Tennis Topics.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XI, Issue 50, 16 December 1893, Page 511

Tennis Topics.

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'VANTAGE.'

THE past tennis season in England has not revealed ranch change in the classification of the prominent players. The number of players with 15 2of the Champion have not increased greatly, as the subjoined list of forty-three players takes the place of forty two players of the previous season. It must be remembered that E. W. Lewis was not competing in the past season, as his medical examinations have prevented his playing. The champion, Mr J. Pim, has in every class of contest proved bis unmistakeable superiority, and finished with an unbeaten record. The ex-champion’ W. Baddeley, has decisively proved himself as second only to Pim, as the latter was the only one at whose hands he suffered any reverse. E. Renshaw appears to be getting back to his old form, and came very near beating Pim at Dublin. H. S. Mahony, the Covered Court champion, reached two sets all with Pim at the Wimbledon tournament, and beat W. Renshaw, who, however, went away from him at the Newcastle meeting. THE following is a list of the first flight players in the Old Country, placed in merit relatively to the champion : — ‘J. Pim, scratch. W. Baddeley, 1/4 i R. M. 3V atson A W Renshaw ) C. H. Chaytor E. Renshaw >2/4 G. L. Orme SH. S. Mahony ) H. L. Fleming K. R. Marley W. V. Eaves > s/4 A. W. Blake D. G. Chaytor l°* | S. H. Smith ' C. G. Allen M. F. Goodbody \ W. M. Cranston T Chaytor I H. E. Caldecott I g’ W. Hillyard I C. H. Martin ;-15'2 H S. Barlow r!5 H. G. Nadin tG. C. Ball-Greene I H. V. Doherty F. O. Stoker I B. A. Patten K. G. Meers J H. A. Nr bet H. D. Snook H. A. B. Chapman'. F. W. Snook H. Baddeley I A. E. Crawley E. R. Allen H. N Craig ♦A. W. Gore M- -Castle H. Grove (15.1 G. Greville ) A. Palmer. I vv . v\ ade H. W. Carlton I P.. 8. Brown I Champion of England and Ireland. of Scotland. tChampion of Wales. of Covered Courts. I HAD hoped to have been able to give a fairly full account of the arrangements for the coming tournament, but owing to the full entries from the South not having come to hand, my remarks are consequently delayed. For my readers’ information, however, I refer them to tne programme, and would draw the attention of intending competitors to the time of entrance (December 21st) and to the stipulations relative to entrance fees. By next week I hope to be able to publish the entrances received up to that date. PROGRAMME. CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES. Best of 5 Sots, advantage Sets. First Prize, value £lO 10s. The winner to hold the N Z.L.T.A. Challenge I up. 'aloe 25 Guineas, for one } ear. (The Cup becomes 1 hesbsolule• iri >l’ , 'r t > of anv piavT who shall win it three tunes. Ihe present holder of the Cup ie Mr M. Fknwicke.) Entrance. 10s. CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES. Best of 5 Sets, advantage Seta. Prizes, value £5 ss. each. Entrance. 10.-. each pair. LADIES’ SINGLES (CHAMPIONSHIP!. Beat of 5 Sets, advantage Seis in last round. First Prize. ' JJ’ I ®. £4 4h. The winner to hold the N.Z.L.I. Association Challenge Cup, presented by F. Slazenger, Esq., value £lolos.,

for one year. (The cup becomes the absolute property of any ladj- olayer who shall win it three times. The present holder of the Cup is Miss Rees.> Entrance, ss. LADIES' DOUBLES (CHAMPIONSHIP). Best of 3 Sets, advantage Sets in last round. Prizes, value £2 2s. each. Entrance, ss. each pair. MEN'S HANDICAP SINGLES. Best of 3 Sets, advantage Sets. First Prize, value £4 4s; Second Prize, value £1 Is. Entrance. ss. (If the Entries warrant it, the Committee will divide this handicap into two Classes, and separate Prizes will be given in each Class.) MEN’S HANDICAP DOUBLES. Best of 3 Sets, advantage Sets. Prizes, value £2 2s each. Entrance, 10s each pair. LADIES' DOUBLES (HANDICAP). Best of 3 Sets, advantage Sets in last round. Prizes, value £1 Is each. Entrance. 5s each pair. COMBINED DOUBLES (HANDICAP). Best of 3 Sets, advantage Sets in last round. Prizes, value £2 2s each. Entrance, 7s 6d each pair. .L^'^t ral )9 es dose with the Hon. Secretary. 10 a.m. on Thursday, toe 21st December. 1893. No Entries accepted without fees. Matches will be played under the rules and regulations sanctioned by the L.T.A. of England. R. BLAIR, Auckland. A Ladies’ handicap-doubles tournament is in progress at the Eden and Epsom Club, for a prize presented by a gentleman who, during his short stay in Auckland last summer, was a member of the club. The first round has resulted in a win for Mieses Batger and Hall. I will give full details in my next. Misses Mowbray and Spiers are playing together in the ladies’ doubles at the championship meeting. Mrs Chapman and Miss Nicholson are also entering. I AM sorry to hear that Mr F. Laxon, of Napier, has met with an accident that may prevent his playing in any of the single events. Theie are no particulars to hand, but I hope he may be fit as a fiddle before the 21st. Mr Fenwicke informs me that the wretched weather at Napier during the past six weeks has interfered terribly with prac tice. J. M. Marshall is reported to be in slashing form this year, and his many admirers are sanguine as to his chances of securing the place of honour. The superstitious in the matter of weather prognosticate a fine spell during the Christmas and New Year holidays. Their system of logic is based on the time-honoured idea of * luck in odd numbers,’ anil gleefully point to the fate of the visiting bowlers last year, which was the first time thst band of strolling players came to Auckland ; and further, they dwell with corresponding glee on the disaster attending the Wellington cricketers. The obvious conclusion is that on the third meeting of colonial athletes at the coming tennis tournament the law of luck, or averages, or some such indefinite arrangement will make everything in the matter of weather quite happy.