LAWN TENNIS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1521, 17 August 1912, Page 14

LAWN TENNIS.

WILDING RETAINS THE SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP. GREAT ENGLISH DOUBLES TRIUMPH Before the largest crowd which has ever forgathered .at Wimbledon the challenge rounds of tho Singlos and Doubles Championships of Lawn Tennis wero decided ™,W)' 8 (says tho "Westminster Gazette). In the result A. P. Wilding, of Aw Zealand, retains the Singles' title. Ihe outcome of tho "Doubles proved a surprise nnd a triumph for England. The honours which crossed the-Channel last year were regained, the Fiench holders losing a fine match by 3 sets to 1

Wilding Defeats Gore. The struggle between Wilding and Gore toiiowed a very similar course to their match of 1910-that is, on both occasions Gore obtained one set in tho four plaved But yesterday not only was tho tennis of higher standard than before, but tho match generally was closer and moro fascinating Indeed, there was little to thooso between thi (wo men. for, on analysis one finds (hat Wilding scored Ml points and Gore 12G. Gore is, indeed, a marvel. Despite advancing years ha veritably passes from triumph to triumph, lo win the All-Comers' event was a remarkable achievement, but, as though that wero not enough, tho veteran played and drove on (o the Centre Court n his match with Wilding, as well as Ho has over done in his life. If Wildings wonderful physical condition and ma-chine-like consistency had not allowed him to stand the strain of prolonged bomeTto Gore ImTC fina " y ra P itulal '- When tho match commenced it was ap- <? ora , ! i l, . d /.""J' recovered fiom the strain of his tie with Cohort, ?„n J'"} 1 ,U ., fact h0 had ««»«d his best tennis for the moment when it was most required, Gore found his form al once driving into the corners with wonderfni &•", I<S sF th - WiWin «f returned well but h,s length was poor and allowed Gore to score many aces on his backhand. j Gore- took the lead at 3-2 and 4-2, and should have wo„ the seventh game but it went to M.lding. Both,in the first and second sots tho champion's tactics at this stage were very wise. When ho saw that hTmSr ?° 11,,r i at fU " SPm '' awl ««&" fen mistakes, ho was content to nhx his own attempt to attack and play dofonsively but steadily from the back of the court. Curiously enough, both in the first and second sets Gore dominated to position in proms to a .1-2 load, but here on both occasions the high pressure of his game would seem to demand a temporal slowing down. ' •

Wilding's Attack. Wildlng-who; by the way, never turned a hair as regards physical fatigueseized tho moment when Gore's pace dedined over so little, to attack virforonisly ana jn-niosl cases with paying results In the first set Wilding, had a stru-le to ca eh Gore at 4 all but this achieved, Urn champion was splendid, winning two games to love and the set 'at ii-4 The second set was almost an csact repetition ot tho hpt. Gore again drove- splendidly u3 6 ? a ? ll P aKl . n K WiMinfr when he *& tured.to tho not off an American serv'ce. Ihe veteran again led at 4-2, and but ior a questionable decision-unfortun'atelv there were-several in tho match-Gore should have been 5-2, But again lis attack diminished, and as a result of fine aggressive driving and volleying, Vfiidi n « made the score i all. " There, was a long rally for Uo ninth P m V??- re hftvl F vantage three times but Wilding, as before, captured both the "ftf/f J, amt >V\ n <l the sf-cond .at G-J. In the third set Wildinagain decided to pay the waiting game from the back of the court, famtns to the net on his'drives, Goro scored with forehand vollies. Gore went in front to 3—9, and again led at 4-1. Wildin" here spurted brilliantly, and, equalising at i all, it again seemed that the set las to Ire a repetition of what went ':efore But then an incident occurred. Wilding was 40-la on his own service, when a line decision apparently upset him. Gore got to deuce, and with Wilding a. little listless, Goto won this game and tho tenth somewhat easily. Thus, amid great and prolonged applause, tho veteran had the third set. Goro won the first fi"" o ™-! 1 ?. tho , fol,rth bout, but then Wilding, captured four games in succession, making him .4-1. < Tho ex-eham-pion then mado a splendid recovery and driving in •surpassing form, ho had the next three games, the effort proved to bo his last stand. Wild ng as fresh as ever took tho last two games with the loss of only three points, and he match was over Wildin* thai won his third championship.

j The Doubles. [ The donblos match was virtually a duel between Roper Barrett on ono side an, pecugw on the other. Dixon improved m the later staces, but he was never certain and did little that was brilliant. Similarly Gobert mado innumerable mistakes, and frequently fell into the little traps denscd by tho nimble-minded Barrett. Barrett throughout the match was a host in himself, and merits almost the full credit of tho victory. His anticination was quite wonderful. He was alwavs in the right place with his racket at the correct angle to win tho coup which completed a rally. Somo of his recoveries of Decugis's smashes aroused extraordinary enthusiasm in tho galleries. "Why the Frenchmen gave Barrett so much to do and Dixon so littlo is quite inexplicable Dixon was never very happy, while Barrett fairly, revelled in,doing most of tho playing. Gobert seemed demoralised. His confidence certainly seems to have boon affected by his unexpected defeat by Gore and when he lost numerous service games' in which respect Decugis nover onco erred, it will be seen how inferior to the older Frenchman was tho younger. Tho first set went to France, who in this period played better together than subsequently. Dixon's loss of service when France led at. 3—2 could not bo retrieved. But thereafter it was a very different story. When Cohort's services were won, and with Barrett playing the game of his life, three sets hud a real triumph were achieved for England. Roper Barrett as a doubles player on the centre court at Wimbledon has no living equal.