LAWN TENNIS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1657, 25 January 1913, Page 12

LAWN TENNIS.

tßy FOOirATTLT,]

HOW BROOKES MET BRITAIN. Wairarapa Open Championships and Master ton Club's Handicaps—Mcetcrton, January 24 Auckland Championships—Eden and _ EpßOin Oourts, end of January. Wellingtpn Brovinoiol and Palmerston North Club s Handicap Tournament—Pialinerston North, March 22, 24, and 25. N.Z. University Championships—Wrilington, March' 22 nlid 25. North Island Intcrprovincial Championships—New Plymouth, Easter.. An Ounce of Attack Better than a Ton of Defence. Who was not more than. surprised to read last Saturday morning of tho remarkable form Btruok by tho mighty Brookes in his match 'against Dixon P To win two love Bcfcs against a man of Dixon'e oalibro t is the more wonderful 1 when ono considers the time taken to play tho two sets—it waß almost as quid: as thought, After suffering defeat at the hands of tho agile Irishman,' Brookes could only do one thing to recover his temporarily lost prestige, namely, to summon up his dogged determination and show his tr'uo fonm when once again confronted by the British Mes team.

How lie did this we are all well aware. Diron was (Completely lost Wore tho tempest of Brookes's onslaught. Tho fast courts were all in Brookes's favour, and Dixon has really not been playing up to form einoe ' ho came to Australia. Apparently he has now retired from further contest?—at least pro tiem. After a remarkable run'of . fine pkr. Parke has at last met his first downfall since he came to this part of tho world, and Brookes made no mistako about it this time. It seems, however, that it was no easy matter to defeat Parke, and, during tho first half (and more) of the first set, Brookes must have had many doubts as to whether ho could stem the tide of tho Irishman's fierce drives.

Brookes, however, knows what to do, and, when his opponent is fighting for the Inst two or three points for eob—and, consequently. playing • a careful gameBrookes then turns on tho full force and oomes at a great rush. .Risky shots are ft necessity tuen. and. if thoso come off, they certainly tell, their tale.

Apparently after the first eot Parke woa . somewhat "petrified"—or "mesmerised" is itP —by Brookes's remarkably raried strokes, and, after winning tho first two games, it was plainly a caso of "only one man in'it... : Parke, however, has reason' to bo proud of the record of his play-during the tour, and he, deserves heartiest congratulations by all tennis players. Heath, who has not been playing anything like up to his form this year, agreeably surprised his friends when ho sooured a fovo set against Dixon'. Indeed, it must have looked aa if ho would quite vanquish tho English captain, but this, however, was not t6 be. Dixon struok form in-tho seoond set, and, after turning the game in his favour, ran out a comfortable winner. . Jones played creditably during the match, and ho is now in a position to bo fully considered When our next Davis Cup team, is chosen. A Vigorous Little Pen Sketch. "Austral" is tickled by an article in a Queensland paper, and that article certainly is "rioh." Here it is, in extenso. It is written by a well-known Charters Towors player, who witnessed the New South .Wales, t. British Isles match. . ; "I managed to get to the tennis match—England r. New South Wales— and it was worth while. Parke wasn't at his best, but the others all struck their top. With ordinary luck New ' South Wales should have won' all the doubles—but couldn't expect tho singlos.; k, B. Jones,-Irfoel sure would haro beaten Dixon.' Ho fully extended Parke. "Only one man, E. Jones, has an American service with enough 'devil' to help him much. The other serves were driven hard all the time. 'None of the pairs played the Lewis gamo. Tho net man stood up all tho time, and most of the tosses were taken on the bounce. I Hutton's toss would have won repeatedly. They oould never have got tho tosses on ant-bed, for though the bounce on grass .is not high, the flight and pace are arrested, making the tossss easy to reach. "No one used the chop, though I/owe nnd Dixon get underspin on their drives. Most of them do the low mounting drive without excessive lift. Parke hits his drives and smashes about as hard as Bayley doos, and gets them in front anywhere. He punohos all tho time, and anticipates too earlv, and gets left standing—not a good doubles njian." The writer then oontinues:—"Lowe is a wonder in doubles—gets everything back —oven smashes low on the backhand, and tosses with length and judgment. He is too slow for a good singles man. Beamish is their only killing volleyer, and is only Epod volleying down. None of them como in far enough on the service—pick thorn cleverly off'their toes, and then have to deal with a hot return—defensive play generally. A. B. Jones gets right in, and wins clean, but his mate merely gets tho tosses back. One rally on Saturday ran to about 20 volleys ooming all round—cach looking the last—spectators round mo said it was the best they had over 6een. Jones and Parke got about 12 consecutive hot .driyes in their set. Parke is like an' active Parker without his exaggerated mannerisms, smashes just like him, and uses a similar backhand. Ilis volleying is about equal to Bice's. The English stand, as much as thrco yards behind the line when receiving serves, their mato on the service lino.

"Beamish and Jones are the most stvlisli, tut all break the ordinary rules pretty often. To get in they nil start their run- before making thoir stroke, and often hit with both feet off tho ground. The Englishmen get thoroughly mixed up in ■ doubles. ' ' "On the first day Wright, for two eete, did no better than I could have, and pot so nervous that ho would leave Bmoshea right over tho net to his partner. Jones had to carry him all the time. Next day he played a fine game and combined well. His oiie fault was failing to fret tlio overhead stuff. Brookes must have been dead off, or elso I saw Parlce at a disadvantage; he was only a little better than .Tones, who didn't play his usual game, but kept on the back lino waiting for tho short one that seldom came. > Last Saturday's City Play. Only on'o mnt'fth in the men's senior grado was played last Saturday—that between Victoria Collego and Brougham Ilill. Wellington were unable to got a team, nnd consequently Newtown had a walk-over. , Clegliorn, for Victoria College, his nuain come out well, this time defeating 11. V. Howe in two sets Beere was no tough proposition for Hunter, who played with something liko his true form. , „ Smith ran J. A. B. Howe to three sets. In the last, however, he only secured one ranie. Fathers won handsomely against Roberts, losing only thrps games throughout. He also won creditably in tho doubles nnrtnered by Smith against Hunter and Roberts. '' , ~ • Ho wo Bros, suffered badly from Cleghorn and Beere. • Men's Junior Notes.. In the men's junior grade, Rona Bay met no opposition-from Johnsonville. Tho latter secured no rubber, although three matches ran into three sets. ■ The other matches in this grade were likewise very ono-sided, and the winners in each case had handsomo margins. Victoria Collego B and also Wellington were unable to secure their full team. Their matches therefore against Brougham Hill and Newtown respectively went by default. Ono does not liko to soo the names of defaulting teams. Onoo a team is entered, it should really see tho contest through to tho lo6t chapter. Ladles' Junior Grade. Brougham Hill were in good form against Trinity, winning <dl .their games by good margins. 'Anniversary IViv was somewhat disappointing in the morning. Towards midday tho weather showed signs of clearing and all tho oourts during tho afternoon were well patronised*