LAWN TENNIS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19996, 13 January 1927, Page 4

LAWN TENNIS.

Bt Smash. Arrangements have been made with the South African Lawn Tennis Union for the tour in South Africa, early this year, of a British women’s team, consisting of Miss M. E. Dix, Miss Joan Fry, Miss E. H. Harvey, Mrs C. G. MTlquham, Miss P. Saunders, and Mrs M. Watson. Most of the players at the Southland tournament behaved admirably on the court (says “ Chop ” in the Southland Times), but there were certainly exceptions. One man I am thinking of would never move to get a ball that came cross from an adjoining court, no matter whether it was a girl who had to retrieve. His manners generally would hav(& disgraced an elephant. Malfroy, the winner of the junior championship at the New Zealand tournament greatly impressed all who saw him play (says the New Zealand Herald). In Malfroy and N. Wilson, Wellington undoubtedly has two players of splendid promise. Malfroy would be well advised not to overdo the singles play at present. At the close of the tournament he appeared to be very tired. One representative match a year .s too few for a province like Southland. It is sincerely to be hoped (says “Chop” j in the Southland Times) that a game with North Otago will also be arranged, as the Oamaruvians are keen to try themselves out against Southland. The local players who are in the running for representative honours should soon be getting into solid practice. A remarkable achievement characterised the Derbyshire lawn tennis championships in England recently, R. E. Worthington and his brother (G. J. Worthington) reached the finals of the men’s singles championship, and together they reached the finals of the doubles tourney. Mrs it. E. Worthington and her daughter both reached the semi-finals of the women’s singles, and in the resulting clash youth prevailed. A rather unusual occurrence in the men’s double final at the Southland tournament was the ball striking the umpire twice and rolling over into court. On each occasion the Sumpters hit the ball and the point should, according to the rules have been given to them. However, it did not make any difference, as matters turned out. The rule is that the umpire’s stand and umpire himself are fixtures, and if a ball hits them and is deflected into court the stroke is quite correct. In a recent interview, G. L. Patterson said that, provided the best four players in the country, excluding J. O. Anderson, are available, Australia should compete in the Davis Oup match this year. However, unless the best players can be secured, Patterson thinks that it would bo a waste of money to send a team, since juniors could not gain much experience on a Davis Cup tour. They participated in few tournaments were eliminated early, and, except for the actual Cup matches, put in the remainder of their time playing against each other. They could gain ■ the experience that they desire without leaving Australia. The Marlborough tennis championships, which wore postponed from Christmas on account of the wet weather, were concluded, after three days’ play, in ideal weather. There were over 200 entries from all parts of New Zealand, and some excellent play was witnessed. The new champions are: —Men’s singles,’ C. Humphreys (Anglican Club, Blenheim); men’s doubles, A. B. Shaw (Marlborough Club) ana Humphreys (Anglican Club, Blenheim); ladies’ singles Mrs Austin (Wellington) ; I ladies’ doubles, Mrs Austin (Wellington) and Miss Rogers (Hamilton); combinea doubles. R. Bagge and Miss Stevens (Marlborough Club). Those who would talk of tennis stars must talk of Geoff Ollivier. master of court craft and possessor of the finest forehand drive in New' Zealand (says the Christchurch Sun). Ollivier, -who is the bolder of the National Singles title, stands head and shoulders above any other exponent of the game in New Zealand. Though hampered by “temperament,” he is swift and rarely errs in play. His present position in Canterbury tennis should not be threatened seriously for some time. Miss May Spiers, the ex-lady champion of New Zealand, has been enabled to climb to the top rung of the tennis ladder through natural ability and a first-class stroke equipment. It looks as if she will be Canterbury’s best for a long while yet. Youth scored a notable series of victories at the New Zealand lawn tennis championship tournament (says the New Zealand Herald). In practically every event the leading young players of the Dominion triumphed, and every success was w’ell earned. By winning the championship singles, E. D. Andrews, of Palmerston North, get the seal on a tennis career which has been bright with promise since he won the boys’ singles championship of the Dominion in 1921 and 1922. Andrews, who is only 21 years of age, is believed to be the youngest holder of the title, and the fact that he has gained the blue ribbon of tennis in competition with the leading players of both New Zealand and New South Wales speaks eloquently of his calibre. New Zealand will watch his future performances with eager eyes, for. as Mr Frank Peach, captain of the New South Wales team, said at the prize presentation ceremony: “You have a real champion in Andrews.” No less pleasing was the victory of Mias Anita Howe, of Wellington,- in the ladies’ singles. Like Andrews, she first made her mark in the junior championship, winning the New Zealand girls’ singles in 1919, 1920, and 1921. The success of Andrews and Miss Howe shows the value of these junior championship events, which were inaugurated in 1919. To win the championship Miss Howe had to defeat Mrs W. J. Melody, the 1924 champion, in the semi-final, and Miss M. Speirs, the 1923 and 1925 champion, in the final. Youth gained yet another triumph in the men's doubles, which was won by L. G. Knott and N. G. Sturt, of Auckland. The triumph of the young Aucklanders was complete, for in turn they defeated each of the three New South Wales pairs, concluding a whirlwind performance by a victory over Norman and Frank Peach in the final after a strenuous five-set match. Knott is 21 years of age, and Sturt is 19. Both were singles champions at the Auckland Grammar School. A peculiar and unfortunate thing happened at the wrong moment in the Miss Spiers-Miss Howe contest. With the score 5—4 in favour of the Wellington lady and deuce called, a lob of Miss Howe’s just landed over the net. Miss Speirs stood ready to finish it off when a gust of wind blew the ball back over the net. The next stroke was the end of the match. How near E. L. Bartlcet came to being beaten by L. G. Knott, an Auckland junior, is known only to E. L. Bartleet himself (says the Dominion). That he was near to defeat is certain, and his slowing up of his driving at a critical stage was more from fear and worry than from any design or inspiration that that was the way to beat his hard-driving, somewhat impetuous opponent. Some of the best players of New Zealand and New South Wales will be seen in action on January 20. 21, and 22, when the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association will stage its annual provincial championship meeting. It is understood that a number of Auckland and Wellington players will be competing, which, together with the visit of the New South Welshmen, and the attendance of leading southern representatives, will make the gathering even more representative than the national championships. The game between Hammond and Ollivier at the South Canterbury tournament was a very pretty one to' watch (says the Christchurch Press), both players being right on their game. Ollivier showed superiority in placing, and this won him the set. In the second set Hammond made some brilliant and forceful drives, but Ollivier’s consistency pulled the game through. The semi-final between Ollivier and Angas was also most interesting. Ollivier opened strongly, driving tc all parts of the court, and working Angas out of position. He took this set 6-3. There was not much brilliant play, but it was very consistent. In the second set Ollivier seemed to ease up his play, and missed his volleys on coming to the net, while Angas played his usual steady game, occasionally making remarkable recoveries with his backhand across-court, which caught Ollivier out of position This set Angas took 6-3, mainly on Olhv.ior’s mistakes. At this stage Ollivier retired through experiencing trouble with his wrist, wh’oh _ he had Jarred the previous day, and forfeited

the match to Angas. who defeated Page in the final to-day. One of the outstanding events of the tennis year is always the publication by li. Wallis Myers, of his ranking list or the world’s best ternis players with his reasons lor the position he allots each player. Tilden No. sin the world’s first 10 ranking is the outstanding feature of the classification. Lacoste heads the list, which follows: —(1) R. Lacoste (France), (2) J. Borotra (France), (3) H. Cochet (France), (4) W. M. Johnston (U.S.A.), 5 W, X. Tilden (U.S.A.), (6) Vincent Richards (U.S.A.), (7) T. Harada (Japan). (8) M. Alonso (Spain), (9j H. Kinsey (U.S.A.), (10) J. Brugnon (France). Myers holds that the win of the America nchampionship is to be placed in a higher category than Borotra’s win at Wimbledon or Oochet’s win at Paris. He adds: Rene Lacoste was prevented by illness from competing at Wimbledon, but his record in the two American championships entitles him to first place. At the covered court tournament in February he defeated Tilden and Richards without losing a set: at Philadelphia in September he inflicted on Tilden the first reverse that great player had sustained in seven years in the Davis Cup; and a week later, inspired by that achievement, he won the American single* championship in a representative field. Jean Borotra, more brilliant in attack and, on occasion rising to greater heights, is a good second. He defeated Lacoste in the final of the French covered court chamI pionship, but Lacoste had his revenge in , the final of both the American indoor and I outdoor tournaments, while he also beat Borotra in the French hard court championship in June. This balance of three victories must decide the relative positions, but Borotra, in addition to gaming hi* second success at Wimbledon, had the satisfaction denied to Lacoste of beating Johnston for the first time. Henri Cochet has fully earned his place at No 3; indeed, it may be doubted whether his inherent genius has not shone with more lustre than that of any Frenchman. He, like Lacoste, was beaten by Harada in the French match against Japan; like Lacoste, he discounted this loss by fine play at the American championship meeting. Cochet won the French outdoor title by clean-cut victories over Richards and Lacoste; at Wimbledon he fought a very level five-set match in the semi-final with the subsequent winner, besides winning the doubles; at Forest Hills, he unhorsed Tilden, who had ridden through all opponents for six years, and was unlucky not to beat Lacoste in the semi-final. Three American players follow, but in a different sequence from that of 1925. In the last two weeks of international conflict Tilden was handicapped in some measure by a strained knee. When free from this disability he may well regain his supremo position, although it looks as if Lacoste has discovered the tactical secret by which ho may be confounded. Johnston is placed before Tilden this year, not because he has defeated him, but because in the Davi* Cup he beat the two leading Frenchmen, while Tilden only beat one. Vincent Richards has had a less successful season. He can claim three victories over Tilden as against only one reverse, while he won the Seabright tournament again in a strong field; yet his matches against the leading Frenchmen, both in Europe and America, have shown a lack of ground stroke control inimical to suocess. Harada rises from No. 10 to No. 7, claiming as victims Johnston, Lacoste, and Cochet. His advance in the last 12 months has been marked. M. Alonso played one or great matches, notably in the final at Newport against Tilden, but he has not gained ground appreciably. Howard Kinsey, of California, and M. Jacques Brugnon, of France, come into the list for the first time, Kinsey won the doubles at Paris, and was in the singles final at Wimbledon. M. Brugnon won the doubles at Wimbledon, and was in the semi-final of the singles, gaining the same position in the American covered court championship, where he defeated F. _T. Hunter; he is a player of rare stroke variety and delicacy of touch. Mile. Suzanne Lenglen heads the ladies' first 10, as was to have been expected. The name of Miss Helen Wills is missing, which will occasion no surprise. That list follows:—(1) Mile. Lenglen (France); (2) Mr* Godfree (England) ; (3) -Mile, de Alvare* (Spain); (4) Mrs Mallory (United States^; (5) Miss Ryan (United States); (6) Mis* Browne (United States); (7) Miss Fry (England); (8) Mrs Watson (England); (9) Mr* Jessup (United States); (10) Mile. Vlasta (France). In commenting on the list Myers says:— The ladies’ “First Ten” is headed by Mile. Lenglen —for the last time. The present French champion has embraced professionalism, and in conseq cnee has retired from all competitions upon which my annual classification is based. The same withdrawal applies to Miss Browne and to Vincent Richards. But all these three players have taken part in the championship events of 1926; it is only right that their records while amateurs should come under review. Personally, like everv other amateur who cherishes the game’s tradition* and is jealous of its welfare, I regret their translation, and believe that they themselves will lose by their action something that money cannot purchase. But lam dealing in the present article neither with politics nor with ethics, but with relativ® skill in the international field as the year has graded it. Miss Wills is unclassied this year because illness prevented her from competing at any of the three championship meetings. The close contest which she waged with Mile. Lenglen in February was adequate nioof of the Californian’s progress. She will doubtless resume her high place next year. Victorious at Wimbledon for the second time. Mrs Godfree moves up to No. 2. She experienced reverses during the vear, but was at her best in the supreme test. Neither she nor Mile. Alvarez, the runner-up at Wembledon, competed in the American championship, but the Spanish girl defeated its winner decisively at Wimbledon, and she, in her turn, lost, if narrowly to Mr* Godfree. Mrs Mallory regained the American championship after a memorable final against Miss Rvan. She remain* the greatest match player of her sex ( and can count Miss Wills among her victims this year. Mile. Lenglen resigned her title at Wimbledon in the third round, but she triumphed at Paris without the loss of a set, beating there both Miss Fry and Miss Browne, who had disposed of Miss Ryan and Mr* Godfree respectively. Miss Mary Browne defeated Mrs Godfree and Mrs Mallory, though the latter turned the tables subsequently ; she had conspicuous success in doubles, and her place next to Miss Rmn will probably not be disputed. Miss Fry has not gone forward, but revealed her match-winning quality in Paris and elsewhere. Mrs Watson has a fine record in England, and has defeated the present champion; she, like Mile. Vlasto (whose engagement, by the way to Mr J. Serpieri is just announced), comes into the list for the first time. The women’s list may be changed materially in the near future, for the development of the game on the feminine side proceeds apace. New tilayer* are knocking at the doors of fame, facilitie* for travel are increasing, ambition in every country is hardening.