LAWN TENNIS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17230, 22 December 1923, Page 9

LAWN TENNIS.

BROOKS AND SUZANNE. By Telegrai h—Press Association—Copyvigkl Sydney “ Sun ” Cable. (Repelved December 22, ~40 p.m.) LONDON, December 20. It is stated that Norman Brooks will partner Mdle. Siuanne Lenglen in the Riviera tournaments. RANKING MATCHES. 1. A. Seay, in a. ranking challenge yesterday. beat F. S. Wilding for third place on the Canterbury ranking list. 6-4,- 3-2. Seay played brilliantly, giving Wilding the sort of stuff he least liked. He led 6-2 in the first spell. He was more active and enterprising throughout the match. Seay will now play G. G. Attken, who defeated Wilding for second place a few TEST ARRANGEMENTS. “ You may say definitely,” said Mr D. Murray Kean, secretary of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association, to-day, | “ that the New Zealand championships will not clash in any way with the t«st match between New Zealand and New South Wales.'* " The present arrangements are that the test match will be played on the afternoon of next Wednesday and Thursday, aud during those times all play In the championship tournament will be suspended. The tournament games will l*e placed up till noon on those days, but meu playing in the test match will not be asked to play any games in the morning. So far it has not been decided whether the test match teams will consist of four men or six.” Speaking of arrangements for the cham- j pionsbips Mr Murray Kean said that it was hoped to get the bulk of the singles played within tho first two days, and the draw had been so fixed that every player had a reasonable interval between matches. All of the members of the New South Wales team engaged in hard practice at ! the United courts this afternoon. Donblea and singles were played, and an interested crowd watched tho play. CHAMPIONSHIPS AND TEST MATCH. The New Zealand championships, whioh will be played in conjunction with the teat match betweeu Now Zealand and New ; South Wales, will b© oommenoed at the United Club's grounds at Hagley Park on j Wednesday morning. Championship play will begin oaoh day at 9.30 a.m., while the test match will take place in the afternoon on Wednesday and Thursday. This year tho championships have attracted a record entry, and the tennis should reach a, high standard. Apart from Ollivier, the present champion, and Sims and Wilding, the three Canterbury members of the New Zealand team, a great deal of interest will he centred in the form of Bartleet, of Auckland, who hae beaten both M’lnnes, the brilliant young Australian Davie Cup player, and Peach, of the Australian team. Then there is France, who is at the head of the Wellington ranking list, and has been hailed by a Wellington writer as the prospective champion for 1924, and Wallace, the brilliant Taranaki representative. The championships are being taken very seriously this year by all the entrants, and local opinion favours Ollivier or Sims for the singles. In the ladies' event* practically all the leading players are competing with the exception of Mise Curtis. Past form points to the success of Miss Marjorie Macfarlane, of Anokland. but one of the most improved young players is Mis* Howe, of Wellington, a very stylish player, while the form of the Canterbury ladies. Mi bros Spiers. Partridge, Willis. Ferrier and Saunders and others will be watched with intereet, as it is ©onceded that there has been some improvement of late in the Canterbury standard. The grounds onght to be looking their best during the championships. Good stand (accommodation will be provided and there will be public afternoon tea and luncheon tents. Season ticket* may be obtained for the championships and test match. THE WILDING SHIELD. The Canterbury Association hae accepted a challenge from the Auckland Association for the Wilding Shield. The match will I>© played on January 4 and S, provided Canterbury beat Wellington in the Now Year challenge match.