LAWN TENNIS

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 7, 16 February 1907, Page 23

LAWN TENNIS

(By

Wimbledon.)

Hiekson (West End) played A. S. G. Brown (Mount Eden) on Saturday, anti was beaten in a very profracted match by three sets to two. Brown played very well at first, but the tennis was of the steady rather than the brilliant order. Hiekson plays a very faulty backhand stroke, and Brown did not keep to his opponent’s weak spot so much as he should have done. Hickson's backhand is so bad that the Mount Eden player should have given him every chance to practise it under difficulties. Hickson cannot possibly turn his present backhand into a winning stroke. He should shed it while he is yet young, ami get the proper stroke. With his present service and backhand he is hopelessly anchored so far as regards first-class play, and it would be a pity to see a player of great possibilities handicapped by retaining faulty strokes. Brown, is not quick at adopting tactics. If the match were played again, and Brown’s tactics were laid down in east-iron rules, he would win. The trouble with too many of our young players is that their knowledge of the game is so incomplete that their tactics arc absolutely stereotyped. This should be avoided, as it means ruin to anyone’s game.

Grossmann was unable to play any ot his matches on Saturday, as he was suffering from a slight attack of sciatica. He hopes to be able to resume play Carly this week.

C. Heather beat Mair in the Auckland championship after an interesting match which ran to four- sets. Heather has been showing good form this season, but had a few days “off colour” recently. He is, however, getting into his game again, and should make things interesting in bis club championship, and possibly also in the Auckland event. I have not heard anything about the boys’ championship yet. This should be started as soon as possible, and I hope to hear that the' event is restored to its original and broader scope of a straight out provincial championship instead of being continued in its present narrow- form. It would, not improve the. standard of lawn tennis in Auckland if we narrowed the championship down to those who had attended the local university. ‘

I have recently, in club matches, defeated two players. Feeling that I could afford to spare myself, I played them from the baseline. After the match wqs, over I had the same experience with each of them. It was not good lawn tennis that we were playing, for when one is playing from the baseline one is only playing half the game, but both of these players overlooked the fact that it is justifiable to win from the baseline if one can, but that it is wholly unjustifiable to lose from the baseline if owe can volley at all well —and both these players can do this. If you cannot beat your man from the baseline you must attack him vigorously. Even if you can beat him from the base line a little worrying at the net is always stimulating for him. Players, especially young ones, should always remember that it is almost always wholly unjustifiable to lose from the baseline. A. S. C. Brown and Pickmere went down to P. A. Vhile and G. R. Buttle' in the Mount Eden club handicap doubles. Buttle is a young player, and during the first set lie played from the baseline, and his -Side lost a love set. He saw that this* Would not do, amt started playing the proper game, limning in on everything. He.volleyed and served really well, and Vaile' arid he ran out winners by’ twb sets to one.. This was another case in which Brown was slow- to respond tjV'elianged tactics, in the first set, writ]! Vaile and Buttle bn the baseline in .defence, he and Pickmere frequently lobbed and stayed back. Th is j of course, was futile. A good length ball arid follow in. was the game here. Again, when Vaile* aiid Buttle, were* at; tacking vigorously, anyl the lop should, have been used, it'. was <*p|ispicuous by its absence, .with jt he., result tlmt Brittle scored many points by really good work at the net. He is a nitich improved player, and will soon become prominent in tjic gjipie, fp*’ head-work is excel; lent.,. .a .... ' • • •• J. H. T urner has advanced two stages

in his club championship singles, having defeated Pickmere and 11. Hesketh.

J. Stewart, the popular secretary of the Mount 'kdrn Lawn Tclinis Club; is showing greatly improved form this season. - Many of his ground strokes are excellent, and his volleying and placing are at'times very- good. The O’nehunga players are showing great keenness for the game, and with such a good coach as Peel they should come on rapidly-. I was glad to see Thomson foot-fault-ing some of the players. Evidences of moral courage of this nature arc quite refreshing, especially when, as in his ease, some of the culprits were ladies. One of the latter asked him in tones of utter incredulity, if he had actually footfaulted her, and upon receiving an affirmative answer, gravely informed him, having discreetly retired meanwhile, that she always served from a foot behind the baseline. Perhaps in this case the unfortunate umpire would be excused if he were to plead that the feet are so small that he eannot see the difference. This requires thinking out, but fbotfaulting is a very real evil, and anyone who has the couarge to strictly and fairly interpret the rules as they are will always have my- support, but he must be prepared for a few blaek looks. Mr. J. G. Ritchie, the well-known English player, frequently jumps in the air at the time of striking the ball. Ritchie is well-known for other things than his lawn tennis, and one of them is his choleric temper. I remember once at Queen’s Club. West Kensington, making him nearly frantic by foot-faulting him three times for acrobatic performances not contemplated by our absurd rule. Ritchie firmly protested that his feet were both on the ground, but as the linesman’s decision is final as to fact, especially when he is firm, the fiery- one had to accept the decision. .. -

The lob is a stroke that is too little used here. Its value is very great in the hands of a capable exponent. How well the, Americans use it may be seen from the following extract from, an English paper, dealing with the last international match for the Davis Cup:—“Something of a sensation was caused when the challenging pair took the first set with the loss of only three games. They had literally swept- the great Dohertys off their feet. Lobbing persistently and always high, they gave the brothers no opportunity to low volley them at the net,' and when in their turn they- advanced after a particularly fine toss, nothing more was seen of the ball until a spectator fished for it in the crowd. “R. F.’s ” work overhead was at this time conspicuously weak and even the imperturbable “ H. L.” seemed demoralised by the sequence of lobs. Meanwhile Little was playing the game of his life. He was a different player from what he was on Friday against Smith. His overhead work was by far the smartest and most deadly- of the four, while his ground strokes had the sting and direction of a master. Only his low volleying was occasionally at fault. Quick to detect weak points in their opponents’ armour, the Dohertys shot balls at Little’s feet as he advanced on his service; he just failed to gauge the proper length, and the ball fell dead at his toes,’’