LAWN TENNIS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 281, 19 April 1913, Page 7

LAWN TENNIS.

NOTES ON NEW ZEALAND i-ijAiEita. London, March 5. ilr. C. I'. Dixon, writing to the Standard, 011 Lite games m New Zealand »il\ S-', — oi the New Zealanders, Mr. G. Ollivier is clearly the most promising player. Of the three rubbers which were won by our opponents, Ollivier had a hand in each, lie defeated Lowe at Auckland, jieaaiish at Christchurch, and in union with Fisher, defeated Beamish anil Lowe in one of the doubles at Auckland. Swanston, though a good base-line exponent, must bo accounted somewhat lucky m having won the New Zealand championship the week previous to our playing at t iiristchurc'u. Fisher had detea'ted\)llivier, the winner's most formidable opponent, in a previous round, and in the .final fSwanston defeated Fisher after .the latter had ueeu two sets up and again 3 —o in the fourth set. Swanston is to ,be complimented on a very !ine performance, lor he played consistently we.l in the championships, but even his most ardent supporters would searcelv be so bold as to place linn up to the' same mark as Ollivier, who on the latin shown against us, is in a class bv himself in New Zealand.

"Mr. Ollivier contemplates a visit to England this summer, and it is sincerely to be hoped that it will materialise, for with some, first-class in our tournaments previous .to Wimbledon meeting he should .render a very good account of himsalf in our championships. He has an undoubted talent for the game, and. as he is on the right side of •20, there is ample time for his skill to develop. He is, .to a certain extent, handicapped at present, as he is unable to get practice with better players than himself. His powerful American service, coupled with his deadly volleys, make him an opponent to be feared. Not the 'least 'interesting leature >o'f liis game is the neat way lie picks -up balls at his feet. Both liis low volleys and lmlfvolleys are a treat to wttWh. Mr. 'F. M. B. Fisher and 'Mr. R. N. K. Swanston I should place on the same mark, and next in merit to 'Ollivier. Fisher 'is a tactician and a general of the New Zealand brigade. Where he fails is not in design, but in execution. He possesses a fine power of anticipation. For a left-hander he is uncommonly neat in many of liis volleys, 'but he errs in being too much of an artist, for he is often persuaded to go for the lines when an easier stroke would suffice. His service, modelled on that o'f 'H. A. Parker, the reverse American, swerves j away very 'quickly, and is part'ieiilarly j effective, "as being left-handed it comes j to most players on their backhand. He' is not quite severe enough off the,' groiind. "but, with the exception of | Swanston. this failing is universal among: New Zealand players. Fisher, however, j is essentially ai volleyer, and wheni things are coming off for linn in this , line he is capable of extending any play- j er. The pitv of it is he plays one very' good game sandwiched in 'between three j or four indifferent displays.

Swanston possesses a better forehand drive than any of his compatriots, but his volleying is distinctly weak when he essavs it, which is very seldom. His methods resemble very much those of Horace Rice, with the difference that Swanston is right-handed. Both players direct their attack from the base line, and are untiring and persistent in this respeet. Mr. J. C. Peacock' I place after Fisher and Swanston, and verv little inferior to them. His backhand drive down the side line is one of his best strokes, and he is well equipped with scoring strokes all round. Peacock's reverse smash is another powerful weapon in his armour of strokes, and there is tremendous force behind it. Luckily for his opponents he is not alwavs accurate with it. but when it falls within the prescribed limits it is very rarely returned. His service was also modelled on that of 11. A. Parker, liut it is not so. effective as Fisher's. When he Ins concurred his 1 frequent linlrlitv to duff'the easiest of returns, he should rapidly improve .his. game.

Mr. W. tJoss. ihe veteran Canterbury Driver, is steady rather than brilliant. His forehand top-spin drive is the best stroke, and iie is a stickler from the back of the court. Considering ' their limited opportunities for first-class practice. the Now Zeaiandcrs fav'ourablv impressed me. Putting aside Mr. Norman Brookes in a single, and lie and Mr. A.' VV. Dunlop in the doubles, ilie four best New Zealand players would make a fine .showing against (h» pick of Australian tennis players. On liis form in New Zea.land. T would place Ollivier on the same ■footing in a handicap as Mr. A. B. Jours ,anJ Mr. R. Heath. Each might beat the other oil his da,v. One bright f ature in connection with the New Zeaiandcrs is shown by their adoption of .tbe English grip for the backhand drive, this is lacking in many of Australia's leading exponents, who use (lie same face of tiie racket for both the forchiulil and backhand stroke.

At least 0:13 surprise was recorded in Hie rjennan covered court championship meeting just completed at Bremen. For two years M. Decngis. the present holder of the French championship, has dominated this tournament, and a victory this , iVb-vh was quite expected, -yculd have hiri pTiimi'ent possession r»f the singles cup. In his verv first match, however. Decngis met defeat at, the hands of 0»-e;ir Krenzer. of Frankfort. Merited as Kreuzer's win was, the plav vis not exhilarating on either side of the net. Bo'!i men seemed afraid to hit. a-10-'ting defensive tactics from the back of the court, and since the Frenchman was the less confident and the less accurate. he suffered defeat in two sets. Kieuzer spbscpur'.itly won the event, but he had -v still' match -with R. Spies, the best of the local plavcrs, in the semi-final. Spies leading 2in the, first vt. and a hard final against Bcrgmann. ■who did not maintain the good form shm-ii in the first set.-

I lie .Park (l)ub liuvt! (Ineiitod upon infprovonioiits to tlm wounds ami pavilion during tli« white''. Concrete slops from (.lie courts to tlifl 'invilion ami also from Hip pavilion to ■ lawns are to 1)" und' , rtak' l n 1"' a. wo "kin or ben. wliicli will also .asjiphalt the ground noar tlie pavilion.