LAWN TENNIS.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17982, 29 March 1930, Page 9 (Supplement)

LAWN TENNIS.

THE AUSTRALIAN VISIT. LOCAL PLAYERS OUTCLASSED. KALMS’ OUTSTANDING GAME. (By “Half-Volley.”) The recent visit of the Australian team to Hamilton aroused much interest. A large crowd were present at the Rosstrevor Street courts to witness the .play. The Aussies, proved superior in all departments of the game, and with the exception of one set in ■the first double, in which Laurenson and A. W. Sims took the first set from Kalms and Teague, they were unbeaten in all matches. This does not mean thatt he local players were hopelessly outclassed by any means, as in many cases the games were closely contested, but the visitors were possessed' of more , “finishing” strokes, as well as a greater variety of strokes—which showed their use in tight play. Particularly telling in the doubles play was the use of the low, net-skimming cross-court shot, which was used from seemingly impossible positions at times. Their groundshots were very sound, and the ease with which they picked up the halfvolley shots, and placed them too, was good to see. Overhead they were solid, and some fine smashing was seen, more especially in the doubles.

Kalms, the captain of the visitors, was their outstanding player, and was fine to watch. Ilis stinging service ■with which he left his opponents standing, was unusual, in tha-t, lie did not toss the hall so high as many players thus getting a lower flight with less bounce. It was a difficult service 1o negotiate, and. gathered many points. His forehand drive was very powerful and made great pace oil the ground. Here again he did not waste space over the net —just a clearance was aimed for all the time. Teague is possessed of a fine allround technique, his back-hand being especially sound- He is an adept at the short cross-court chop, and gets this particular shot from some uncanny positions.

Spoule showed up particularly well at the net, and in mid-court work. His volleying was very sound and accurately placed. Donohoe, who by the way is the “wag” .of the party, is a solid allrounder, with no particularly outstanding feature. In the singles game with G. Brough, in which only one set w-as played, he took the set G—3, after an interesting game, in which superior placing and better courtcraft carried him through. In this set the contrast between the two styles of play was most marked. Brough ■was playing well, but the amount of energy and physical effort required to get the result was in decided contrast to the apparent ease with which his opponent obtained the same result. A finer sense of position for the return, combined with wonderful timing of the shot made it look “oh, so easy." Brou'gh will undoubtedly gain much by his inclusion in the team, and with some attention to his stroking along these lines he should show some sound improvement. 'lt was noticeable that the visitors follow-through on a drive on the forehand was not as great as that of the 'local players. Points such as this, make for a lot in the playing of a five set match when the physical effort required is very great. Fine Playing Area. Mr Kalms, in expressing the team's thanks for the splendid reception given them said that the playing conditions were ideal. lie especially praised the courts on which the matches were played, stating that, they were the fastest and truest that they had had the pleasure of being on in their tour. This must be highly gratifying to those in charge of the courts, who have given much time and energy in their preparation. THE EASTER TOURNAMENT. ARRANGEMENTS UNDER WAY. The Waikato Lawn Tennis Association’s Tournament Committee is making the necessary arrangements for the big tournament which is held at Easier on the Rosslrevor Street courts. There is every indication that this popular meeting will he highly successful, as enquiries have already been received from places as far afield as Tauranga. The Hamilton j Lawn Tennis Club is to be highly con- ; gratulated upon the splendid condition | of .the courts. Mr F. Kalms (captain i of the visiting Australians) stated that [ the courts played more truly and were in better order and condition than any ! other courts in New Zealand on which he.and his associates had played. At a meeting of the committee the programme submitted was duly approved. It, contains the following events: —Men’s championship singles and doubles; ladies’ championship singles and doubles; mixed championship doubles; boys’ championship singles and doubles; girls’ championship singles and doubles; men’s, handi■■—v -“iasles and doubles; ladles’ han-

dicap singles and doubles. Entries will close on Monday, April 14, at 5 p.m., and the draw for all events will take place on the following day. Play on Good Friday will be entirely optional.

DAVIS CUP PLAY. THE AUSTRALIAN TEAM. The Australian Davis Gup team is now on its way to participate in the inter-zone finals. “Austral” of the I Sydney Referee thus analyses its I chances:— There are a lot of dismal Jimmies who croak of its certainty of defeat, and that at an early date. It will meet Switzerland in the first round. In 1923 the Swiss team nearly beat | France, for it led at two matches to | one. Up to then no team bad lost after such a lead. Blanchy, of France, had beaten Aeschlimann, but Coohet had lost to Martin, and the doubles had been won by Switzerland. Then ’Blanchy also beat Martin, and (Jochet beat Aeschlimann. Martin and Aeschlimann have gone off since then, and there is no Swiss player of high class of late years. Our team should therefore have a fairly easy run to the inter-zone final. Its only serious rival is Italy, with de Morpurgo as the chief adversary. Although he beat Crawford in 1928, the latter was seriously ill, and has improved. Moon also is now practically as good as Crawford, and on his best day perhaps better. Our doubles pair should win easily, whichever of the four form the pair. Germany’s Loss. ■Germany has lost one of her two best players, and without him is not a serious rival. Britain has H. W. Austin and Dr. J. C. Gregory. Well, .we saw them play here last year, and Crawford beat them every time. Crawford has improved .greatly. Gregory may have, and so may have Austin, but we have no indication of any great improvement in either. I shall expect both Crakvford and Moon !to beat either Austin or Gregory. In | thd doubles, good as Gregory and ! Collins have proved themselves to be, j I see no reason why that pair should ! beat any of the best Australian pairs, j | Crawford-Ilopman, Crawford-Moon, Crawford-Willard, Moon-Willard, or Willard-Hopman. Our team ought to reach the interzone final, where it will meet practij cally certainly the U.S.A. team. Two , 1 years back Crawford and Hopman j held their own in singles and doubles j against the best men of the U.S.A., and we have every reason for confidence that they will do, so againCertainly there is no evidence to the contrary. During its practice, after arriving in Europe, the team will have plenty of time to work out the best two of the four for the doubles. I shall expect them to hold their own against • any pair in the world. Australian pairs have always been in the forefront of the world. I consider they are still as high in the world’s tennis. Question of Expenses. There has been something of a storm in the local journals as to the allowance to be made to the members of the team for expenses during the tour. Previous teams have had 15s a day while on ship, and 25s a day on land. This team is to have . 20s on land and 15s on sea. One can hardly see any reason for fuss on this difference. The team is about 12 weeks at sea, and a fair margin should be available from the allowance on sea. With- careful management the 5s should be easily saved. Wlilard, as manager, can be left to look after that. One journal said that Hopman expressed his lack of satisfaction with this reduction. One can hardly believe he would do so.

The members of the team will realise that they are,ln Europe to play tennis. If admirers want them to fly round they ■can easily refuse. Anyway, too many entertainments .would interfere with their training, and they realise that an early defeat may mean the end of their tour. Certainly Australia is not liable for their expenses once the team is out of the Davis Cup competition. ■Of course, the offer of the English Association to pay £4OO toxvards the team’s expenses if its members take part in a match against England and enter for the English championships at Wimbledon will help the finances,, and other matches are practically certain to bring in money. No doubt if the gate money received is large enough to ensure that there will be little or no loss on the tour, the old rate will be restored. AMERICAN RANKING. i TILDEN ON TOP FOR TEN Y'EARS.

Once again and for the tenth year in succession Tilden heads the American ranking list. That in itself is an absolute record- lie is 3G, and did not reach his zenith till he was 2G. That tends to show that a young player may be unduly forced by the desire to win events, and may so neglect to avoid errors in stioke production, which are seldom cured. It also shows that a player is far from done at 35. Hunter is 35. The full list is: Tilden, Hunter, Doeg, Loti, Van Ryn, Mercur, Allison, Coen, Bell, and Mangin. Goen is only 18, and is the youngest player to have ever gained a place in the first ten, save perhaps Vincent Richards. The order of the players has changed since last year, and the various changes indicate a lack of certainty in the players. Only Tilden and Hunter stand out*

GERMAN DAVIS CUP PLAYER. VICTIM OF ACCIDENT. Hans Moldenhauer, who recently died from injuries received in a motorcar accident near Berlin, was one of Germany’s outstanding lawn tennis i players. He won the German singles j championship in 192 G and 1927, ‘but lost it to Preen in the following year. He played for the German Davis Cup team, and was mainly instrumental in winning the final of the European zone competition against Great Brii tain. In what was practically the de- ! cidig match he defeated “Bunny” Austin. He was very popular at Wimbledon. MRS ‘‘HELEN WILLS.” TO CONTINUE TOURNAMENT PLAY. After demonstrating at a private match at San Diego (California), that marriage had not marred the brilliance of her tennis, Mrs Moody, formerly Miss Helen Wills, re-embarked with her husband, the young San Francisco stockbroker, in the yacht Galatea. Asked whether the courts were going to lose her for the kitchep, Mrs “Helen Wills” replied, ‘“lt is so easy to keep in training that I think I shall be able to continue my tournament playing with the same enthusiasm as before.” PROMISING AUSTRALIAN GIRL. WONDER FOR HER AGE. Miss Hood, the Queensland tennis star, is a wonder for her age and experience, but she has to learn that, there are more ways of winning than by mere hard hitting, and that placing and variation of stroke are just as important as speed, says an Australian critic. Still, it is refreshing to see a woman depart from the wearisome deep driving without placing of many of our leading players. The spirit to do or die is highly praiseworthy, but it can find expression in more ways than speed. Suzanne Lenglen won by variation of length and angle.