TENNIS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2363, 2 December 1908, Page 2

TENNIS.

THE DAVIS COP.

AUSTRALASIA’S GREAT V/IN

THE NEW ZEALANDER'S BRILLIANT PLAY.

THE BROOKES-WRIGHT STRUGGLE.

United Press Association. Copyright

MELBOURNE, Dec. 1

.Brookes seemed irresistible at the opening. Then Wright’s overhead play began to toil, and the third set fell to America, after a keen Mild exhausting struggle. Brookes struggled gamely, hut. the American had the master hand qi : him. Despite the fact that Wright’s outlook early in til© game was enough to daunt any other tennis champion, it seemed only to encourage him. The last set was terribly severe. It seemed as if nothing would withstand Wright as he continued Iris victorious career through the fifth set. Brookes on y got- three points in the first three games. With the score at 4—l, there ensued the greatest fight ever seen perhaps on tiny court in the world. Both men were terribly exhausted, yet tho tennis never fell below international standard. The score stood 6 all. Brookes led with the next game. They were then oven, and so first one and then the other had 1 the lead until after a long game Wright led by 9to S. Brookes won the 18th game. Wright was panting at every stroke. Brookes dragged his feet like an old man. Wright took .the lead at tho 19th game, and, then, by caking three .games in succession, he lef t Victoria with little hope of retailing the cup-—for Victorians have one tennis idol, Brookes, and when he was unsuccessful their aspirations •were at u low eb'b when the next match commenced. Wilding’s play, however, was a revelation. He contented himself with staying on the back line, in marked contrast to Alexander, and it- mis the severity of tliis driving and his magnificent striving which gained the victory, and the Davis Cup this year must be known as the Wilding Cup.

CONC R ATUL ATIONtS TO WILDING.

DUNEDIN, Dec. 1

The Otago Lawn Tennis Assooia tion hus cabled congratulations t< Wilding and Brookes on the result ol the Davis Cup,. ,-

It is quite certain that- never before has a contest for the famous International trophy, the Davis Cup aroused such enthusiasm among tennis players in the Antipodes than lia that just concluded. As will bo seen by the cables an this morning’s “Times” the Australian representative, Brookes, who has been considered to be without superior in the world, went ''down before Beat; Wright’s masterly play. His partner in the contest, Wilding, came to light, however, and by brilliant- play and clever tactics defeated Alexander and thus retained the Cup for Australasia. Sufficient evidence of his magnificent play is contained in the statement from Melbourne that “the Davis Cup this year must bo known as the Wilding Cup.”

WILDING’S CAREER. Wilding is about 26 ■ years of age, and was horn in Christchurch, where. he first learned the rudiments of tennis. He showed a fair adaptability to the game, but -until about five years ago, when he left for Cambridge University, Ids form was nothing remarkable. Since then, however, his tennis career has been meteoric and his name to-dav is a hyeword in every country where tennis is played. He has won many championships in Australasia, England, and the Continent,-and last year, with Brookes, he succeeded in capturing the Davis Cup for the- first time. Bat it can be safely said that never before has ho played- so magnificently as on Monday last-, and every New Zealander wiiil -be pleased to know that- tho Dominion’s representative so worthily assisted, in upholding the honor of Australasia. Regarding the' players in the contest .a writer in the Sydney “Referee” makes the following reriarks: —

For many years, I vice and Parker have been admittedly the two best singles players in Australia, bar Brookes. Time and again they have carved up between them all the championships available in Australasia. Parker has won the championship of New Zealand six times, Victoria once, and Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia, wherever he has competed for them, save when beaten by Rice. The latter has won the championships of Australasia—and now holds it—of Queensland, and of N.S. Wales, and doubles championships innumerable. They were “the unbe-atables.” Parker a few weeks back beat Dick Anderson, a promising colt, 6-0, 6-0. Rico beat Jones, another'fine player, with great ease. These two winners come to Melbourne fit and well, and ,i:n good form and confident in their game, and great interest is taken by the public in their matches with Brookes. In 23 minutes Brookes heats Parker without .losing a game, and Rice just as quickly. In the first three games Parker ran up to 40 to love, or 40 to 15, but that only made' Brookes more determined. With quiet, easy mastery ho dropped every ball short, and, sauntering slowly in, anticipated every severe drive, delicate passing stroke, or well judged toss, and, in no haste to win any particular stroke, he secured every _ ace that was important. Several time 3

Parker had easy winning strokes, but tho knowledge of how-much .skill was required to defeat Brooliea causedhim 'to net the ball, or put it out, or right- into Brookes’ jaws, liko theveriest novice. Parker was not run about or-beaten by pace; he was simply manoeuvred off tho court. “How aro you going to get on', HorrieP” was called- out to Rice .in t-lie afternoon.- “Oh, Glove, 6 love, I suppose” ; but even then he did- not dream that Brookes could do- that again. At the outset, Rice was in his best form; there was no anxiety, no carelessness, and little of atteinp'cing too much. When Brookes aim self was serving there was little hope, indeed. Brookes served six strokes against 'his service. Fifteen times Brookes won the service outright, Rico failing to got the ball into play, and in 10 of those he either never touched the ball or failed to get fit back. to the net-. When lticc was serving he did much better, and in the fifth game there were six deuces before -Brookes won. In the 11th' Rice led at 40 to 15, by magnificent strokes, -and then just missed the lefthand side line with a severe passing stroke that has beaten.Brookes. In tho doubles Brookes was almost equally marvellous. No toss was too far back for him to recover, and ho several times almost -got- back into play passing strokes that had got past his partner. One toss he recovered from 21ft beyond the base line, and tossed it back to within a yard of the opposite corner, and won the rally. Alexander -reckons -it was a- marvellous exhibition. Wilding, who played with Brookes in England in 1905, and won the Davis Cup with him in 1907, thinks Brookes is playing to-day ;i io'n-g way better, and Mr A. V. Roberts, of South Australia, who watched all tho Davis Cup matches in England in 1907, thinks Brookes ,is hallfifteen better than he then was. AH this augurs well for our chance, but our visitors are splendid players. Beaie_ Wright, however, is the master. His tactics are superb, and tho command of every variety of stroke —cut, lift, or plain—leaves him perfects a'b ease to meet every danger, and take advantage of every opening. His smashes are as powerful and deadly as Gadcn at his host, and the other day lie recovered and tossed a ball 29 feet from the base-line, and won the rally. Against Brookes 'they will certainly toss a great deal. Indeed, both the Americans, for this reason, want more room on the championship court so that they may run to recover anything reachable.

As to Wilding, there is no question of liis being a fine player on. his present form, though that is not yet his best. He commands the American service, both plain and reverse, and with such pace‘that- all except those who can play the rising ball are driven three yards behind the base line to take the service. Then he is possessed of immense vitality, and rushes close into the net unceasingly, and from there volleys with great force, and smashes with accuracy and pace. He could probably owe Parker or Rice 15 and win, and he is improving every day. His strongest stroke is his forehand drive. He hits this strike with some of Parker’s method, but his style is by no means so cramj>. ed, and, taking the ball on the top of its bound, he drives it with equal skit I to either corner, and seldom misses. He plays this stroke with ill the accuracy and finish of Red. Heath, but with far more pace and certainty, and loss necessity to shirk his back-hand. His back-hand is weak by comparison, but still is finely played and well placed, as against Alexander ho scorns to got more pace oil his forehand, and is just as certain, but has not quite the same delicacy in finding the side-lines a.nd openings. Ho forces an opening; Alexander sees one.

THE DAVIS CUP—HISTORY OF THE TROPHY. A brief history of. the Cup may not, in view of the success"" of Wilding and Brookes, be' without interest- to readers. Presented by an American in 1900 for competition by all the world, it was not hedged about with impossible conditions, aid in favor of the holder, as is the great American cup, to gain which Sir Thomas Lipton has spent several fortunes ; on the contrary, the terms seem fair and equitable. Brookes and Wilding did not gain -possession of the cup by competing for it in Australia. They had to journey to Wimbledon several times ere they were successful, and it is now only fair that there should bo somo compensation! for the sacrifices they made in order to win the coveted trophy. The challenge round consists of four single matches between two players -from each country, and one double match ; the day being gained by the nation scoring a win in the majority of the contests. There is no necessity for the double team to he comprised of the same players as the singles, and that is where the home nation perhaps has somo slight advantage. The first contest took place at Longwood, U.S.A.jJn 1900, when the British team consisted of A. W. Gore, E. D. Black, and H. Roper Barrett, their opponents being M. D. Whitman, D. F. Davis (the donor of the cup), and H. Ward. The Dohertys and several other -leading players were -unable to make the trip, but the_ team, although- not- actually representative, was looked upon to make a -good showing. Such, however was not the case. There were various causes contributing to defeat, insufficient time for practice after arrival, consequent lack of familiarity with American, courts, on whicl: at that time the grass was much- longer than in England, but, above all, brilliant play on the part of their op-

ponehts. America won by three 'matches to love, 10 sets to one (Black, ■clefeating'Davis) and 76 games to 50. On the last day play, was interrupted b'y • ram, and never resumed. In 1905 Australasia made a first bie for •championship honors, France-, Austria, -Belgium, and America also entering teams. The Australasian team was A. F. Wilding, Norman Brookes, and A. W. Dunlop; at that time Dunlop, who had tvon tho Victorian championship in 1899, was probably best known m England by reputation-. Wilding was just finishing his course at Cambridge, -and had not then made ■his name a household word in Continental!; tennis circles, while although Brookes had proved his brilliancy on Australian courts little was known of his play across the seas. In. the first round France, Austria,- and Australasia had byes, America walked over, and .Belgium retired. In the second round America (H. Ward, J. W. Clothier, and Beals AVriglit) heat France ,(M. Gemot and M. Dccugis) by fivo rubbers to- love; and Australasia defeated Austria (R. Kinzo and C. von Wessely) also by five r-übbeis to love. ' And then, as if to make the coincidence the moro striking, America -defeated Australasia in the final round, again the margin being five rubbers to love. Although it had been, anticipated that Wilding might suffer defeat in the singles, Brookes was expected to win. However, Beals Wright defeated him, 12—10, 5—7, 12—10, 6—4, after one of the most brilliant exhibitions of tho game ever seen at Wimbledon. La rued won against Brookes, 14 —12, 6 —o, 6 —B; while Ward and Beals Wri-gilt defeated Brookes and Dunlop, 6 —4, 7- —5, 5—7, 6—2. Fivo rubbers to love had' been tho score recorded in every engagement, so it was only appropriate that the British Isles should defeat America in that decisive fashion, and thus retain possession of the cup. It. F. Doherty, H. L. Doherty, and S. H. *Smith represented the British Isle. s. In 1906 Australasia was once more a competitor, together with Austria, France, America, and, of course, the holders, tho British Isles, but Austria and France, for some reason or other, scratched in tho first round. Brookes and Dunlop had been unable to make the trip, -and the team was composed of Wilding and L. O. tS. Poidevin, of cricket fame. They put u]) a very creditable showing in the final against America (li. Ward and R. D. Little), eventually being defeated three rubbers to two. Wilding won both his singles, but Poidevin was beaten by a narrow margin in each, case, while in the doubles Ward and LittliNpre-vailed, 7—5, 6—2, 6—4. In the challenge round the invincible British Isles trio, R. F. Doherty, IT. L. Doherty, and S. IT. Smith, defeated America by five rubbers to love, winning all the singles, and taking the doubles.' 3—6, 11—9, 9 —7, 6 —l.

In 1907 Ausralasia made her third and, as it happened, successful bid for victory. Norman Brookes made his second trip to England, ami with Wilding, now a celebrity, determined to make a big effort to bring the cup out to Australia. America had also sent over a strong team (Beals Wright anil Flan'. Behr), and there was consternation in British, tennis circles when it was ascertained that- the Dohertys did not. intend to compete. Their reasons for t-o doing hare never been properly ascertained. Australasia met America in the preliminary round at Wimbledon on July 13, 15, and 16, and wen the match, three rubbers to two. after a series of exciting and keenly-contested games. Brookes defeated Beals Wright, and against Behr won 4 —6, 6 —4, 6—l. 6 —2. This first set -against Behr was the only time he suffered a reverse during the progress of either preliminary or challenge rounds. Wilding heat Behr but was defeated by* Beals Wright. Jn the doubles the American pair defeated Brookes and Wilding, B—6,8 —6, 12—10, 4 —6, 6—2, 3 —3. In the challenge round Brookes continued In's triumphant career; he accounted for Gore, and easily defeated Bopcr Barrett ; Wilding prevailed Barrett, but lost to Gore, while in the -doubles the British pair were victorious.