LAWN TENNIS.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16747, 13 March 1926, Page 18 (Supplement)

LAWN TENNIS.

TRUE SPORTSMANSHIP. (By ."'Volley.’’) G. L. Patterson, following his defeat by Moon in the recent Australian lawn tennis championships, showed his sportsmanship by presenting the Queenslander with his raccpuet. In handing it to Moon he complimented him on his play and remarked that no man had ever before take his services and returned them with such accuracy. TILDEN’S VIEWS. t W. T. Tilden, American national tennis champion, will not retire from the. game until lie is defeated; neither will lie turn professional. “I do not_ approve of champions in any sport retiring undefeated," Tilden said. "It is not to Ihe host interests of the game or fair to my successor to do otherwise. I would not have wanted to win my first championship that way, and 1 believe others have the same feeling. I expect to go on playing through the national championships until some player proves himself better than I am. ’ That time is getting near, according to recent happenings in the game where “Big Bill" used to dominate the situation. the last of his race. The lasi Englishman to hold the AH-England lawn tonis championship ,\ w. Gore) is i>B. lie made the first of his 29 consecutive appearances in tiie singles championships at Wimbledon in 1898, being beaten in the second round by W. C. Taylor. The first of three championships came to him in 1901, when ho defeated It. F. Doherty, to whom he had been run-ner-up two years before. His next appearance was in the challenge round in 1908, when he!had a walk-over, >; K Brookes not defending, and the following season he retained his title against M. .1. C. Ritchie. DAVIS CUP CHALLENGES. Challenges are already being ieccived for Uie 1920 Davis Cup competition, which it is generally assumed will provide a trial of strength between France and America. So far as New Zealand is concerned, this year’s contest will be robbed of a good deal of its interest by the decision of Australia not to send a team auroad. There is little doubt that the heavy expenses incurred in this despatch of teams to America during the past two years and the serious loss made on last year's tour were the determining factors in this decision. Moreovei, even if Anderson and Patterson were belli available, there was little prospect, on last, year's showing, that Australia would overcome France in Hi,! final, and thus reach the ohnl--lon ge a consummation essential to Hie tinancial success of the tour.

‘COLOSSAL IMPUDENCE.” An incident in which colossal impudence wus displayed is reported from I the new courts of the Wellington } Association at Miramar. Two young men visited the ground on a recent evening, evidently with the intent.on of playing a game, but on arrival found that the' courts were not in use, so I they departed, disappointed—but not I dismayed. They returned on llio ! following evening alter the workmen had finished the day’s toil, and while flic caretaker was not about erected 1 heir own not, placed their own posts (pieces of Ain x 2in) into the holes, and began a game with a low net. it was only by chance that the caretaker happened to glance nut of his window and noticed figures moving on the courts. Ho then investigated and found that the two men had taken charge of the courts and were enjoying themselves. Their explanation of their action was anything but convincing, as they were not members of the association nor of any clubs in the city. GROOVED TENNIS BALL. A grooved lawn tennis ball, a ball with an indented cloth face, made its appearance at some of the early tournaments of the season in the South of France, but it seems hardly likely to come into general favour. Mr A. Wallis Myers records his opinion of tiie new ball as follows:—"Of its durability, its length of service, do not think there, is any question. That is a factor Ltiat appeals to club members and to players who are neither wealthy nor privileged enough 1o employ new balls every lime they step into the court. if - duality of manufacture wore lho only tost the grooved hall might anticipate a successful career, for it is produced by the same company that supplies Hie hail used, in the championships at Wimbledon. Rut I Have not yet heard of any player in the front rank today who is hankering to hit it in a championship match, nor who would not be prejudiced against the experiment. Thai its flight is true is admitted. First-class lawn lennis however is a matter of controlled ; speed, of flic hall’s adaptability to a'-gression, especially mi Hie service, and on the drive, and of the decision I wliicli can be obtained from it on the i volley. The grooved ball in rny | opinion does not fulfil these requirej „tents; it tends to slow up the g.mc, I p places a premium on the cut, which at its worst is a weakness and at its l,e=t. a defensive expedient. if the grooved ball were employed generally the effect would be to make still softer the not very robust game which ; prevails-In England tn-dav.”