TENNIS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20456, 8 November 1934, Page 13

TENNIS.

The Secret of Perry’s

Success. NOTES BY “ BASELINE.” An explanation of Perry’s success is given by Mr Geoff. Ollivier, wh° watched him during his previous visit. Perry’s success is largely built up oil his ability to be always in position. It is the predominant thought in his mind. Most players, especially on the forehand, follow through towards the sideline, but Perry is stepping back into position as he plays. The left, or back foot, is ahead and the racquet is pulled across the ball as the sweep of the arm travels across the body. Consequently he is on his way to the centre of the court almost as soon as the ball has left his racquet. Perry,” says Ollivier, “is not a man of a few "pet strokes. It is true that his best scoring stroke is a heavily-sliced drive to his opponent s backhand corner, but he uses it only when the position demands it. With his forehand he plays no two strokes the same; off the same ball he mixes his stroke methods. To understand Perry every shot must be watched. The amount of wrist action is great and, in addition, his forearm is very powerful. With so little sw'ing back the pace is got by always moving towards the net at the moment of impact. He is never caught on the back foot.” Jottings. A recovery was made in the Fendal-ton-Waimairi match. Miss Wood led from Miss Logan, 5-2 and 40-love, yet Miss Logan won. In the Fendalton championships # last year J. Partridge was down love-5 and love-4 0. He took the set S-6 and the next. As a recovery it could hardly be bettered. At Wilding Park it was noticed that 80 per cent of the women’s dresses reached the ankle. This is in line with fashion, but that fashion should encroach on the freedom of the courts Is regrettable. A long dress must make for a poorer game. The Poole sisters were the only ones on the top row of courts who ware dressed for a game that needs freedom of movement. It is to be hoped that the shorts and pleated skirts of the English women visitors will give a set-back to the long skirt. x :: The news that Perry will play Hughes is good news, for otherwise Perry would have been extended in the combined doubles only. It cannot be contended that Hughes is Perry's equal, nevertheless, Perry will have to give of his best. Hughes reached the last eight at Wimbledon. At Auckland the two met, and Hughes won. The fact that they have played often against each other means that Hughes knows every move of Perry’s game. The rallies should be long. Strategy and brains win in tennis, and to know the other man’s moves cuts the ground from underneath his feet. Glanville and Sheppard played each other so often that the game always degenerated into a marathon. From memory, the Field v. Denton feud used to take hours to play. The Perry-Hughes match may be worthwhile. At Linwood any alteration in the club’s ladder after the first match does not displace any member of the team. It is a good rule, but the club has another one that could well be modified. It is that between the picking of the team and the first match any player in the club can challenge any member of the team for a place. This accounts for P. Bell's position as first man. He was twelfth and challenged F. A. Wilson and won. This is rather drastic, and a suggestion is to be made to the committee that two matches be played, as it is possible in some cases for the challenged person to be off his game. In Bell’s case he may well be worth a place, and to challenge up might be a sjlow process. *> •• Fendalton will not have a senior team this year. Not long ago they could field two senior teams. Thev had J. Crawshaw, J. A’Court, W. S. Somerville, B. D. Loughnan, J. W. Fisher, E. Orbell. P. Hall and D. Gould, and their women players included Misses Wake, Rudkin, Gould, S. Goss and Mesdames Crawshaw B. B. Loughnan, J. W. Fisher, E. Orbell, and Lee. Of these only W. S. Somerville has remained faithful. The majority of those mentioned made hard court tennis their winter game, but now golf and, in two cases, polo, have altered things. The club- will come to the front again. This year there are 150 members. including a great number of promising young players. Geoff. Ollivier is to coach the learners at Linwood on Saturday afternoons—the world does move! :: A New Zealand University team will probably visit Australia shortly. The suggested team is: A. R. Cant, H. A. Barnett, B. A. Barrer and R. A. Young, all of Canterbury. At the Australian end everything has been arranged, and on November 17 they will play a Canterbury team on the centre courts at Wilding Park to raise funds for the tour. A small charge for admission will be made. There should be good tennis at Wilding Park to-morrow and on Saturday. To see the two present Wimbledon singles champions in action is a great event—something to remember in the years to come. Perry has won all the singles championships he has entered for except one—the French championship, during which he sprained his ankle. He has won the British hardcourt championship, two on the Pacific Coast, the Australian, the U.S.A. and at Wimbledon. Mis Dorothy Round, is probably the world’s best woman. Friendlier Tennis. The older players will remember the matches of the past when clubs visited clubs. The hosts set themselves out to entertain, afternoon tea was quite a ceremony, and at the end there were speeches and cheers. The matches to-day have lost something. Last Saturday, Leeston, a club famous for its hospitality, arrived at Wilding Park and sat on one seat; the other team sat on another. It would have been the same no matter who they played. The teams seldom mix. It occurs that something better could be devised. Let the draw be made out for teams to take turns at being hosts and take the oposing side in to afternoon tea. A Grade Competition. A start was made with the grass court matches last Saturday. Cathedral had their second win. this time against Avonside. Avonside, who had one of their best players absent wiln a sprained ankle, did not win a set. C. H. Franklin nearly got one. He led ean 8-3, but could not clinch it. Although J. Mercer beat Burnett, 9-3, the game was long and not one-sided. Woolston had their second win, but this tima by a narrow margin. In the last two combined doubles the score was 5-all, and Woolston took the odd games *o win. Opawa, who have a strong teaYn, beat Linwood, who miss Mansfield. Manchester and Mrs Wilson, Elmwood, with three new ladies, beat 'ashmere. In the other section. Waimairi had a narrow win against Fendalton. who hod two emergencies playing. When the last set went on Andrews had to beat Carter to prevent Fendalton winning on games. The score went to 8-all and Andrews dropped three match points before he won. St Mary’s beat Redcliffs on games. Leeston, on their first visit to Wilding Park, went down to the strong Edgeware team. When the Leeston players become used to the grass they will be formidable. Belfast beat Beckenham.