TENNIS

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16902, 29 November 1922, Page 2

TENNIS

On all fclie Court*

CON IT X G EVENT S.

Canterbury Christmas louniamen.fc, December 25 anrl following days. Canterbury v X.S.W. Ladies, January 12 and 13. Auckland v. N.S.W. Ladies. December 15 and 16. N.S. W. Ladies v. N.Z., January 6 and New Zealand Championships at Hast ings, December 26 and 30. Kaikoura tournament. December 27 j 28. 29 and 30. - j ilawkes Bay Championships at. Hnst- • I ings, December 28 to 30, January f 1 to 4. • j Marlborough Championship- aj, BIcv:I heim, December 25, 26 and 27. "Wanganui Championships, at Wangaj nui. December 25 and 25. j Wellington Championships, at Masterton, January 20, 22 and 23. Auckland Championships, at Auckland, end of January. Taranaki Championships, at Auckland, end of January. Taranaki Championships, at New Plymouth. January 31, February 1. 2 aud 3. West Coast Championships, at Westport, end of January. V aikato Championships, at Hamilton. Easter. Otago Championships, at Dunedin. Easter. Canterbury Championships, at Christchurch. Easter. North Otago Championships, at Oamaru, December 25. 26 and 27. Waipukurau Club, Open Tournament, January 19 and 20. Masterton Club. Open Tournament, January 20. 22 and 23. Dannevirke Club. Open Tournament. January 25. 26 and 27. Entries will rinse on December 14. at Wellington for the New Zealand Championship meeting at Hastings. Heavy entries are assured for the Canterbury midsummer tournament at Christmas time. Twelve grass courts will be available, and there will be no adjournments for lunch, but luncheon • and afternoon tea will be served in r marquee on the grounds. The programme is as follows: Open Events. Men’s Singles.-—Best of three advantage sets. Trophy valued 30s; runner-up, trophy valued 15s. Entrance ss. _ Ladies’ Singles.—Best of three sets. No advantage, sets. Trophy valued Cl Is; runner-up, trophy valued 10s 6d. Entrance 2s fid. Men’s Doubles.—Best of three advantage sets. Trophies valued .Cl Is each. Entrance 3s fid each player. Ladies’ Doubles.—Best of three set I *. No advantage sets. Trophies valued £1 Is each. Entrance 2s fid each player. j Combined Doubles-.—Best of three sets. No advantage sets. Trophies valued £1 Is each. Entrance 2s 61 each player. Handicap Events. Men’s Singles.—Best of seventeen. Trophy valued £1 Is first, and 10s fid second. Entrance 2s. Men’s Doubles.—Best of seventeen. Trophies valued £1 Is each. Entrance 2s each player. Ladies’ Doubles.—Best of seventeen. Trophies valued £1 Is each. Entrance Is 6d each player. Ladies* Singles.—Best-of seventeen. Trophy valued £1 Is first, and 10s 61 second. Entrance 2s. Combined Handicap.—Best of seventeen. Trophies valued £1 Is each. Entrance Is 6d each player. Complications in the ranking challenges will bo set at rest by a modification of the rules which will permit those in Section B to challenge only one above them : but to speed up the competition B grade challenges will have to be plaverl within four days, and in tho A grade within seven days. All challenges up to November 24, however. will have to be plaved. The ranking list to-day is as follows:

Men. Ladies. 1. Ol liver 1. Miss Dorman 2. Glnnrille 2. Miss E. Partridge 3. Wilding 3. Miss Ferrier 4. Greenwood X. Miss Spiers 5. Aitken 5. Mrs Hale 6. Seay 6. Miss W. Partridge 7. Denton 7. Mrs Lord 9. Sheppard 8. Mrs Seldon 8. Goss 9 Miss Stewart 10. Borrows 10 Mrs Wake

Two ranking games worth watching were- played at United on Monday evenUig. when "VS ilding (4) beat Greenwood (3), 6-14, 3-6, 8-6; and oss (8) beat Sheppard (9). 0-1, 6-3. Wilding had to play harder than Glanville to beat Greenwood, and was a bit lucky to wm ; but Goss made no mistakes in his match with Sheppard, and outdrove him solidly The best match T have seen this season.” was R. D. Harman's verdict on the Wilding-Greenwood match, when he came down from the umpire’s chair. Certainly Greenwood played very good tennis, coming up to the net a good deal more than usual, volleying effectively, driving hard all tho time” and serving better than usual, although he made a few faults. Wilding hit hard all through, placing well. and keeping a good length, but it was noticeable that- he did not follow through his backhand drives, and showed a weakness for .shots clown the line off which Greenwood scored. Greenwood led 4-2 in the final set, and was a Lit unlucky to lose the final game on his service, as Wilding scored on a lucky net cord shot. Greenwood was 15-40. and although he got to 30-40. he placed the. next vollev out. after coming in on a good drive to Wilding’s hack hand. Perfect, driving bv Goss proved too much for Sheppard, whose- backhand got a severe pounding. Gess made his opponent run. but he ba.d his share of it, arid in the second set it. was a question whether youth would not prevail. The first set went to 4 all. but Goss won the last two games with the loss of only two strokes. The second set was more sensational, for Sheppard led at Then came a protracted game, in which deuce was called fifteen times. Goss won it. and then evened the scores with the loss of one ace. At this stage Gcsss enmmoned all his energies for a sueeesion of terrific drive, and if he had been able to come in on them the game would have been quickly settled. As it was ,there were some very long rallies, except in the last two games, iri which Goss drove superbly to the corners

j Aitken has challenged Greenwood 1 and Borrows intends to challenge Sheppard. These arc the only A sectioi challenges in sight at tho moment. There are no ladies’ challenges in t-li< first ten, except that Miss Muirson ha: challenged Mrs Wake. ■ Miss Ferrier. who has displaced Miss Spiers in third place, won the match, 4-fi. 6-5, 64. These twe ladies are quite opposite in their stvk of play, and Miss Ferrier won tinmatch by slightly superior court craft taking advantage of openings and driving across the court. She is purely a base line player, and is the essence of steadiness and good length. Miss Spiers, on the other hand. ? equipped with a first service that ha ; been described as a “snorter.” but in her play generally she appears +r be not exactly careless, but at least indifferent, and requires to concentrate more firmly on the game. Sht lias little faults—possibly due to nervousness—such as. looking round during a game, and taking notice of the play on adjoining courts, which ar: bound to detract from her game. • In the first- set tlie games were ever to four all. and Miss Spiers then won ing her the odd game; and she won the set after a hard fought game on Miss Ferrier’s service. There wn = Miss Spiers really won with superior volleying and smashing shots from the centre of the court. In the second set Miss Ferrier won the first two games, hut the score seesawed to four all. Miss Ferrier then came to light with some quite good services down the centre line The play otherwise, was even, but Misv Spiers marred her game with a succession of three double faults that were decidedly careless. Tn tile third set Miss Spiers adopted the base line game, and it was Miss Ferrier’s steadiness that was the determining point, as she was more active on tho court, and kept a better length. The four leading ladies now are Misses Dorman, E. Partridge, Ferrier and Spiers, and it looks as if Miss Dorman will stay where she is, for although not a volloyer or smasher, she is very fast on the court and has a really aggressive backhand. With the prospect of a game against the New South Wales ladies. Miss Dorman ought to cot more singles play, instead of the continual foursomes one sees at United, and the same remark applies to all the. ladies, whose form is distinctly improving. Glanville beat Overend for tho championship of Avonside last Saturday, 6-1. 6-3. Overend was hardly in Gianville’s class, and grass court play is credited with putting him off hii hard court game. If anyone can get in and hit him or beat him in steadiness he begins to hit them out. The special committee on association courts will meet at 5 o’clock this evening. One or two properties are under consideration in addition to the one which has been the subject of negotiation, ajid it is hoped to come to a decision that will meet with the unanimous approval of delegates. Three more clubs have applied for affiliation to the Canterbury Association—Greendale. Lvndhurst and Hororata, and it, is expected that Edgeware will fall into line soon. Exclusive of Edgoware, there arc fifty-three clubs affiliated, with a good many more The tournament seepetarv of the Kaikoura Tennis Club, in forwarding a programme of the Christmas weektournament writes: — 11 T think that outside competitors will thoroughly enjov a few davs spent in this salubrious seaside resort, lor. though somewhat isolated because . of the Prime Minister’s neglect in completing the railway from Parnassus, yet it offers many attractions to the jaded business man and also to women and children.” There are five champion and five handicap events on the Kaikoura programme, and entries must reach the secretary by December 16. The secretary’s flowery reference to the charms of Kaikoura is certainly not overdone, for there is not a more bracing holiday resort in New Zealand than Kaikoura. The committee, in issuing the programme. say During this season there is usually a. large influx of visitors to Kaikoura. many of them tennis players, and it is anticipated that the tournament will fill a distinct want. The courts ar-3 situated within a few yards of the beach, a.nd dressing tents will be provided, so that competitors, during the intervals of play, can indulge in a ‘ dip in the briny.’ There is ample court accommodation (asphalt). On Tuesdav. December 26, the Knj _ koura Racing Club hold its annua] fixture. and the tournament will be held on the three following days. On Y\ ednesday, December 27 the Ka,k„,„-a Kiftjiermen'ft Association holds its annual regatta, so that this Christmas season, promises to he -■ regular Carnival in Kaikoura. Intending competitors who would like the tournament committee to make arrangements for their accommodation should notify the committee at the earliest possible moment, as the town’s ed at this time of the year. The committer- u ill do its best, if requested, to secure accommodation. Moraine tea. will be supplied to competitors free of charge, and a charge of Is will h a made for afternoon tea.” The Hawke’s Bay Championship combined with the Hastings handican tournament, will follow the 'New Zea‘land Championship meeting at TTastings on December'2B, 29. and 30 and January 1. 2. 3. and following daye. Boys and Eirls championship singles are included in the programme E n trie* will close at 8 p.m. on December ! 16. with the secretary , Mr G At Spence. One or two of the new steel racquets i have reached Christchurch, and they ! certainly look as if thev might h** ! quite good for winter play. The fiame is of light tubular steel, with a ! cross piece btpzed in near the shotil- j ders. Tiie handle is of wood, encasing the two ends of the frame. The most interesting feature' of the racquet A the stringing. The strings, a good deal thicker than the average *guc

! string, are made -of finely woven steel and their appearance suggests that a . great deal of cut or ten could be put. j on the ball, possible at the expense jof the ball. The .manufacturers supply j the steel racquets with gut strings. ■ which .suggests that some players do i pot like the steel rt ring ; but for damp 1 weather the steel string appears to be i the thing. One probable advantage ol | tho now racquet is that it can give : strength with lightness, a big consider ! ation vith those who have to undertake i heaw tournament play. I Miss N. Curtis and Mrs/NY. J Melody, both holders of Dominion chain j pionships. met on the Potonc Club’s j courts -on Saturday last. Miss Curtis defended her position as top lady on • the ladder, beating her challenger j 6 3. B—6. Neither was at her best ! in the first set. but the second was hard fought. Mrs Melody served first ; and dropped the game after leading • 30—0 Miss Curtis followed by taking hers to deuce and breaking througn ; Airs Melody’s to love, after which she ! notched her delivery to 30. leading i 4—o. Mrs Melody rallied and by dint ! of well placed shots took her service i easily, following bv breaking through j her opponent’s service to fifteen, only to drop the next game after deuce, i Yet again she took Miss Curtis’s ser lost the ninth game and the set 3—G after a double deuce. The second set was a hard one, Mrs Melody, who-had been herself only in flashes, now mixing her game.with fine results. Miss Curtis chased lobs to tho backstop, and was caught by short shots and though she frequently scored outright was for long unable to gain a decided advantage. Bot,h players lost their first service games, Miss Curtis too l k the next to love and Mrs Melody the fourth to thirty. Deuce was called thro-’ times in the next game, when Mr; Melody ran out by a beautiful place- ] niont. However, she lost her own ser j vice t-o fifteen, and Miss Curtis folj lowed on to lend 4.—3. Both, larlie, held their service in the next two games for the loss of one point, and Mrs Melody won the tenth similarly. Then the end wine. Miss Curtis jusc I scraped borne in her service after three | deuces, Airs Melody again .scored game at 6—all without difficulty, then Miss Curtis equalled, and ran out in the final game B—6 against service. Mrs Melody’s performance was particularly good, inasmuch as her opponent three times held the advantage game. Miss Ourtis scored 87 points to Mrs Mel ody’s 63. i The championship meeting promises to bo a most attractive one, says i "Wellington writer. and champions from all quarters are entering, not only with the idea of securing championship honours for themselves, but with the hopes of helping to win the coveted Anthony Wilding Memorial Cup, and the Now Zealand Association Banner for their association. The association scoring the greatest number of points at the meeting will hold these trophies until the next championship meeting, and will have its name placed on them. Thp. Wellington Association has been overwhelmed with challenges from players anxious to occupy the bottom rung. A suggestion has been made by Air N. B. Barkman that challenges should be invited each month, and that the challengers should play off for the right to meet the lowest man. The list could be closed when a certain number was received, and this would prevent the tournament from becoming unwieldy. Also, it would make the life of the lowest player on the ladder more pleasant. No definite word has been received by the X.Z.L.T.A., says the “Dominion.” regarding the date of arrival of the New South Wales ladies’ team. The s.s. Ulimaroa is due to arrive it Wellington from Sydney on December 6, and if the visitors come by this steamer, it will probablv mean th it they will play first in the South Island. in any case, the New Zealand representative ladies’ team to meet tho visitors will not be selected until after the New Zealand championships, which commence on Boxing Day, and this may mean that the representative match mav be played at Auckland.

-loxvpver. no itinerary can be arranged until a cablegram is received from Sydney. Some of the ladv players were very nervous, says n Wellington writer, lescribing the opening of the W ellingLon inter club matches, but that will vear off after a few matches. Squealing never assisted in getting the baM ivor the net yet. and players mu ~t cultivate the habit of saving their breath. It should he the endeavour if every lawn tennis player to observe i quiet demeanour in court. When ploying in a double the partners shouH not he continually talking to one ,-n----nthor: but. with the exception oF making an occasional remark ns Ir* which opponent to plav to. or ns to adopting different tactics. snouliT OTI- - as client a demeanour na possible. That implies to the men as well os the Indies and if the advice is taken in the same spirit as it h given, the players will he benefited, for a constant flow ol language com. i**g from one partner to another .a ,-nough to put the other Partner completely off his game ; and. besides, it often spoils the game for those on the other side of the net- as well. The Wellington writer’s remarks are quite applicable to Christchurch. where squealing is painfully common on some courts. Talking, too, is a great burden to other players. There is one particular sinner in this respect who does not stop talking in a high-pitched voice, especially in' singles. f om the time he goes on till the time he comes off. •I O. Anderson, the Sydney champion, ran up against a sturdy young snag in the second round of the. United ■states championship singles when he played Ivirk 31. Reid, of Cleveland. Hie Australian won 0-4. 9-7, 9-7, anri dl three sets wore marked by the stern■st fighting,, possible. R eid is a regular lighter, and he battled for the net position almost continuously. while Anderson stayed back and met the rushes with well-placed passing shots. Rowl played himself to a standstill, although he was in splendid condition, rn the third set he staggered about the -nurt after the rallies, until thf spectators thought 1m would collapse. Kev wal times it was thought that he would liave to quit, hut apparently pride am. 111 indomitable will prevented him from loing so. Discussing the different grips ns practised in England. America and Australia, Dr 1,. O. S. Poidevin makes the following observations “ Another practical advantage is concerned with fhc application of the inexorable rule about keeping the eye on the ball. This is always regarded as a sine qua non in the correct execution of all strokes T’Jie difficulty about it apears to be the keeping of the eyes opened to the ball, is it were, and at the same time to hare more than a dim idea of the posi-r tion of the lines of the opposite court, md of the movements and position of rour opponent therein. The advice generally given is to simplv forget, or not worry at all ah out your opponent, ">ut to make sure that you play a firm, l no stroke in. whatever direction you invc decided upon. That, on the vhole. 1 think, is very sound advice, i he temptation to take your eyes off ■he hall to see what your opponent is loing. especially when he is following lis service to the net, or otherwise* •rancing about near the net is a very strong one, and is the cause of many i mistimed and ineffective stroke. But vliat has the grip of the racquet to do rith it? Just this: With the English ;rip the hall is usually not played till t is level with the body and the eyes consequently turned away from and aeing at right angles to the opposite •ourt. whereas with the other grip the iall is played well in front of the ine of the body with the eyes facing lirectly into, and not away from the ipposite court. This is no theoretical reation : it is a definite practical reility. The hall is thus played always m the volley, and usually off the 'round with the racquet. ball. net. ines of the opposite court, and oppoiciit or opponents all in direct line of ision. There is no temptation or cpessity to take the eye off the ball, 'his. T venture to think, is an inconrovertible practical advantage.”