Wimbledon, 1929

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 793, 14 October 1929, Page 14

Wimbledon, 1929

VETERANS STILL PARAMOUNT—FEW NEW STARS CAME TO LIGHT AT GREAT ENGLISH TENNIS FESTIVAL FRANCE’S GRIP ON SINGLES In the matter of crowds, the Wimb’don of IiLU easily beat all record Just as the nigger’s definition of Heaven was a daily Christinas. Ml every day on the centre court had final-day appearance, and no standin'spectator had room to turn round Not* was the international fare pn-' vided inadequate to thrill these mammoth throngs. There was surprise enough to maintain excitement to the end; the British advance, especially r\ the doubles events, nourished patriotic fervour; youth on the men's side and youth and beauty on the women's mail their popular appeal. Vet although the galleries had the.r emotional joy-ride the connoisseurs it lawn tennis were not disposed to admit that the standard of play, exceyin two or three matches, reached th* highest standard. It would be absurd to compare any of the four singles semi-finals with some of. their counterparts in former years. I suppose that when Tilden met Cochet he was at least 25 below his form of two years earlier (says an English critic). Gallantly as Austin fought against Boatra. the result of their encounter wa* never in real doubt; the key to victory was always in the possession of the Basque. Cochet beat Borotra because Borotra’s ground play had not the classic and orthodox stamp of hi* conqueror’s. ALL-CONQUERING HELEN As for the three last matches in th» women's singles, they were tame and one-sided affairs. Miss Wills kep; her title because the only player capable of extending her was, by the caprice of fortune, and the stout heart of Mrs. Mcllquham. not permitted to challenge her in the final round. Miss Wills has the service and drives a man, and. like Miss Wethered in tho British realm of golf, and for th same reason, she is in another class to the rest of the field. If she did not appear to be so ruthless as usual —if more mistakes seemed to com* from her racket —this was because her mind lacked the stimulant of a deflniit* challenge. Mile. Lenglen’s play had the same perfunctory air, although i;s artistry never waned when, by sound defence and moral suasion alone, sfio could subjugate her opponents. Judged by the champion’s standard, there was no marked improvement in womens play at Wimbledon. With the possible exception of Miss Heine no titlelioldcr of the immediate future was indicated. On the other hand many competitors who had been accorded championship rank in the popular newspapers were found when the acid test came to lack the requisite physical and moral qualities.

France confirmed recent history by keeping the men's singles as her own preserve. It has now been held for six years by our Gallic friends. Indeed, only once since 1923 has there been a nonFrench finalist.

This rise of France to the highest peak is no sudden, unsuspected movement. Her triumphant cycle was preceded by an almost fatalistic feeling that her countrymen could achieve honour and glory abroad. The first French competitors cast wry faces at an unfamiliar surface upon whicn neither their feet nor strokes would go right. Time and the technical art have been on their side. They now realise that a turf court responds to their delicacy of touch, extracts the refinements of their game and ministers to their buoyant nature. Lawn tennis lends itself directly to tneir mood for motion and their for swift repartee. Indirectly tn° men’s championship, like the women». has been won by Mile. Lenglen; fo. it was she who, by her example, encouraged her male contemporaries covet the all-court game, and wno proved to them the efficacy of a sou deience. In retrospect one the profound influence of Suzanne o the male players of her period. TILDEN'S GREAT FIGHT

Tilden's failure to go all the way was not unexpected, but he lived long enough at the past Wimbledon to r - veal an unfading genius. An exc r? tion in .most things, he has P p ° an exception to the rule which reur most Americans after 35 years or ag • On the morning of the ninth day den was the only undefeated njai player in any event; on the * of the tenth he was out of the . ment. Nature had rebelled such vigorous ana continuous stra • I hope that he will come back, no man has ever had such versa of stroke and such command ot taneous speed. Even his champ ship days may not be over; hemisrepresent America in the pa\ s in Paris, and if none of the leagg| Frenchmen challenge at he is still capable of beating L e The most likely player to de P?* e f r . Frenchmen is John Van Ryj»* HL r citv. mer captain of Princetown A newcomer to Wimbledon, n beaten early in the singles before had found his feet; in the doubly paired with Wilbur Allison, he a refreshing display of flue " t tion a, as sound in technical cons !T;L\-.-m be it was decisive in effect. H ls a name with which t°. conjure. The most improved player at . bledon. a Scot whose stood firm against many a shock. . lan Collins. He reached two when neither he nor the expected him to live beyond .the week. Oxford and Cambridge tween them. with Yorkshire sK" f added, have restored the prestig Britain on the centre court.