Tennis Topics.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XII, Issue VII, 17 February 1894, Page 147

Tennis Topics.

BY

'VANTAGE.'

THE following ladies have entered for the Championship contest Mrs Chapman, Misses Atkinson, Bull, Davy, C. Frost, M. Frost, Gorrie, Horne, Laishley, Mowbray, Nicholson, Hookes, and Spiers. The latter holds the Championship at present, and therefore waits out to meet the winner among the other ladies. Mi:s C. R. Chapman is a member of Eden and Epsom Club, having joined this Club at the beginning of the present season. Her name has been foremost among the players at the Auckland Clubduiing the past three seasons. In 1891 Mrs Chapman won the Championship of that Club, playing the final against Miss Nicholson. These two ladies held an unbroken record for their Club doubles, won the inter club contest in 1893, and defeated all opponents in the late New Zealand Tournament. Mrs Chapman does not play a very hard game, but gets back nearly everything. Her returns are apt to be high, but she maintains good length. As with most of our lady players, her weakest

play is on the back hand. This year Mrs Chapman has met and won fiom Miss Gorrie in the first round for the Championship. The match, played at the Eden and Epsom Ground, resulted, 6—3, 7—5. Miss Atkinson was originally a member of the Auckland Club, but has joined and plays for the Parnell Club. Has a fast horizontal service, and also takes all forehand strokes with a straight arm. These strokes are made hard ; in fact, in the forehand she is the hardest hitter at Parnell. Has no knowledge of back hand play, and has acquired the reprehensible practice of using both hands for balls on the left. I would urge Miss Atkinson to abandon this, and also to play with a lighter racquet. Miss Atkinson plays almost entirely from the base line, and apparently knows the danger of getting into three-quarter court, being seen there less than most lady players. Has played in the championship singles in 1892 and 1893, being beaten in the former by Miss Gorrie, and in the latter by Miss Bull. The latter player has also scored a win from her this year, the games being 6—3 6—3. In 1889 Miss Atkinson won the Ladies’ Handicap Singles at the Auckland club, and with Miss Laishley won the Ladies’ doubles last year at Parnell. Miss Bull is a member of the Eden and Epsom Club. Possesses a tricky service, in most respects identical with that adopted by Miss Dods, the English champion. Want of pace is Miss Bull’s weakness, as her powers of return are often astonishing. Strongest on the forehand, but can play from the left, and occasionally volleys. Places well to side lines, but returns too short usually. Gets about the court with great activity, and tries for everything. Won handicap contest for trophy two years ago, and the Ladies' Handicap of her club last year. Defeated Miss Atkinson last week in the first round for the Auckland Championship, winning 6—3,6-3.

Miss Davy is a new member of Parnell Club, and a stranger in Auckland tennis circles, this being her first year here. Miss Davy is undoubtedly handicapped, as her tennis in Wellington has been almost entirely on asphalt courts. Her only match experience in the capital was against Miss Trimnell, whom she defeated. Serves overhand, but not severely ; places well, and is among the very few ladies who play a good back hand stroke. I anticipate that when ac customed to the grass courts and in practice Miss Davy will be heard of in coming contests. Miss C. Frost, a member of Onehunga Club. Has a fairly strong straight arm service; understands the value of placing and length, but lacks steadiness. Has great powers of return, and goes for everything. Would improve by steady practice against strong players. Miss M. Frost is a member of Onehunga Club, and plays a somewhat similar game to her sister. Has a good ‘ across-court ’ drive, and returns good length. Is hard to pass except on the back-hand. Miss Gorrie was, till this year, a prominent member of the Auckland Club, but she now plays with Eden and Epsom. Has a good under-hand service ; plays pretty tennis, and takes balls on the left correctly. Loses many strokes by getting in wrong position in court, being neither back nor up. Is not playing up to form this year. Places fairly, but does not hit hard enough. Miss Horne plays in Auckland for the first time this year, and with practice against hard play will improve all round. Places well, and returns with certainty on the forehand. MetMissC. Frost in the first round of thechampionship, defeating her, 7—5, 6—4. Miss Laishley,. member of Parnell Club. Serves with straight arm ; should cultivate a more difficult service, as against strong players her present service, owing to its softness, would likely be killed each time. Holds her racquet too short, and does not make enough of her speed—which is considerable—in ‘going’ for balls out of reach. Balls that come to her liking—about arm’s length on the forehand—receive no mercy, and Miss Laishley might make nearly all her strokes tell. From the back hand occasionally gets a hard telling stroke. Has represented Parnell in interclub contests—ladies’ doubles and combined—for past two years, and has competed successfully in her club’s tournaments, having won the Ladies’ Handicap Singles in 1892 and 1893 By carefully studying the game Miss Laishley will rank among the first three players before long. Miss Mowbray, member of Parnell Club. The name of Miss Mowbray is inseparately connected with Lawn Tennis in Auckland, as she had an unbeaten record for five years,

winning the Championship of Aucklaud in 1887, 1888, 1889, 1890, 1891, beating such well known players as Mias Spiers (the New Zealand present champion), Miss Morse, Miss Whitney, Miss McCausland, Miss Jahn. Owing to an unfortunate carriage accident (which, by the way, occurred when Miss Mowbray was driving home Horn tennis) she had to drop out of the competition in 1892. Last year, however, Miss Mowbray again entered the lists, but was beaten by Miss Spiers. lu 1889, owing to a mistake in framing the conditions, Miss Mowbray played right through, meeting and

defeating four opponents. Since her accident the Parnell champion has not shown the power and sureness that formerly characterized her game, but even yet one sees occasionally a hard across court drive from the right-hand corner, pitching close to heropponent’s base line, and playableonly by very few. This across court drive was undoubtedly Miss Mowbray’s strong attack, and to it she owed much of her success. From the middle of her court she was also able to make a telling well-placed stroke into her opponent’s left-hand corner. Miss Mowbray, unfortunately, neglected the backhand stroke, relying on her marvellous activity and powers of endurance to * run round ’ left hand balls. Even since the accident Miss Mowbray plays without sparing herself, and never loses heart or hope while there’s a stroke to be played ; but as she herself has expressed it, • I used to be able to place hard across the court and down the side lines, and (mournfully) now I can’t. I seem to have lost steadiness, and I’m afraid I’ll never play so well as before.’ Miss Mowbray and Miss Spiers played together in the Championship tournament, but owing to the similarity of their game did not make a strong combination. Miss Mowbray and Mr Hooper played in the combined, and beat all opponents. I know I express the wish of all tennis players in hoping that Miss Mowbray will yet recover her old form, and be seen playing a better game than ever. Miss Nicholson is a member of Auckland Club, in which she has won numerous events in singles, ladies’ doubles, and combined. Played in final for the Auckland Championship last year, being defeated by Mies Spiers, who won from her again in the final for the New Zealand Championship. In many respects plays the best game among the Auckland ladies. Has a fairly good service, hits everything low and clean, takes balls in correct style on the back hand, and places well. Against anything like soft play Miss Nicholson will score, but lacks certainty of return against hard driving. Bather overdoes waiting for falling balls both in service and returns, and for the style of game adopted by her should play with a more supple wrist and hit harder. Played in past years with Mrs Chapman, making the strongest ladies’ double in Auckland. These ladies won the ladies’ doubles in the recent tournament. Miss RooKES, member of Parnell Club. Has a soft underhand service: altogether plarsmnch too softly, and should cultivate hard strokes. Plays an admirable backband stroke, but discounts many advantages by continually getting into three-quarter court. Should resolve never to get nearer the net than the bise line. With Miss Mowbray beat Mount E len Ladies’ and Onehunga, but lost against Auckland. With Mis R. Walker won the Parnell Club Doubles last year. Played in the championship contest of 1893, but lost to Mies Von Sturmer after getting within one stroke of winning. Appears to play a much better game in practice than in matches, this probably due to nervousness.