TENNIS NOTES

Ladies' Mirror, Volume I, Issue 8, 1 February 1923, Page 42

TENNIS NOTES

N.Z. Championship Tournament T'HE New Zealand Championship Tournament at Hastings, held on December 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30, proved to be perhaps the most interesting meeting yet held. The fact of having the visiting New South Wales ladies team among the competitors undoubtedly raised the standard of play, and what would probably have been a completely representative meeting was only marred by the absence of New Zealand’s greatest player and 1921 champion, Miss Nancy Curtis. Great disappointment was expressed by all who knew her, as well as the visitors, when it was known that owing to ill-health she had to withdraw. Miss Lance, of New South Wales, annexed the championship singles, and with Miss Lloyd the doubles. In the singles her hardest fight was against Miss Gray, also of New South Wales, who was playing beautiful tennis throughout the meeting. Great, credit is due to Miss Macfarlane, of Auckland, who met her in the fourth round and took a set from her, playing clean, accurate tennis of a high standard. _ She is undoubtedly the most promising of New Zealand players at the present time, with the exception of Miss Curtis, and shows great improvement on last year’s form. The four players to reach the semifinal were Misses Lance, Gray, Mrs. Lascelles and Mrs. Scott Watson. Mrs. Scott Watson was the only player to defeat a New South Wales lady—Miss Lloyd. Although she deserves all praise, Miss Lloyd is undoubtedly considerably weaker than the remaining three of the New South Wales team in singles play. The final of the ladies’ doubles was played between Misses Lance and Lloyd and Mrs. Lascelles and Miss Grayall of New South Wales. The former pair quickly proved their superiority, and took the match in two straight sets. It is in doubles that the visitors perhaps have shown their greatest tennis, both couples coming through to the final with the loss of only one set. The final of the combined match between Miss Lance and Sims, and Miss Macfarlane and Robson, resulted in a win for the former pair, 6—2, —5. They took the first set without much effort, but the second was well fought out, the Auckland pair at one time leading 5—3. However, the winners took the next five games and match. The play of Miss Lance was outstanding throughout. The girls’ championship singles was won by Miss D. Hart, who defeated Miss M. East, 6—5, 6 —l. This young player has a very free style, and already shows promise of greater things. There can be no doubt that the standard of play among New Zealand girls is considerably higher than that of the men, and the visit of the New South Wales ladies’ team will do much to raise it higher still. The visiting team have shown throughout a greater variety of shots, better service and volleying powers, and possess infinitely superior court-craft. The result of the match between New Zealand and New South Wales will be watched with interest, and there are many who would expect the New Zealand team to be successful if it were possible to include in it Miss Curtis. Tips by ''Tilden IyrORE tennis can be learned off the court than in actual play. Strive when playing to put into practice the theories you have read or the strokes you have watched.

Keep your eye on the ball. That is the first principle of all ball games. About eighty-five per cent, of the points in tennis are the result of errors. The remainder are earned points. As the standard of play rises the percentage of errors drops, until sixty per cent, are errors and forty per cent. aces. Any average superior to this is super-tennis. All tennis strokes should be made with the body at right angles to the net, with the shoulder parallel to the line of flight of the ball. The weight should pass from the back foot to the front foot at the moment of striking the ball. The Perfect Drive To drive straight down the side line, the swing of the racket should be flat and straight through. The racket head should be on a line with the hand, or, if anything, slightly in advance; the whole arm and the racket should turn slightly over the ball as it leaves the racket face, and the stroke should continue to the limit of the swing, thus imparting top spin to the ball. The hitting plane of all ground strokes should be between the knees and shoulders. The most favourable plane is on a line with the waist. In driving across the court from the right, advance the left or front foot towards the side-line, and shift the weight a fraction of a second sooner. As the weight shifts pivot slightly on the left foot and drive flat and diagonally across the court. All drives should be made with a stiff, locked wrist. There is no wrist

movement in a true drive. Top spin is imparted by the arm. The backhand drive follows closely the principle of the forehand drive, except that the weight shifts a moment sooner. The right or front foot should be advanced a trifle closer to the side-line than the left, so as to bring the body clear of the swing. The ball should be met in front of the right leg instead of the belt buckle, as the great tendency in backhand shots is to slice them out of the side-line. Do not strive for too much top spin on your backhand strokes. The slice service is the easiest for beginners. It should be hit from a point above the right shoulder and as high as possible.