LAWN TENNIS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1895, 1 November 1913, Page 13

LAWN TENNIS.

[By Backhand.] GENERAL NEWS & NOTEG. Dec. 26, 27, 29, and 80.—New Zealand Championships, at Eden and Epsom Courte, Auckland. Thorndon Opening To-day. Though the Thorndon Tennis Club had originally fixed October 18 as tho day for the opening of the season, bad weather necessitated a postponement, and bo the opening day is hack to-fcbo •usual month, November. It is to be hoped the weather keeps fine this afternoon, so that players may get a fair start on the grass courts. In connection with the ground question there is not much ,to record except that two sub-committees have held BeveTal meetings—one to prepare a report on the Day's Bay grounds, and the other to prepare a report on the Pirie Street Reserve. When both these reports are ready, an extraordinary general meeting of tho Wellington Lawn Tennis Association will be called to consider them. Tho ex-New Zealander, fl, A. Parker, left Sydney for Perth last Saturday to take part in the Australasian championships, which open there on Saturday next. It is not "know whether or not he will return in time to take part in the big Vdctorian: tournament at Melbourne three weeks hence. World's Covered Courts Championship. •At a meeting of the council of the Lawn Tennis Association of Australasia, held on October 23, it was decided toofficially send A. F, Wilding to Stockholm to represent tho association in the forthcoming covered courts championships to be played early this month. Thaso championships are tho last of the three inaugurated this year by the newly formed international association, the other two being the grass courts and hard courts championships, which have already been played at Wimbledon and Paris respectively. The singles in both wero won by Wilding, so if he is successful at Stockholm foe will <be tho recognised world's eingles champion on all classos of courts. ■' The Field," in a paragraph dealing with Wilding's remarkable form and extraordinary ability in being able to- detect the weaknesses .of his opponents, a knowledge of which ho is able to turn to such good account, declares that Doust and he, consolidated as they are by constant practice, should be Well to the foro in the Doubles Championship next year. The journal also- states that probably *no pair in the world' would be able to challenge their supremacy outside of Brookes and Dunlop, who, it was said, intended to play in England on that occasion.

Parko, the Irian Ofiamplon. Parko, the champion, has had a fine run of success this season. He has this year participated, in more tournaments than oxer before. His ro'cofd is'worthy" of" note. Ho has had only ono defeat in singles, and that at the hands of the American champion, M'Loughlin. This player-Parke* wards defeated in the Davis Cup contest. Since November last, the Irishman hns beaten, amongst oiherg, Nor•man Brookes, A. F. Wilding, N. lil. M'Loughlin, R. N. Williams, A. E. Beamish, and A. H. Lowe (three times). Besides numerous successes in men's and mixed doubles events, ho has won the Irish championship, and the open singles at Malvern, the Northern (Man- , Chester), including, Newcastle, Buxton. Scarborough (where he also annexed the Ohampjonahip of Europe), and at Carlisle, and moat of these events ho won quite easily. Hard Courts and thg Davis Gup. The question of hard courts nations and their right to challenge grass court nations to play on their courts, is now cropping up in connection with the Davis Cup conditions (says an exchange). Wh°n. the Cup was given over a decade ago it was never dreamed that hard courts would ever enter into consideration in the matter. The question has new risen, however, as to '.what should bo done if a hard court country won, on grass courts, the Davis Chip and in the following year insisted on the challenge round being played on hard courts. Up to the present the hard courts nations, such as Germany, France, and South Africa, have played preliminary ties on,grass without mucji success. If the scope of the conditions of the Cup wero widened it would be the same for all. Already many of the loading players do equally 'veil on both classes of court. Wilding, for instance, is the world's hard court champion as well as tho All-England hard ■ court champion. The American, M'Loughlin, is no moan performer on. such courts. On the other hand, a French hard court pair playing on grass at Wimbledon showed their versatility by carrying off the All-England doubles. Mans other instances in which players have proved suocessftil on either court eotild be quoted as an argument in favour of any nation having tho right to challenge on either hard courts or grass courts.