A. F. WILDING INVINCIBLE.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14839, 3 December 1913, Page 13

A. F. WILDING INVINCIBLE.

. "ONE OF THE GREAT PLAYERS."

(MZOiX ODE OWN CORRESPONDKNT.} ;•' LONDON, October 24. ' The lawn tennis champion ia just now in pwat form. Following up hie victories in ■the London Covered Courts Championship Singles, at Queen's Club, over C.' P. Dixon, Captain Roes, and P. M. Dayison, Wilding - defeated in the final A. H. Lowe by 7-5, 6-0, C-2. Tho New Zcalandor never lost a set throughout the tournament, and "The Times" ■ nwtly remarks:—"Probably "Wilding is a better player this year than he has ever been. He, has permanently gained that confidence which once wae not hie, and which moant that sometimes ho went down to players not " juite his equal, or only beat them by superior itemina after a long struggle. This does not happen now. It is always idle to compare generations, but no doubt "Wilding must now be placed among the groat once of the jtnie — with , the Renshaws, Pirn, the •Dohortys, and other*." : The final match was a play in two acts. The first comprised nine games in the initial set, and part of the tenth game, when Lowe led at 5-4 and'wae within a point of the act He wca the only one of Wilding's opponents, by tho tray, to get to that etsfe. The second "act consisted of the remainder of the match, when the champion ran ofE a sequence of thirteen games, in tho course of which he took the first set at 7-5, •the teeosd eat to lore, and led at 4-love in the third. Lowe, by a great effort, captured two mors games, but this was the end of his contributions. - . . , ' The strength of A. H. Lowe's game dopznds on a hard-hit forehand drive, with which he is generally surprisingly accurate. If this fails him there is little left in hia play wifch is likely to embarrase an opponent even with moderate' powers of defence. Apoinst- Wilding; who ie specially endowed withitheso powers, and less liablo to err th>n any other player, Lowe's- lack' of » : varied attack waa doubly exposed. Lowe's lightning drives, with their direction skilftit!7_chi«t»s»«l, fell within a few inches of tho ;baee and side- lines, as they frequently-did in ',»„- l "•*» »»™l v ins a constant strain on WUkLing in leiuxning them, and ho roust have run miles in chasing them. At thfa -itajo Lowe may be said to have been master of the situation. As.soon, however, , as the ;aecuracy of bis drives disappeared and their force.slightly abated, he could give Wilding JKTi little trouble. Just ac the champion defeated McLonghlin at Wimbledon by maeterms_hi3 service, so he beat Lowe by exhibiiuig '■» sound defence and biding his e *P* <V«Juig could haro continued: to play ißth the force, pow«r, and activity that he sj)ow«e. after the severe test hie staying ■powemhw been subjected to in the first set. /t - c^npion celebrated his winning of . toe, iirsVset by taking thirteen games in eucWMion, going straight to fonr love in the J&it:s\\vand the match was all over. "It performance, for Lowe waa riot ; says "The Times"; "indeed ■g?£of:tt» time he,wa* playing very well. \He hardly got to the net at all, and his lob- ":? > ?9£ na inaccurate; but hie forehand driv- . ni? from the back c-f. the court was often ant-rate; h* made some beautiful passing etroiw and hia service always needs skilful W to- master it. But Wilding was" too Rood for htm. He answered drive .with snje-Jjndeit was Lowe's that got shorter knd Wildmg's deeper ac a rally went on. Tiwn, Wildings powerful forehand- "shovel" soot came out time and again down the side une. to Lowe's bnck-hand. By this and by *thsr means Wildjng jrot tho attack, and lie M iS? m ' when cc °? d S 8 - it, let it slip." • The 17«w Zealand/* gave way to nothing He grim delight in turning the tables completely round. , • The. final of the Mii-»d Doubl»a resulted in « to loy* victory for Wilding and lirs Colston. The first itet went to "4 gnm<»«, chiefly with" the service. WiMin? plsir«i consistently well thronsrhout. and it was awinly. owing in his fin* efforts all ronnd Uiat be.anif his. partner wero triumphant in the end. P. G. Lowo and Mrs Pafton both good in the first sot. bnt in the second w>wi' »pj>*ared to find the light and his timing >*s often at fault. Wildin" wd Mrs Colston won by 18-11, 6-3.