talent and power, obtained principally from excellent timing, that rested in this youth. His back hand drive is delightful to watch, while his volleying was forcibly and beautifully executed. He is certainly a stylist and an effective one. He was caught out of place a lot through lateness in following in the service, but invariably recovered by a beautiful low volley. The latter he dees not play with snap, usual in good players, but it seems to be made with a followthrough action somewhat similar to a drive. His weakness is in smashing. When he fills out and has Experience, he should outrival the beet in Australia.

R. E. Schlesinger is more solid than Mclnnes, and is two years cider. He hits with tremendous pace, and his sideline driving is an outstanding feature; he is very sound all round, and impresses one as a player who would get there when wanted. Of nice, easy temperament, he watches every shot carefully, and has a soundness that impresses. His game suffered in comparison with the brilliance of his younger partner, but wh6n analysed one can understand how he came to be chosen to represent Australia. In Mclnnes and Schlesinger, Australia has young blood well worthy of the expense incurred in sending away in a Davis Cup team, and the writer predicts that men of the calibre of Patterson and O’Hara Wood will have to look to their laurels if they wish to represent their country in future Davis Cup tourneys. THE VALUE OF EXPERIENCE.

The value cf experience was well illustrated on Wednesday, all four playing delightful strokes. The scores read in two of the sets, in which Anderson and Hawkes were each partnered with one of the colts, 6—3, B—6,8 —6, but with the older players partnered the two sets ran 6—o, 6—2. The younger players, however, are quite able to give Anderson and Hawkes a willing go, and make excellent practice for them.

J. O. Anderson, w’hen it was suggested that he should visit the Dominion in the summer, during tournament time, seemed impressed with the idea, and it is likely we may have the tall Australian paying a round of visits on this side of the water after his return from the quest of the Davis Cup. Mrs Anderson accompanies the team on its present tour.