LAWN TENNIS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 781, 2 April 1910, Page 14

LAWN TENNIS.

(Br SietmJ

The Wellington Association waa favoured with fine weather for its championship tournament, bat, unfortunately, the entries were very poor. Only 85 entries were received, 43 in the senior events, and 42 in the junior. Last year's entries totalled 139, 50 in the seniors and 89 in the juniors. No doubt, had Fisher and Peacock entered, more interest would have been taken in the senior events, but the play was well up to standard, particularly in the ladies' events.

The championship singles attracted twelve competitors, of which only- Cox, Swanston, Sraythe, Prouso, Brown, and Salmond could be considered possibles. Prouse met Salmond in tho first round, and defeated him in two sets, tho last set finishing at 9—7. Th«n Protisc went down to Swanston. Smyfcheand Brown mot in the second round, and the was closely contested,'ending in Smythe's favour at 7—5. But the second set was easily won by Smytho, whose well placed drives gave Brown fow chances to play his'usual game. Cox and Smythe met in the semi-final, and although the first sot ran into fourteen games,'- Cox was able to win in two sets. The meeting of Cox and Swanston in the final was expected to provide a close finish. The high wind seemed to put Cox off hisgame a little, and.at times he lacked decision, but.he would have to be at his very best to stand a chance" of d< f eating' Swanston at the present" time. ■ The doubles championship' was a gift to Cox and Swanston. In the final 'they met Brown and Prouse, whom they defeated in two sets. Ward and Sheppard put up a good performance in their match with Brown and Prouse, and were only defeated by advantage sets.: In ladies' singles championship Miss Wunneley played through to tho final without serious opposition. Miss Travers was in tho other half of the draw, and met Mrs. Goldie and Miss Van Staveren before reaching the final. The meeting in the final provided a splendid match. Both players have distinctive drives and whenever, they met good tennis is. sure "to be witnessed. On this occasion the play was of a highc standard than usual, and the match was undoubtedly the most interesting of the tournament. Miss Nunneley played better than she did at the last New Zealand championship meeting, and, her, defeat of Miss Travers (by '—5, 6—4) only shows the. little difference that exists between the first three lady players in the Dominion.

The' ladies' doubles championship worked but to Misse3 Nunneley and Williams meeting Mrs. Holmes and Miss Batham in the final. This match was started, and after each pair- had secured a sot at 6—4, it ivae decided to postpone it on account of tho failing light, and to replay it during the week. Some good play was witnessed in the combined doubles. Miss Williams and C. 0. Cox, with a set < in, and leading 5—3 m tho second set, defaulted to Miss Merchant, and A. Young in tho first round. This.gave Miss Nunneley and H. Brown an easy entry to the final, whore they,met Miss Travers and E. Salmond. It was expected that the latter .pair would put up a'good fight, but they" were. beaten 6—l, 7—5. . ■ The junior championships ; provided somo good exhibitions of sound tennis, noticeably in the meh!s:'singles and doubles... The winner of.the singles; F. :Eller, played a good game right through.; In the second round he mot J. A. B. Howe, whose experience was of little value to him against Eller's aggressive game. After ' defeating Howe, Eller met and disposed of Jones in a three-set, match. But tho final in which, Eller met Wright, was tho i.best match in this event. Both players :were at'their best, but the wind favoured Wright's style a little. The first set wonfctov.Wright at-10—8, and he had a cbpd j n the second set, but 'Eller saved, and eventually won at 7—s' then took tho third set at 6-4. ■ J. B. .Parker played well in ■ the opening rounds of. this event. His .meeting with Dart in'.the. first round, wae a hard three-set -match, in which,. after losing, the first set, he won the second set at 12—10, but would have lost the final set at 6—3, only Dart retired when leading at.s—3 so as to give his young opponent an opportunity. ■ Parker then" met and defeated Paterson in'a. good. three-se,t match,, but went;7.,'down 'to WrighVin the next round. ',' : v-- '■'■''.■'

v; Only ifour pairs entered for the junior doubles, and-Clarke and Eller. met Cornelband Duncan in the final. In this match Clarke played a fine game, and was well backed up by Eller. Cornell was a shade off in his overhead play. The/result, 7—5, 7—5 in Clarke and Eller's favour, shows how well the match was contested. ' : ; Miss Morgan had . a comparatively, easy win in the ladies' singles. The' only player to:extend her was Miss. Atmore, ,who played a fine, game, and had hard luck, in /losing her first championship single at 8—10;. -Miss Morgan, partnered with Mrs/ Burton, had a further success in -winning, the ladies' doubles, and in. this ovont, ■as in the singles,, the ;■ match in' the first round (in which the.winners ;met Misses Hayes and. Rothschild)' was the only one closely contested.; ■; ; .Miss■ Dimant and'B. L. : WaTd hrid little trouble in winning the combined'doubles. ' •."• The following are tho'results of the tournament :-tt , .. . , .; PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. Men's Singles.—R.' H. K. Swanston. ; Men's Doubles.—R. H. X Swanston andC. C.Cox. ~ ' . . Ladies' 'Singles.;— Miss Nunneley. Combined Doubles.—Miss:". Nunneley and H. W.' Brown. . ■ . ' JUNIOR •.CHAMPIONSHIPS. .': Men's Singles.—F.EUer. . , . . ',; ' Men's Doubles.—P. Clarke and F. Eller. .'.•...-■'

Ladies' Singles.—Miss Morgan. ■ Ladies' Doubles.—Mrs.' Burton and Miss Morgan. -. -—- -. . ...

Combined Doubles.—Miss Dimant and B. L. Ward. ;;. .' . •:■ ; .:,". ;■ -

L. Hawkins and F. C. Quinnell are doing well at Hamilton. From the latest news received, they are in tho final of the championship doubles, and Hawkins is in the semi-finals of the championship and handicap singles. In the handicaps Quinnell ower 40, and Hawkins owes 30 and 2—6:

■ Owing to heavy rain on tho Monday, the Hawke's Bay Club's tournament had to be postponed until to-day. J. C. Blair, of the Wellington Club, was a competitor at this tournament, and he speaks highly of the splendid manner in which he was received by the Napier folk, and of tho fine courts on which the tournament was played. In the championship singles, Blair went down to Tipping 6—5, .6—4. Playing with Webber, he reached the semi-finals of the doubles, and was still in the combined doubles (with Miss .Wellwood), and the handicap singles, but as he was unable to stay until to-day, he had to scratch for all evente. Tho singles championship of the Newtown Clnb has been won by R.. H. Naglo, who defeated F. A. Lewis in' the final, 6—l, 6—l. Nagle has greatly improved his game this season, especially in his overhead play. His smashing from the service court line is very sure and severe. ,

Much satisfaction has been expressed in local circles at the decision of the Australasian Management Committee to play this year's Davis Cup match in Wellington. The locality in which the special courts will be sjtuatod should be known shortly. Wellington enthusiasts are in for a treat this year, and the question of securing suitable playing grounds by the Wellington Association is sure to crop up again shortly.