LAWN TENNIS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVI, Issue XIII, 30 March 1901, Page 587

LAWN TENNIS.

(By

“Vantage.”)

The most interesting event at the Eden and Epsom lawns, Auckland, on Saturday afternoon was the meeting of P. A. Vaile and Claude Heather In the final for the championship of the Eden and Epsom Club. It was anticipated that the match would be a good fight, and these expectations were fully borne out. Vaile took the first set after a good contest.l0 —8. He then lost the next, Heather winning at 6—3. Vaile then won the two remaining sets, and the match, the scores being 10—8, 3—6, 7—5, 7—5. Heather played a very fine game. His volleying and placing were first-class, but his service was not too strong. He makes the mistake in a single when running in of not coming up close enough to the net, and Vaile passed him time and again by quick dropping shots just over the net to his backhand. I have seen Vaile play a much better game. He did not play his usual forehand shot, but chopped the ball to Heather’s backhand nearly all the time. He has only lately taken to this stroke, and gets a large amount of draw and cut on the ball, so that one can never tell exactly how it is coming up. I am inclined to think, however, that he is a little too fond of it. He very nearly threw his match away by playing Bamford, who it will be remembered gave Heather such, a good go a week or two back, three sets before he started with Heather. Vaile probably has as much endurance as any member of the Club, but three sets are more than are necessary to warm a player up for a match, and by the time Vaile had finished with Heather he had played 72 games right on end. Tn Heather Eden and Epsom has a player who win yet worthily uphold the honour of the Club in many important events. Mr T. Ruddock occupied the umpire's chair, and discharged the important duties of the office in an efficient manner.

Auckland tennis players will learn with great reerref that A. IT. McKean, who recently visited this colony with the Australian tennis players, has met with a serious accident. Poor “Tiny” was playing cricket, when he was struck on the forehead by the baft, and I am informed on good authority that he will lose the sight of one eye. McKean, it will be remembered, played with Diddams against Parker and Peacock at Mount Eden. He Is a solicitor practising in Melbourne, and I pm sure all who know him n ill loin with me in the wish that the injury

may uot be so serious u ia reported Mr H. A. Parker left for Sydney, en route for England, by the Elingamite. It is his intention to compete in the All Englund championship. Tennis players in this colony will watch with much interest the result of his matches. If the handicappers treat him as well as they did the Rev. Marshall when he played at. Home, J think Parker will make some of them move. Marshall, if 1 remember right, received half fifteen. I am afraid Parker will find the Kugnsh players too accurate and steady for him in the championships, especially if he attempts, as he did againsl Dunlop, to play them from the base-line.

The boys' and girls’ championships are causing a great amount of interest amongst the juvenile competitors and their friends. The Sloman family is represented in each event, and so far have not met with a reverse- Miss Dorothy Hiss was put out by Miss Clara Sloman. Both of these young players have some very good strokes, and we certainly have no lack of material from which to draw our future lady champions. Sloman v. Sellars was quite an amusing affair. At the "weights” one could not have given Sloman a chance. Sellars is over six feet, and close on 17. Sloman is about ten, and lacks about two feet of Sellars’ length, yet thn liliputian managed to win. 4—6. 6-1. 6 —o. Sellars, who is quite out of practice, took his defeat very goodnaturedly.

King’s College has a strong hand in Cox and Morpeth, and I should uot be surprised to find either one. or both, of these in the final. Cox beat White. 6—l. 6—2. and afterwards met and defeated Maekv. 6-3. 6 4. while Morpeth nut Benjamin out, 6 —O, 9-7.

The following interesting conversation was overheard at a recent tennis match: Mrs De Nee: “Why do they call that man the base-line umpire. Charles?” Charles (reflectively): “Because he does such an amount of base-lyin’, my dear.” Mrs De Nee (quite satisfied): "Oh! I thought it was something like that.”

The great advantages of volleying in a ladies’ double has never been more more strikingly exemplified on the Eden and Epsom lawn than in the final for the ladies’ doubles. Mrs Chapman’s volleying was really excellent. The ball left her racket crisply, and there was evident “intention” in every shot, nnd not the haphazard work one so often sees in ladies’ volleying. esn-cialb’ over-

head- Time and again she won the rest outright on a smart, shortdropped stroke. Her half-volleys, too. are very good at times. She is not quite so good I think at a low volley. I have seen Miss Gorrie make some beautiful low shots.

I have not heard anything more about the proposed Lawn Tennis Umpires* Association. I shall be much surprised if the local Association do not take up this matter, so as to bring lawn tennis into line with other sports.

In lobbing, which is quite a neglected stroke with us, a player should generally lob to his opponent’s backhand. as there is less chance then, if it is volleyed, of an effective return being made from it. It should also be remembered that the diagonal of a tennis court is about eight feet more than its length.

On Saturday last the bachelors of the West End Lawn Tennis Club gave their annual “At Home” at the Club grounds, and there was a large attendance of members and their friendsThe afternoon was devoted to combined handicap doubles, entries for which were received on the ground. After some very interesting und exciting matches the handicap was reduced to two pairs. Miss M. Edwards and Mr Shand (receive 15) meeting Miss Butters and Mr A. Patterson (receive i 15). Owing to the failing light this match was postponed until Saturday next, when the latter pair should win.

The following are the winners of the various matches at the West Eud lawn:—Men’s Championship Singles, Mr J. C. Peacock: Ladles’ Championship Singles. M*ss Nicholson; Ladies’ Handicap Singles, Mrs Gentles; Cons

bioed Handicap Doubles, Mr Peacock and Mrs W. Burton. 'lire final of the Men’s Handicap tingles will lie played on Saturday next, between Mr A. H- Brabant and Mr Paterson, when the former should have 110 difficulty in winning.

Another fortnight will bring us into the Easter holidays, about which time the various clubs will no doubt close their grounds.

The West End Club,-with pleasant recollections of their visit to Hamilton last season, have again arranged a friendly inter-elub match, to take place at Easter.