TENNIS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 19, 23 January 1935, Page 4

TENNIS

By

-HALF I'OLLEY.") I

Next Saturday the final round in this event will be played. The leading team, Wanganui No. 2, play Wanganui East, and St. John’s play Westmere. Club secretaries and teams’ captains are notified that all outstanding fees must be paid befoTe next Saturday. Last Saturday Westmere registered its first win, defeating Gonville, with whom they were sharing last place until that date. St. John’s Club. Several of the St. John's junior players have been getting in much useful practice on the courts during the holiday season and it is evident that they shall be giving some surprises ts> opponents in the near future. It is noticeable that the ladies have not realised how necessary it is to run afterall shots, and not let a ball pass merely because it is slightly out of reach.

The club events are not far enough advanced and it is desired that the first round in all events be played be fore the 27th inst., or there will be wholesale scratchings.

The B team won by a narrow margin from Wanganui East on Saturday. Mhch praise is due to A. Walker, whose persistent steadiness turned an almost certain defeat into a victory in the deciding set.

The tennis notes appearing in the Press lately have not piet with unversal favour, says a correspondent. The writers have wandered away from their usual cool judgments and are giving way to personal spleen against club courts and individual players. Such can never be in the best interests of the game.

Georges Bomiardel Cup. The professional lawn tennis tournament which is to be organised on the lines of the Davis Cup competition is to be for a trophy known as the Georges Bonnardel Cup, in honour of Georges Bonnardel, a French sportsman who was elected president of the new association of lawn tennis professionals. Bonnardel is a wealthy industrialist, and is a patron of professional lawn tennis in France. In his younger days he was a good second-class amateur player.

Girl Players. Miss-Maud Watson, who was the first English lady lawn tennis champion, said recently: “I think girl tennis players should be a little more ‘on their toes.’ Mlle. Lenglen was always ready to get to any part of the court in a second. They should keep a good length; try to hit the ball as far back as they can. A player can run forward, but she cannot run back (so well). Keep your mind completely concentrated on the game. Don’t look at the gallery. Concentration will help your tremendously. ’ ’ Intentions of Perry and Austin. “I believe that neither F. J. Terry nor H. W. Austin will turn professional until England has again defended the Davis Cup,” said W. T. Tilden, the American professional player, speaking at a luncheon in London as a preliminary to the opening of the recent professional lawn tennis tournament at Wembley. “I see do reason why amateur and professional tennis should not go hand in hand,” he added. “The orofessionals are preparing to form an international players’ association for developing international, national, and sectional championships, which I hope will meet with the approval of the International Amateur Federation.” Austin has confirmed Tilden’s statement, and in an article in the Evening News he complains that lawn tennis is the only game which maltreats the professional. He says: “The old amateur ideal is impossible. With the intensification of the game, world-wide championships, and year-round competitions, it would in no way harm, but, on the contrary, would strengthen, lawn tennis to permit those who can afford it to continue amateurism, while others play as professionals. Both classes could carry on competitive play together, as in cricket and golf.” British Players. In commenting on the ranking list which the Lawn Tennis Association of Great Britain issued recently, A. Wallis Myers, noted critic, says: “Between Perry and Austin and those who follow on the men’s side is a gulf that will need filling if our recently-acquired laurels are to be held against the world challenge. There are three new names on the lisit this year and this is a healthy sign, but the competition for the first and second places should be keener and the evidence of junior progress more real if the example net by Perry and Austin is tn hear fruit.”

Position of Teams in Men’s B Grade. Played. Won. Lost. Wanganui No. 2 4 4 St. John's 4 3 1 Wanganui No. 1 4 2 2 Wanganui East . 4 2 Westmere 4 1 3 Gonville . 4 4