LAWN TENNIS

Evening Star, Issue 23378, 22 September 1939, Page 4

LAWN TENNIS

[By Recoedee.]

Club Openings. A number of clubs held their opening day last Saturday, when the weather conditions were ideal. Dr J. Fulton, president of the association, spent an afternoon visiting the various courts. The first visited was Otago, and it was pleasing to’ note that, though this club has for financial reason had to withdraw from the association, it has had a large increase in its membership, and it should not be. long before it can again take its place as one of Dunedin’s leading clubs. Opoho is arranging to have its courts topdressed, and the members are looking forward to a successful season. At Roslyn a large number of players were present, ,and in the course of his remarks Dr Fulton stressed the necessity of players giving full support to their club, even though we are at war.

Kaituna also held a successful opening day, and, with its large number of young and keen members, it should have a good season. Mavis Kerr, fresh from her recent Badminton victories, was playing on. Saturday, and from her early form she should gain a high place in tennis this year. * Clubs which will hold their opening* on Saturday are St. Kilda, St. Clair, Mornington, Caversham, Moana, Bal* macewen, Taieri, Port Chalmers, St.' Patrick’s, and Cosy Dell. Tennis players are reminded of the tennis dance to be held in the Gardens Tea Kiosk on Saturday by the St. Clair and North-east Valley Club*. All tennis players are invited. Notes. Many of our leading men players will be accepted for military service and this will no doubt have an effect on the various competitions. ■ Df Fulton, president of the ■ association, has been accepted for military service. The main topic of conversation round the c|ubs last Saturday was what would be the effect of the introduction of a mixed A grade competition in addition to the present separate men’s and ladies’ A competition. With the possibility of many A grade players no* being available this season, it would appear, that it will not be possible to run a separate men’s competition, but this will not b© definitely known until the clubs have forwarded their team entries. J. Rawlinson will be playing fop Roslyn again this year, so that, even though this club has lost K. Bryan, who has transferred to Oamaru, and the two M'Donald boys, who have taken up golf, it will still have a fairly strong A grade men’s team. Stevens, who recently won the South Island singles and doubles title at Badminton, will probably he No. 3 for Roslyn this year. It is expected that G. Lawrence will not be available to play for’ St. Clair this year, while B. Barclay, another member of its A team last, year, has transferred to Timam. St. Glair will still have A strong team in Swallow, Yeoman, M'Kenzie, and Patterson. The latter has transferred from Mornington Club. American Championships. The singles’ championships of tha United States of America wore completed last week, the wiiiners being: Ladies, Miss Helen Jacobs, and men. R. Riggs. .. A. 'Quist (Australia) gained his best win in the men’s singles when he;defeated J. Doig in the third round, Quist, however, went out in the next round to Sabin, who has caused more than one upset in America during tha present season. Bromwich won through to the semi-finals but wais eliminated by the coming American player, S. W. Van Horn. The latter’s performances up to the American championships did not suggest that he would be at all likely to reach the final of this event. During the past two months he has suffered defeats by much lower-ranked players, and his performance,in reaching the final was the biggest surprise of the tournament. The.. Australian players were, very disappointing, but it may be that after winning the Davis Cup they have not been able to retain; their best form. R. Riggs, the winner of the title, appears to bo one of the few leading players.of the world who has been able to produce his best form in big tournaments. He now holds the singles titles of both England and America.

Miss Alice Marble retained her title and like .Riggs holds both the English' and American titles. It was said of Miss Marble, when playing at Wimble* don, that she had a better backhand than anv man playing in the tournament. Her endurance is amazing fop a girl who was told by doctors five years ago that she was not strong enough for the terrific strain of topclass competitive tennis. Although she lias to *go through three finals in one day at Wimbledon, she asked an official for someone to give her a khock-up before her matches started.. There is no doubt that Miss Marble is the leading woman player in the world. Miss Kay Stammers, who was easily beaten by Miss Marble in the final at Wimbledon, stated after the match that Misa Marble was the finest woman player m the world. She also stated that in the opinion of her coach, Dan Masked, Miss Marble was tho best since Mile. Lenglen’s days. : , Training Young Players.

Last year the American Association distributed more than 11,000 dollars for the training of promising- young players. There is no doubt that encouragement and instruction from- elders can lead to the unearthing of latent talent in young players and also a greater understanding of the spirit of fair play and sportsmanship in lawn tennis. Yet there is room for doubt that money and time and energy are always spent to the best advantage. It, is always possible that some get a rather exaggerated idea of their own importance to the game. . , When young players are. given free instruction from professionals there la the possibility of their-gainmg a wrong outlook on the game.. Contrast the experience of a presentday youngster in America with one ol 15 or 20 years ago. A young college nlaver of 15 years ago was asked after a match against another college whv he did not win a certain match, and replied, “ How well would you have played with broken strings in your racket and holes in your shoes? This was a time when colleges did nothing for their players, but to-day in America tennis has become so important that scholarships are available to the promising youth.