LAWN TENNIS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1553, 24 September 1912, Page 6

LAWN TENNIS.

WILDING'S RETIREMENT FROM TOURNAMENT PLAY, NOTABLE'MATCHES. The retirement of A. P. Wilding, announcement 01 which is mato in tho August number of "Pry's Magazine" through the medium of a communication signed by the champion hiiuselt, is an event ot the first law tennis imporlanca (says a writer in tho "Westminster gazette"). Addressing himself to the editor of "Fry's," Mr. Wilding writes as follows: "The'rumour to which you refer is unfortunately very near the truth. In tho strict sense of the word, it is now incumbent upon me to retire from serious firstclass tennis." Although there has been same talk lately or Mr. Wilding's intention to withdraw from future tournament ploy, the foregoing definite statement will doubtless come us a regrettabh surprise to tho many thousands who know and admire Anthony Wilding as the foremost figure of one of the most popular games ot our day and generation. Wilding is not yet twenty-nine years of age, and, yet not only has he won and retained, lor three years in succession, tha highest honours of the game in England, but statistics show that, during the past eight years, the achievements of tho champion on the Continent, in Australasia, and South Africa, have never been equalled or approached by any player of his class.

If Wilding's position was not otherwise what it is, his claim to distinction as tho .peripatetic champion of ISO-1-1912, would be (jnile unquestioned. To refer in detail the innumerable triumphs'of the champion on the courts would soon exhaust the space at my disposal, and.l shall therefore only briefly mention two or three outstanding events in this strenuous career. To my miml the tv;o most notable- matches of Wilding's championship experiences at Wimbledon occurred respectively iii 1907 and 1910. In 1907, Norman Brookes, I lieu at his very best, made his second, and as it proved-success-ful, attempt lo win the championship. Wilding encountered Brookes in the second round, and though defeated 1 recollect vividly the young New Zoalander's magnificent fight. Referring to this match in his book "On the Court and Off," Mr. Wilding writes: "Wo played one of tho fastest inarches I have ever waged, the tennis being very fair. We got two sets all and three games all in Die final set, when I dropped my service." I draw attention lo this contest, for, in spite of Wilding's defeat, not only, in view of Brookes's superlative form, was tho tennis very impressive, but the engagement marked a, distinct advance in Wilding's reputation. The second match to which I olludo above took place in 1910, when, for tho first time; Wilding gained the championship. The Now Zealander enjoyed a fairly comfortable path to tho final of tho All-Comers, till here he met the great American ex-champion, Beals C; Wright. Here again I am indebted to "On the Court and Off," for tho champion's personal description of ono of the finest matches that the Centre Court has witnessed. . Tho description, too, is interesting to tho lawn-tennis student as showink tho method of attack pursued by Wilding against an essential volleyer. Wilding thus describes the course of piny. "My final against .Bonis Wright proved a long and very interesting match to playwhatever it may have been to watch. I lost tho first 1 two sets, 0-1, 6—4. Both were very close, ami might have been von by either of ns. I was 10 love in tho tenth game of tho first set, and lost it. During this early stage of tho match I stayed at tho back of the court, more than usual, and as far as possible saved myself. I' had proved before to my own satisfaction that it was possible to gel the hotter of ihy good friend Beals by bustling up to the net, thereby depriving him of his only really dangerous weapon of attack—his volleying. But I had also eomo to the conclusion that it was nearly impossiblo to start hustling a man liko Wright and to keep it up to the end. When I had last, met Wright in Australia I liiistled at" first and'paid the penally. At Wimbledon I kept the hustle for the end. 'My-tactics may'hava been' right or they might have been wrong; they were, at all events, profitable in this particular match. Throughout the entire contest I felt fairly confident. I knew that Wright's close-quarter attack, maintained at such a high pressure, must weak?n in tho third set if I could only givo him enough to do. Olice I forced him to drop back, ns drop back ho did, I felt my chance would come." After being two sots down and three games' all, Wilding won three sets in succession.

Wilding represented Australasia ill 11)9 Davis Cup matches from 1905-1900. The champion's most notable performance in these international matches took place iu 1908, in the, match at Melbourne between Australia and the United States. Both countries had trained two ties, when the fifth and deciding match was played between Wilding and F. B. Alexandw. Wilding roso to the occasion splendidly, and saved the day for Australia. It is too soon to fay what influence tho present champion's particular style and game, may exercise on the future of English lawn tennis.' While it is unlikely that there will over bo a Wilding "school" in the sense that there-has hceu a Doherty ."school," and though it may bo preinnturij at this juncture to attempt to define, W'lding's own position among the "immortals" nf thn game, it is at least certain that the champion's success will always bo quoted in support 'of the great value, which must a.ttach, in a lawn-tennis match, as iu other contests, to strenuous and consistent practice, physical fitness, and equanimity of temperamenl.