LAWN TENNIS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 287, 26 April 1913, Page 7

LAWN TENNIS.

WORLD'S CHAMPIONSHIPS. The meeting of international delegates held at the beginning of March in Paris has decided the question of where the world's -championships shall be played, and, as anticipated, has awarded the grass championship to England. By prescription, and as the: founders of the.game, there is little doubt that this is no more than the due of the English Association. The hard court championship is to be held "in France till 1916, and the indoor championship on wood is to be held this year in Sweden and next year in Denmark. I can't quite see, either, where America comes in (says an Australian writer). Australia and /New Zealand, I grant, are rather far off from the actual centre of the world's population, but America is not. Of course, if America is content, it is no affair of ours, but if she is not, it will be a very simple matter, for she will quietly hold her own championships, and Jet the "world's championships" be won by those who live close at hand to the place in which they are held. That, practically, is the fate of all such events. There has been a "championship of Europe" for many years,'hut the names of the winners of it are not impressive of strength. The new and authorised title will put an end to the unauthorised claim for the holder of the All-England championship that he was the champion of the world. Unauthorised, but yet little more than the truth, for there is hardly any doubt that the champion of England has nine years out of ten Been actually the best player in the world of his day. The Dohertys were admittedly that, so was Brookes in 1907, and if Wilding'is not actually 'so to-day, lie is admittedly as well in the running as anyone. Practically to-day, under all conditions, there would be but three players whose chances would find adequate backing for such a title. Clearly, Maurice McLoughlin would step out to do battle on behalf of America. Anthony Wilding would have a 'two-fold representation. Bv birth he would be the chosen champ-, pion of New Zealand; by play and methods, he would earry the banner of England. With these would rank the still miffhty Brookes. Distance in space lends enchantment to the view, and distance in time enables us to see things in their true proportion ' victory over

Brookes was entirely deserved'on the day. So were Biioo'kes*' two defeats of Parke. Few who saw the three doubt that Brookes learnt a needed that the back court game was not to be treated lightly. Having; learne<l i<\ he is the stronger hv defeat. Riving ="<" i and analysed the games of all three, I have no hesitation in classing them together, as T have no doubt the leading experts of the world •'■ "■-. three greatest players of the present day.