TENNIS TOURNEY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1635, 31 December 1912, Page 5

TENNIS TOURNEY.

AUSTRALASIAS CHAMPIONSHIPS. SOME BRILLIANT PLAY. ' ' ' [' ENGLISHMEN AT HASTINGS. (By ToleeraDh —Prosa Association.') • Hastings', December 30. , , There was again fine weather for tits .continuation o£ the lawn tennis.championship tournament this morning,,, .The pre-„„ sence of -smoke from bush fires in the ''■ . surrounding country' softened "the bright"- * glare of the sunshine which,had prevailed uuring last week. The courts aTe wearing weil, and play has progressed so well that several - courts' havo 'been handed '.' back to the Hastings Club for their own uSe. The Australasian championships opened to-day to a big attendance. In fact, the. attendance at the present meeting is.:a., -record-for New-Zealand; - Play "through-' .-out,.the day was.good • Fisher v. Beamish. Fisher and Beamish scarfed the play, , the former serving. Beamish, took .the „ first game With ease, and also the next, " 'MHO: ' Fisher was hot "playing too "well, . and his volleys were not coming off, and Uiu game went vantage out, and -tnen Fisher volleyed outside the side-line, and the score rose 3—o in, favour of Beamish, ; who -placed with -beautiful length. Beamish won his serve, and carried the score to 4—love. - Fisher's play was much/below its usual standard. In the-"next' game, Fisher, .put .in one .of. Ms-cr6ss4»uA«r< volleys, and a fine halfrvplley,,., which.,., Beamish failed to take,, and eniied up by winning the game, 4—l, Beamish leads. Deuce was called in the next gatae; and.'.':,: then Beamish won by some and the ; gaihef 'stood, "S—l.'""Fisher" appeared to be improving, and took the next game from his serve, and Beamish;'?, put one or tiro shots' out,- 5—2. Beamish then made ' it 40—20, and' Fisher put 'one out. The first set thus went to Beamish,. 6—2. In, the second set Beamish took the first''' game: from Fisher's- serve,: and won-the ■ next from his own. Fisher was still be-. low his ordinary game, and missed many shots which ho -made no bone's -about on'. • other occasions. The next game .went to . Fisher, who got in one or two half-vol-leys, 2—l, Beamish leads. From his eer- ; vioei Beamish took the-soore aiid'".' then Fisher skied out a return, B—l. . In the next game both men pnt in fine work, ' and a rally.-or, two was loudly applauded, The game went to Ba'mish, 4—l, then >;>1 ' -from his serve-to 5-rl, -anfi. finally -6—it The third' 1 set opened with "a" brilliant'"" rally, Beamish serving. Fisher took the first two strokes, and finally a love game, - his opponent putting his last shot; into - ' . the net, I—o, Fisher leads. T-ha next game went to Fisher, 2—o, and by 'good play lie also ' won the next,.'3—o. '2 1 Fisher got back some,-of his old- form,.,-.-and by clever, volleying:and -placing .got,;;, the Englishman hustled and took the-next ->- . game, 4—o. .Beamish took tho;next; came ,i., 1 from his serve, the finish being a bril--1 • li'ant'rally, ended by Fisher putting "his ! . return into the net, 4—l. Fisher theij " battled With the next serve, and carriei) the score s—l,'putting in some'snlendii' work. Beamish won his service "without any sensational shots, 5—2. Fjsher's scor< .opened with a fine rally, and overhead work. He was playing- much better and .his volleys were.coming off well.' Beamish .won a vantage game from Fisher's .servo and carried .the score to 5—3,-thenquickly' to 5—4, and to five all. After sonie fine hitting on both sides the next game went ; to Beamish also, and.made the.score 6—5 f against -Then Fisher ' lost his serve and the match ended 6—2, 6—l, 7—5, in. favour of the Englishman. Men's Doubles. The contest between Parke and Dixon and Ollivier and Goss opened quietly, Parke serving, and the game was placed ... « to the credit of the Englishmen. Ollivier- - won the.! next from, his.'service, the Eiig-' ' lishmen only scoring one point—l—all • • .. Each side then won a game without sen- ' sational play—2—all. Goss and Ollivier won the nest off Parke's making -- " the.:;?core 3—2; but the visitors drtw"up " level in-the'next game, Parlce being noticeable for. brilliant play, at the net—3— , all.. The next was a love game, easily 'won "by the Englishmen. Tlio following game. (Goss serving) was hotly contested, deuce .being called several times before the game went to the Englishmen, 5—3. The next game from Parke's-servico was carried to vantage out, and Ollivier sco'rpoint by brilliant back cor- .- (>ner.shbtrrs—4.,, Ollivier. and Goss, playing ' with great dash, took the next game and . .made the .scores level, but tho Englishmen won the next two games anil tho . first-set—7—s. . , Dixon opened the serve in the second set and the score went t0.,40—30, by some : fine overhead work, one or two,of Parke's -shots being brilliant. All. the men were ■ playing;well,.and the necessity for playing up against the ' Englishmen .seemed . to. bring Ollivier .back, to form. The first game went to vantage out, and then Parke and Dixon won. With Ollivier serving there were some brilliant exhibitions in • the ---next" game,, the. result.;being, in favour'of . the ■ Englishmen. Parke'served , in-'the'.nest game, and after the score had been carried to vantage out,.\the r ,Englishmeh succeeded in winning, 2—l/ In the next the visitors won off .Goss's serve, Dixon putting in beautiful -volley work, 3—4; but : he lost his service and the..Ne;w Zealandcrs crept up, to. 3 —2, and then to 8-r. . all. Parke won-his-service rather-easily", assisted: by the;.fine:x6lley, wqrk;of:,DJxQn, and got in the.-lead:--4—3r The next, game also fell to the' Englishmen. Dixon's serve, went, to deuce no fewer than- seyen.' times, and finally Goss-put two high lobs out and the, set ..went, toiho-iEnglishmen, . 6-3. / . ■ The third set opened brilliantly with ; Ollivier -serving. Dixon put .in some fine work, Ollivier also showing up trail. The game \;ent.to the. .Englishmen.; , .With. Dixon next serving, l several- deuces were ■ called, both sides getting, off'. fine'.shots.. Ollivier showed up well, and finally the ' New Zealanders annexed the : -game. Goss • then" got. a • love 7 game.'. from. -his. serve, both-the-Englishmen-putting returns'.into . tho net. Ollivier was playing with great judgment. Parke pulled' off; his serve comfortably, and the score rose, to 2—all. Tlie next game also' vent fco: the English- v men after some brilliant driving ,by Parke. In the next, game, Goss got a great ovation for winning a ~ volleying rally with Dixon, and Ollivier'was loudly cheered for beating, Dixon with 'a-,mu-nificent drive to the far corner, 3—3, Parke and Dixon took the next without' any sensational plajr, 4—3. Th<r" New Zealanders then picke<l up the following game after deuce liad:beea. called twice, and in. the-' : -nosv '' Ollivier and Goss won- by brilliant play, i. Goss at the net aud Ollivier at, the back. They played with capital combination; 5-7-4, New Zealand leads. ■' After two/deuces had been calkd- from -Dixon's service, Ollivier completed a vantage out call' by 'a' brilliant line shot, and won the set, 6—l. Set four'opehed with Goss serving, and the gam© went to the visitors,, as also did the seoond, without any outstanding In the. third both- Dixon and Parke, pufrjn \ some fine driving, atad won the game from-'., .vantage, 3—o. Parke's service was not'silc-,.-, cessful, and the New Zealanders annexed the game, Ollivier playing remarkably well. Goss's serve ran into five deuces, . the third and fourth calls being responsible for. as pretty a.-bit, of net..work : .as ... anyone could wish to see, especially on-j Dixon's part. Tlie game went to'the Englishmen. Dixon took a' love game froin hisV: service, s—l. ' -The set-then -went to tho Englishmen, after an exhibition of- most - magnificent volleying and dviving ljy them. The final scores were 7—5, 6—3, 4—fi, G—l. Parke v. Lowe, '• • :. The gamo of the day,.)vas between Parke" ' and Lowe, both of England,.-aiid. it was ~ a pitj' the management should have put ' Dixon on to play Goss at the same time. However, it was a fine game. Parke.took .•• .the'.servo, and won a fairly easy game, Lowe returned tho compliment from'his side. Both men were playing a fine, open back-line game, though - Parke • occasionally apnroached the net'.; Lowe also annexed flie third game,' playing..with ex- .: cellent length'. The fourth game was very pretty, fine long rallies taking place. Lowe. played splendidly; and brought' the .score '; 1 up'to 4—l.' 'Parke- 1 was ' mtftinrr' ; a' lot •" of stuff out, but some of his drives \vero 1 ' 5 deadly, and lie took tho score up to li. ~ Lowe"won", the 1 , next ganle after, an fexcepfV • tionally fino' back-line rally,;.-which was loudly applauded. '5—4, and.■•in -the following game the exhibition was continued,..,. and Loire again came onl vicloi', 6—S. -.- la. the second set Parlcc'.tcck tlie first

same.from his service, and Lowe returned ...the oompliihent.' Both nien.;were giving a fLne.exhibitionlof. tennisw ;Lowe took the next game from Parke's service. He was playing, a game that keptiParke extended; and- the spectators were delighted. Rally after rally occurred;', which, showed ;thaf. real top-notchers were in the;conte4;.(?~7l -Lowe; leads). . .The next, game went to Parke, and the following .two .to Lowo, bringing.the score 5—2.7 Then he ; won,tho final .of; tho set, 6—2.. .'. v|;vJnVtle,: third 'set''jPatke won. ;the>..first game. ' In' the second 'game there was a magnificent rally in which each mart mhnoenvred for. an opening. -Gradually Lowe enticed Parke to the net,. and then heat hi.:mdown.:.tho;:side-line:.;w-ith ' a';>.deadly .drive and -won - the game. In the. next game deuce was: called twice before ;Parke won. his;serve;;by: some .fine ,net : ;w6rk/ 2—l. -He made good in the r following game also ,by"very.'cleVer. work' Parke .lfeds). and ' won' off- Lowe's ;' serve;;'- 4—l Parke luckily.' wonthe.! next' game', through a mulled shot oyer the net.; Lowe did not think the ball would come over and made jio.attemptto play,. '.Parke .alsoitook; the:.--next- and ' final "game 'inV the . third set, 6—l.

::iir„;:tho; > ' f,ourth; '„ ,set,'., .Parke, ; .'bpenejd by winning .the first -three games ; wift"!r"'BrilK(ttCi'i'teiinii'He':' &em.improving.. while Lowe" }verit~back'.-,'After some more fino dri'v-net-work the score' '.wept' to' 5— love in favour of Parke, and: finally the sit, 6-0/

' In-tho final -'set. Parke tcok the fn«!t cams from Lowe. by' a. brilliant 'effort. ,V..Mier«''' to bo ; nothing.;;which ! ; hS could : . not' reach,and at; the netyhe - was iterrific'., ;,The second game. Went'to Lowe, ■' . arid 'this, hiih.; good, for he :.. . took* the; next-;game,- 50—15;-by delightful play, and v;on the following with equal / (brilliancy. .. Parke :'.wori;; tlie; next by;', rip-. ping- play, and. -the -score; stood 3—2. . . Parke- also -scored the-next, and . made the score game: saw anothervsple'ndid; rally,-, the' ball/passing the net. time after ' time. ''Lowe .:again man- •; oetttred;'and"'got' in.-!his; deadly' side-line . drive,:'but "Parke took the- game -in the next a ■ game*' and the .scbre'.'stbod'.'^- 1 4,';'eausing--great .' , applause,- : but' Lowe -lost'; several'shots Jto >" . Parke's-"service 'arid, tlie.game, .5-A.: The j next gams':'jiroved'-the'final.-Parke ripjjed ■ in his - service -and. it' up." with brilliant net play. It was a magnificent ,' '. game;-"'and the-tennis', enthusiasts; ;in : . -other parts 'of New Zealand shbuld not 3niss"' . opportunity :',to , see the .play. Parke -at tho' net, :in' fact any where on "tfieicbur't.'-is a ; marvel. Lowe is a'player of-.; .outs.tahdinfe. merit, and' his .driving • ■ and placing were done-;with a- grace and ' - pccuracy'".rseldom : seeii.....'; ; rOHivier v. Peacock. ' 6liivier.',',and : Peacock met'in' the single's/ : Ollmer'-tbbk the -first .set; . the. sec- - ond;" 6"-3,;: and, . the. third, - 6—3. : Ollivier i -'; : rivas; rightV r oil VHis - game, : -kiiid.'" Peacock '■ never had :a. chaiice'.; '■ ;''( ' Goss v. Dixon. • Goss,and.Pixon 'played a most interest,v ing 'three,;?ets, and although' the; yisitor. ' won ; tbe ; 'contest ; the old veteran made the ■ fight: bne.'V'Tho first set '.went to Dixon, 7—5, the. next .6—2, and tho final V-';. ,of-the series ;',Noone expected, :, GossXto !stand .up,';so','well; to. the famous ; Ihiglish-player, but throughout the game ' : -he relayed'.with consistent accuracy, both >,in line-finding ;and, overhead work. Dixhs on's net and volley, Tiiork'was very attrac-\ ,tive. Local- Men-Meet ,Englishmen. \ln (the: game Wellwood and-Waddington L Beamish and Lowe, the . Englishmen k the-three ;sets;-.6—0,; 6--2,' j 6 ; -fl/ ;The ■ ' local pair ..never..,had' a chance from the . 6tart.of play., • '-: The semi-finals .will-be-played 'to-mor-row, andthe' finals,on Wednesday."... The; Governor , has arrived. • • ' , . . NOTES ON THE PLAY. FISEER'S SUDDEN COLLAPSE. ' , (By Telegraph— Special, Correspondent.),' f. • ; Hastings, December 30. : ;. - ..The Australasian' tennis' championships 'iwerd fcotn'nientSd td-'d ay > under, perfect' ooh- , ditions,'' although ;-ther;;heat must ~ have ':; fen, ; {tryingoto some.,pf^}ie.'players. - f'Peacock''. ; and";SwanstqnTled otf .-in the : doubles agMnst-two. local/players, Weber and 1 llainbojv; thejWellingtonians scoring r an easy win in -three straight.sets.);.; | '.Simultaneoiisly_Beamish ; imet Pish'er 'in the ;singles.-;-. During- the earlier part ;of 4 . the'game,. the Englishman stayed on' the'. : ■ back. Me, whence"' he ."drove* :with :'.great :. -j accuTacy,: and . kept a splendid length. H Fisher, on the', other' .hand, i relied :upoh; ■ . low volleys, and' net "work, i■ He was, how-. |;; : ever, off : his- game, and : after working up ' 1 to an'; opening would; land, the. shot ; tliat, ; was to; score in. the net. After'he got the. . etrength' of' the : court. and ■' the opposition,; ; 'Beamish also moved '.'.to;.' the'-net dfad 1 - dis-.' played equal ability" at" close ■. quarters. ' : In the third: set: ,of his best quali^.*-,iThe;shote:;herßatt tried, 'before. and : failed' with. became. siicces?-: • . ful;' he served well; and volleyed- beautl T , ftilly, with the result that ; he. had Beamish running all over tho courts, and I the latter's former 'deadly accuracy _ wa'3 '; disturbed. . In, guickTjsuccessibn Fisher, appropriated? four./games to. love. .Then •' Beamish-.'se'cured' one/after : it' strenubus; - ■ game, ,but; Fisher took/the next after ..two." lovely' low volleys, '.from :,close, to, the...back; line. , The setvseemed at.-Fisher's mercy, but at this stage he commenced,;to.fal-as-suddenly-.as he " had struck form.'Beamish kept-going in ; fine style, and'tbbk;','six;;games;ih; s'ucces- !•; eioniand-the-match :simuitanebusly: - '-.'' Parke and Dixon, met Ollivier and Goss- •' ; sn?the'' doubles. ; This'vvas a most: attrac-, ; \ tive-match, for although-the Britishers | , '.won in,'three/straight sots. they, had' to 1 . fight hard the whole of the; way.. Ollivier was,in .his''best/form, serving.. strongly, - .'driving clearly and: vigorously,;an'd vblley- : ing,i'witK.':great: ac«Uracy. Goss--was -not' ; 'so deadly with his ~ ' ner, but ;-hb' played .with fine judgment and. took. :£ lot of beating., Goss's work . ivas-largely- defensive,-' as 'he -left - Ollivier : -' to; make the scoring shots, and the co'm- ,, bination was a highly. effective, one. | Parke and Dixon did not display brilliant ; form except in patches, but their efforts , .were marked by good judgment and ac- ; -curate play.. Their ..-'own mistakes were few, whilst the least opening left by the ■■ f opposition was taken advantage of in' a ' / decisive, manner. ftParke".;aevoted special attention to',hard.^drives-and''volleys di»; rected at Gossi'; arid, the veteran had'; his .work?cut out .itor.V'get I rid of these -undesirable -attentions. Parke and; Dixon both played up , ; to - tho ; net, - Whilst, ' on the ' , other . hand, Goss. 'stayed ' at' the back line. .t'.Thve-,,were, some splendid. ; , rallies during the match, and, hearty' bursts of applause from tho spectators were frequent. After losing the. third set at 6—l, the visitors put on additionalsteam, whilst, Goss appeared to . tire.;; Dixon, who-■ had been; at .times erratic,/ showed fine,;fbrm,'i and : .\nth,..Parke ; '>.as' sound as ever, they 'ran out easy;winners;At the.final.in'.'t&b afternbon-.Parke and' Lowe'met in , the championship singles, ; and a great contest -took place, the form--1 ■ er only winning after five hard sets had , , been played.;' For the most part it'was' a base, line game, with Parke using everyopportnnity tb work halfway to'the net,' ' from which 'position he would;try. a scoring shot. "If it came off, all was well, if noh he was then , out of position him- '; ■ self, and Lowe would probably take the rally.' NoWi and, 'again .X'owe wbuld-g'o Tight to til" net, and when lie'did his volleys were remarkably good," whilst'the area of the' eourt he could embrace with- ; . -in the reach of his lacket., would have . paralysed an ordinary, player." .. Lcftve, bov/ever, was placingrso- cleverly that, he frequently passed,'the* man at the;'net.. ' On the Jay there was little to -choose be- - tween the two players, and it appeared I, that Parke's excellent condition,',as well , as his obvious ''imperturbability, played' the chief part in winning tlie n!atch.,.;lt . was, not until the fifth ; set ; 'that'he wa's able to find any serious defect in Lowe's defence, and then he' quickly ended the : match. The maimer in which each player. schemed for an opening was tin education to most of the onlookers. , .

On- tho other -court Goss and Dixon pi ay ed q uitp.,:"a, reni arkable. gam e. .Th e Britisher ivon in three straight sets, but not until he had been called upon to play as hard as lie ever played , ii) his life., Tho last set ran to eleven all beforeDixon, won. ;;'lt. was chi6flyj/a back ;line' game, and at this.'floss'proved himself * scarcely at all "iiifenor to his opponent.' He showed an abundance 'of . staying power, ana Kept ms iorm right to tho end of a most strenuous match. The Canterbury man was heartily applauded on his brilliant, consistent:, and plucky ,pjay.-;. Ollivier next root-Peaco'ck;in th? singles and, had little'' difficnlty-'-iin .wihmii.ef the round. Peacock showed-up well; at times, tut with Ollivier in his best form he was distinctly outmatched... ' ' ... ... The doubles match) lowe-and Beamish, v. Wellwood and Waddinglon.was morely an easy preliminary for the Britishers.