TENNIS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17190, 6 November 1923, Page 7 (Supplement)

TENNIS.

NEWS FROM AM COU RTF

COMING EVENTS. New Zealand Championships a f (,'hristchureh- December 26, 27, 26, 29, 61. IP:M Marlborough Championships, a I Wenhoi m December 26, 26, 2", 1923. -North Otago Championships, at Oama.ru December 25, 26, 27, 1923. Southland Championships, at Invercargill December 26. 26. 27. 1923. Taranaki Championships, at Non- Plymouth- .January 8,9, 10, 11, 1921. West Coast Championships, at Hokitika- January 16, 17. 8. 1921. Wellington Championships- January 16, 17, IS. 19. 1924. Tennis has taken more out of William M. Johnston than it has given. That is, in a physical sense, says an American writer. It lias run the Californian to a skinny shadow, and several tennis writers in America have predicted that if he persists in much more competitive tennis, a physical breakdown lies just round the corner. So there may he a heap of truth in a rumour that lie intends to retire. “ There is nothing further in tennis for me.” Johnston is reported to have said. “1 want to get out of the competitive game, and stay out. T have been playing championship tennis for ten years, and now T feel as though T am entitled to a rest. I have won all the honours \ rare for. what with two national titles and the championships at Wimbledon and St Cloud, and the game is beginning to take more out of me than I. can put back. After the present season I will be ready to step aside and let some of the younger players have a try at the big game. I’m through.’* A French team will tour Australia in the latter part of 1924. or earlv in 1925. • What has New Zealand done afcaut it? asks a Wellington writer. The hint was given that the French players were open to an invitation. Ir, is not too late even now to get in. touch with the French officials through the same source as advised before. Mr J. C. Peacock will be in France early in 1924, and lie might be able to induce the French Lawn Tennis Association to send the French players through Now Zealand. The -Wellington Association’s courts will he in going order by then, and if the governing body does not move in the matter, why not the local association take a leaf out of Auckland’s hook and see if an exhibition match can be arranged with the French team. That is, unless the rules forbid the local association taking such action. Somebody should take action, and quickly at that. Wellington life members in the Association Courts will be on, a different footing from Canterbury life members, but whereas in Canterbury the subscription is £2l, in Wellington it is £IOO. ” Huka,” in the ” Post.” says: Any person taking up a life-mem-bership of £IOO ran nominate three relatives with full privileges for life, and should any of the said relatives cancel their membership, the original nominator is permitted to fill the vacancy with another relative. Any person paying a like sum can nominate three other members, with full privileges, for life. Some subscribers, it lias been suggested. might desire to nominate promising young players, such as public school champions, who otherwise mi ght not ho. able j c follow the game up. Firms might desire to reward some of their young employees for good work done by making them life members, and so ensuring them of a healthy exercise for life, which possibly they would not otherwise be able to afford. Mr Thomas H. Hicks lias received the following letter from New York from Mr Julian S. Myriek, chairman of the committee -if management of tho Davis Cup series:— ‘‘ Anderson played heroically in all three matches, as did Hawkes. It was a great, Davis Cup match, and although we won four matches to one, yet the closeness is not apparent in that score. As always, it has been a great pleasure and honour to have your team as the challenging team, and when it comes our turn to relinquish the cup Ah ere is no nation which we would rather see take it than Australia. .1 think all of the boys felt perfectly at home here, and they had a good time. They pursued the right tactics when arriving in this country in going to Forest Hills ami settling down very quietly and working hard to get themselves in good playing condition, accepting few invitations and playing in no tournaments. It seems to me the results of this conscientious and vigorous training has been fully justified, and T congratulate your association in having a captain such as Anderson who would have the courage to resist all the temptations to go about and stick to his training. It became dull and monotonous at times, hut I think the results have been proven. It seemed to us that Hawkes played a great doubles game, in the Davis Cup. We have been particularly well pleased with the two new men. Schlesinger and M'Tnues, and we hope that they will he developed into future Davis Cup players and champions. hi fact, every one of your team has fittingly represented you. and they have made a fine impression upon not. only those people they have met. personally, but upon the tennis crowds atlarge. SUBURBAN NOTES.

By • BASELINE.’ TR F E ( ONTENTMENT. Little I ask —my wants are few, Maybe. I'd like a. better drive; Still -that of Goss’s I'd make do. If nothing better. —l’d contrive. And with Oilivier’s side line shot And angle play IVI do a. lot. T am not. greedy -any smash Would quite suffice for such as 1. Something with Greenwood’s pare and dash Will do—and for a, serve T’ll try That one of Wilding’s—it, i..s strong Combining grace with ong bong pong. For laurel wreaths I am not bent on, A hanky round the brow will do, Coloured, like Glanville wears, or white, like Denton. The Davis Cup, in any case. Must on my sideboard have a place. I’d like some Sheppard steadiness (It's simply great when Fortune’s And for a backhand 1 confess. I*d like that- one of Reggy Browning j Just, give me these. I'll he content- j To enter a. world's tournament THE COMPETITIONS. HALS WELL v. PAPARUA. | Hals well, last year’s winners, nar- I rowly escaped defeat- on Saturday bv one game alter an egcßing match. The ;

cause was the unexpected reversal of form of Halswell ladies. Mr;: Gar butt won 6 1 against Miss Muirson. after a loss 9-3 a. few days before? and Miss White won 6-0 against Airs King. Both these one-sided wins are Unaccountable. Another -novelty was the defeat of Miss Muirson ami J. Mercer in the combined doubles. This pair are rarely defeated. Spicer appears to have struck form again, defeating A. Mercer 6-4. Hal swell’s new fourth man fully justified his inclusion. -1- Squire winning his single 6-1. Other single s winners were Mrs Spicer 6-5. Miss M'Kenzie 6-2, C. Gardiner 6-4, J. Mercer 6-1. With these club's R teams the match was closer still, and finished a draw. 78 games all. Singles winners for Paparua. were Miss Pooley. -1. Gunderson, E. Joyce. J. Henrv and for Halswell. Miss Parke. Mrs Fuller. Miss Hay and Fi. H. Down. BELFAST PAPA NT T. Tliis match followed closely to previous form. Belfast’s popular secretary has now won. third place in the team, and his performance, all through was good. He combined well with Goss 9- ( . and with Miss Moore 6-2. and defeated Gibson 6-2. Chapman, Papanui’s secretary, who is tenth on the ranking list, defeated Smail who is sixth, 6-3. Mrs Chapman was the only other single winner for Papanui. Mrs Brown. Miss L. Moore, Miss HaJligan. Goss, Brown, and Watson won for Belfast. With the B teams Belfast was also the victor. Aitken’s 6-4 against Htdligan, almost calls for a meeting of the stewards, hut otherwise the game was uneventful. Smith 6-2. Doak 6-0. Neale 6-4. Mrs A. Clarke 6-4. Mrs A. B. L. Smith 6-1. Mrs S. Watson 6-1. helped Belfast and Mrs Thornton 6-3 made a set win for Papanui. RICCARTON ST PAUL’S. This match was without incident as the Rice art on Club won by 20 games. Their team is -a very even one and they combine well together. S. Hollobo n 6-2, and Mullins 6-2 were on their game and their three first ladies won, Mrs Chalklen 6-2, Miss A. Holmes 6-1, | and Miss M’Meekan 6-4. Miss A. Chap? i man was the only winner for the I Papanui Club, but Tillman 6-1. and j Bow byes 6-4 won, and also combined ' well in the double. The. B match is best forgotten. This Ricrarton team is undoubtedly a strong proposition, and the team that defeats them should win the shield. KAIAPOI v. R ANGIOR A Just when the tipsters were nominating Kaiapoi as this year s premier team. Ra.ngiora defeated them by 39 games. This TJangiora team is going to he worth knowing, and Sullivan’s 6-2 «nd Shirley’s 6-2 against the two Hirsts mark them as among the best suburban players. Gallagher also won 6-5. That good player Miss Mitchell went down 6-0 to Miss R. Greig. and Miss Guy defeated Miss Gillett 6-2 and combining these Rangiora. ladies won 6-3. It looks as though the next suburban ladies championship will not be as one-sided a.s the last. The other ladies of this club won. Mrs C. Bell 6-2, Miss F. Jennings 6-3. Tunes 6-3. was the sole winner for Kaiapoi. LADIES’ COMPETITION. IT Paparua defeat. Canterbury College to-day. then the following "Wednesday they will meet Avonside in the fiinal. SUBURBAN CLUBS v. ASHBURTON. The first representative match takes place next Friday. The visiting team will be Miss Muirson, Mrs Page. Mrs Spicer. Mrs Chalklin. Miss ITeighton. I Mrs Bullock. Miss Nicholls, Miss V. Banks. J. Goss, AY. Hawkins. H. Tillman. A. Mercer, A. Spicer. F. Smaill. H. Collins, K. Chapman. Goss may not be able to go. and if not, J. Mercer will take his place.

UNUSUAL POINTS. These points are from decisions on actual match games. , Should a hail become broken through hitting, a let must be called. The umpire, subject to the approval of the referee, may decide when new balls are required to ensure fairness of playing conditions. In matches where there js no umpire the players should agree beforehand on this matter. y It is not a good return if a player 1 ©turning the ball, and finding that ho cannot stop himself before reaching the net. jumps over it. The rule requires the players shall he on opposite sides of the net. and therefore the player invading his opponent’s court loses the strokes. "When serving a. player may slide or twist either foot as long as both feet are kept behind the hase lino and one foot, at least is in continuous contact. with the grourul. It. is not a. fault if after throwing r. hall up preparatory to serving the server decides not to strike it. and 1 catches it- instead. He. has not touched the ball “in attempting to strike it.’’ A. service from the wrong court is a. fault if discovered before the point is completed. If play on that point has been completed, the stroke. stands as played, whether the server, has won or lost. Tn either case, as soon as the mistake is discovered the server must deliver his next serve from the proper court. AJI previous points before such discovery vshall be scored as played. However, if the mistake of the server .was due to the incorrect railing of the srore by the umpire, the stroke should be declared a let and played over, unless the point has been completed. The player should not suffer from the umpire's error. Tf the receiver attempts to return the service he is deemed to lie ready ; and if he fails to return the hall he is not entitled to have it. played over again on the excuse of not being ready. If the receiver claims to i;e not ready, and docs not make anv effort to return a service, the server cannot- claim the point, even though the service was good. A ball is played into the net : the player on the other fide, thinking that the hall is coming over, strikes at it and hits the net. 'I he question arises; does lie lose the point? If the player touched the net- while the ball i was in play he loses the point. A . ball touching the net ceases to he in ! play as soon as it- is clear that, the ! hall unimpeded will not cross the net. ff. while the hall is in pla- . .-i ! playei ‘s racket slip? out of his hand and touches the net lie loses the point. ! Tf a player's racket leaves his hand I hut meets the hall and returns ii over j the net it is a good return. There j is no law requiring a racket to be in a- player's hand when the ball is reurued.