LAWN TENNIS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19473, 7 May 1925, Page 4

LAWN TENNIS.

Br Smash. In local tennis circles controversy still rages around the knotty point of a ball which is lobbed high in the air, crosses the net, but is blown back so that it eventually" lands in the striker’s court. Whose point is it? The answer is not a simple one, and there is no rule which bears directly on it. Still, the laws of the game ore based on expert experience and common sense, and if a problem does not come under one of these categories it comes under the other. .My view of tlxmatter is that (be man who lobs the ball undoubtedly loses the point, because we read in tho rules that “a player loses the point if he return the ball in play so that it hits the ground outside any of the lines which bound his opponent’s court.” It cannot be maintained for a moment that the lubber has done that, and it is therefore conclusive that he had not fulfilled Ills part of the bargain. The right of the ‘‘receiver” to volley such a ball does not enter into the question, because if a player volleys a ball he docs so entirely ..t his own option. To illustrate the point in another way. If, under similar circumstances, a player lobs a ball beyond the backline, and it is blown back into his opponent's court the ball is unquestionably right and the latter must play it. If there are yet some doubters there is yet another rule which would prevent the Jobber from winning the point in the first case quoted. Rule 21 says that “in case a played is hindered in making a stroke oy anything not within bis control, except n permanent fixture of the court, the. -point shall Vie replayed.” And none of us have jet acquired control over the wind. Somelimes when we have to play at Anderson b Day wo no doubt wish that we had. By the" same process of reasoning used in the above argument it is equally clear that a ball which lands in the. proper court and rebounds or is blown back over the net is a good ball. That is to say, if it is not played in the process, tho striker wins tthe point. An announcement regarding tho method of New Zealand's participation in the Davis Cup is still awaited, and it is high lime that one was forthcoming. The Australian team to meet Hawaii in the firs-.. round was selected some months ago, nud the names of England's team have been announced. Time is passing riipidljb am. if tho dominion is to fulfil its engagement with Canada prompt and energetic mea sums are necessary. As I have suggested before our team should have an excellent chance of defeating Canada, and there is little doubt that a match in America between the Australians and Now Zealanders would produce an excellent “gate.' The delay in official quarters is difficult to understand, and it may be .suggested to Wellington that the present “wait and sci” policy can be overdone. The following were (he positions of lending players on the Auckland ladders at the end of the season: —Men; E. L. Bartleet, V. K. Johns. E. W. Griffiths, A- C. Johns. 11. L. Hobson, A. K. Ulehardson. Ladies: ■Miss Macfarlane, Miss B. Knight, Miss 51. Bay-ton, Miss J. E. Ramsay. Miss N. slac-Corniac-k, Miss 51. Macfarlane. As a result of tho controversy over tho correct method of volleying, lliika, tho writer in tho Evening Tost, obtained tho following from J. O. Anderson, tho wellknown Australian Davis Gup player: — “When volleying, tho foot, is tho same as when driivng, but if caught out of position throw tho weirrht on tho foot nearer tho 'ball, while tho grip is shortened slightly. With tho wrist stiff and racquet angled, tho ball should bo tempered when it is below tho level of the not, and hit when above the not The chop volley or drop shot is more difficult, and should only he used lo upset your opponent occasionally. This should drop within throe or livo feet of the net to be of any use. Never drive a volley, always hit with tho forearm.” A Now York cablegram a few days ago stated that “Vincent. Richards. Olympic champion, and ranked as the second best player in tin*. United States, believes that the ‘player-writer’ rule debars him from competing in national and international tournaments this year. He is under contract to a news syndicate to write lawn tennis articles. X T nder the rule Richards must choose between writing on the more important, loiirnanu'iils, including the Davis Gup contests and national championships, or participating in them. There is little doubt that he will he selected again as a member of Ihe Davis Cup team” Gays Hie Sydney Referee). In the light of history the chances are that n way out of Ibis difficulty will lie discovered by Iho United States lawn tennis authorities, or by Richards himself, and that if form warrants it he xvill bo found representing his country this year in (ho cup matches. “Frankly, some of tho photographs of Miss Colyer, who is the most snap shotted tennis star after Suzanne Lenglen, ought not to have been taken, let alone pub iished,” said Mrs Lycott, commenting on tho banning of tho photographs of ladyplayers. “Miss Colyer niffl 1, like most girls, play a vigorous game, taking many shots off the ground, but why should tho photographer kneel to take the pictures? Tho majority certainly have improved tremendously lately. They no longer lie down to focus their lenses. Nevertheless, distasteful pictures often appear. I prefer o. shirt to shorts, as it gives greater freedom. With suitable underclothing there is nothing to shock the severest maiden aunt.” Miss Colyer said: “Action pictures are merely stupid, being taken at. impossible angles. Whether they should ho considered objectionable depends on tho typo of mind of the reader.” Tho manager of the, London Sport a.nd General Phofographie Agency, Mr Hall, replying to Mrs .Lycott’s comments, said: “Before Millie. Lenglen arrived hero lawn tennis did not interest cameramen, but now every girl wears a short skirt and plays like a man. Tho newspapers won’t have dull, posed pictures. The public demand action photographs. Sometimes a cameraman lies at full lengfh on tho ground to get a sensational picture, and always kneels so that ho will not obstruct the view of spectators behind him. Mdllo. Lenglen revolutionised lawn tennis clothes and scrapped tho listless, pat-bail methods. Everybody nowadays knows what girls wear. The Victorian era pruderies have gone. Not a single player has complained of these photographs.. The protests have alxvays come from tho killjoys and liypoc ritc.s. An instantaneous snapshot of a lawn tennis effort is the perfection of athletic beauty.” The joint committee of the Lawn Tennis Championship meeting at Wimbledon, announces that, for the first time, a preliminary eliminating competition will he held this year for the purpose of filling tlie’ last eight places in tho Men’s Singles and Ladies’ Singles Championships, and the last four places in each of tho three doubles championships. Tho players xvho will take part in this competition xx-ill ho selected from those who have not boon definitely accepted for tho various championships. Tho number selected for tho preliminary competition will not. exceed 32 players fer each of tho two singles, and 16 pairs in each of the doubles events. This competition will ho conducted on tho “knock-out” system, and tho last eight players left in each singles event, and tho last four pairs loft in _ each doubles event will ho included in the draxv for tho championships at Wimbledon. The eliminating competition xx- ill bo held on grass courts at the Roohampton Club during the xveek commencing on Juno 15. Speaking of laxvn tennis prospects in America for the coming season W. T. Tildon says: “Harada and Fuicuda xvill carry the burden for Japan in the Davis Cup matches, xvith Shimidzu as captain and reserve. Harada looks x-ory good to me, and reports from Jamaica state that he was wonderful there. California xvill stage, a series of exhibitions at Los Angeles in April, xvith W. M. Johnston, Miss Helen W ills, 51iss Mary Browne, and myself playing. With the arrival of the 'Australian Davis Cup team and the. English women players early in June, it is wise that, xve should have all our players timed to tho minute to moot them. We xvill need all our strength to repel the invasion. 1 am faking all (he tennis 1 can before starting I on my second ‘movie’ picture early in May. 1 Manuel Alonzo looks to be ready for the 1 greatest season of his career. Vincent, Richards has adder! 251 bto his xvoight. Ho is in perfect condition, and hitting all his shots with greater speed and pace than ever before.”