LAWN TENNIS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1926, 8 December 1913, Page 9

LAWN TENNIS.

[By Backhand.]

NEWS NOTES AND FIXTURES. December 20, 26, and 27.—Marlborough Championships and Handicap Tournament, at Blenheim. Dominion Championships, Entries are just commencing to l;o received for tile New Zealand Championship_s, which, are to be lielcl in Auckland at Christina's tome. From present advices it appears as if both S. X. Dousfc and fL A. Parker will enrno from Australia to take pari in the championships, and it is probable that some Australian ladies will also come over to take part in the plav, but :is ynt no official intimation lias boon roocivocl. It was thought that Jemmigs, 0 f Wanganui, might; partner Swanston in the doubles at Auckland, but it is nnw stated that. Jennings may not bo at the litf-DtiDir. Miss Traver.i, of Wellington, and Miss IlartgiH, of Dannovirke, are not iikelv to be comprint! at the Xetr &>alanil mcctsiiH, and, as previously mentioned, G. Oilivier is doubtful, and J. C, j'caeook, of cllington, is not to bo a competitor. Auckland' tennis enthusiasts arc looking forward with pleasure to the championship meeting, and arraiigoments are reported to bo well in hand. Mr. A. J. Peiheriek, .secretary of Jlio New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association, leaves here for Auckland on December 19, to take charge of the meeting. Lord Ro&sfts' l.qolis On. Perhaps- the most strikim? feature of the- grass-conrt season in England now drawing to its closo is tlio increased "jsato"' at all open tournaments, remarks the "Field," and goes on to stato that: "Meetings wore held recently in mnny parts of the country—at Rux'ton, Felixstowe, Worthing, Torquay, Cromer, and Bridge -of Allan, to liaW.o only a few—and at each the crowds round the courts were larger, almost without except ion. thaw, in any previous year. Moreover, these crowds are not wholly made up of those actively engaged in tile to'iirnamont and their friends.' Filling the reserved scats and pressing round the rop<«s i.- a nets- element —the man who has discovered that first-class lawn tennis is quilo n different- spectacle from the pastimo which serve:; a purpose on the homo lawn or even tliciocal club courts. The zeal of the freshly-converted is always fervid, and so we find this new patron of the game oarlv and late in attendance. The caso of Lord Herberts is but one in n thousand, t'litil ho strolled into tho Pleasure Grounds at Buxlaii last week the distinguished FiohHlnrshal bad never witnessed a championship game."

Matters to bi CansMared. Tho secretary of ilto New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association (Mr. A. J. Pothoriek) advises that the next meeting of the Council of (ho Lawn. Tennis Association of Australasia is to be held in Sydney next Wednesday week. Consideratiou will then be given to tho question of negotiating for au ICnpJish or Continental team to tour Australasia next slimmer. Arrangements will also bo made for the Australian team (Wilding, Brookes, and Diiulop) to take part in the next Davis Cup contest, Wollingtan Inter-Club Matches. At a meeting of the Wellington Lawn Tennis Association Committee, held during the week, the oucsiion of inter-club matches was discussed. A challenge scheme was practically adopted by which the holders of tlio inter-club trophies will have to p'ay to retain them. A. sub-committee was set up to draw up regulations lo govern the mritrhc.'i. and « report will later on lie presented lo I lie full committee, and then laid > before, cluta. The matclies are not likeiv to bo under way until after tho holidays. Const and Brookes. lU'ferrins to the recent' inlcr-State contests at Melbourne, the "Australasian" savs"Chief interest, of course, centred in the matches in which Rrookes and Dousl we're The latter has just arrived in Melbourne after an absence of three years, and, it will be remembered, captained the Australasian Davis C'np team this year. He has not yet had time_to /?>(, suliieieist practice to strike It is top form. In his first match against Heath on Friday he wa? not the equal of the Victorian, who is now playiiie; better than he has Tor a lons time past. In tho afternoon, however, on a dead court, Doust achieved a sensational vein against Brookes, his llcetneps of fool enabling him to g,.t to many returns which under ordinary circumstances would have been certain winners. Brookes dominated the lirst sel, but, thence onward was nvnch below his game. Doust, assisted 1 by several net cord strokes, but playing a fine game throughout, took the second s;t to two panics, and then ran to five—love, The champion hy a big effort (ben. won four game?, but Doust secured the next mid the. rubber. Uiee succumbed to Brookes in straight seis. but made a stood Hullt. for two seis against Heaih. }n the final, however, Heath plaved all over him.