Tennis.

Southland Times, Issue 18859, 26 June 1920, Page 9

Tennis.

(By "Pennon.”) The hrst surprise of the challenge round of the Chanipiousaip Hiug-es is lue (iemui of the Amtutuii mack, Jonuston, by me brilliant u..-uKian, rant, tne iatte.r winning three out oi lour seat.-. PaiK will be remembered as a member oi the Bntis.n isles team mat tooK me Davis tup back in 1(1 la. bn mat occasion it was his brilliant play agamst Brooks, that made it possible tor me nLh.shers to win the majonty of the rubbers. It is evident that he has again struck lorm, aim should his play c:;ui.nue is more man probable that uc wnl be lighting out the challenge round with Patterson. He is perhaps the most bril.iiiht singles player me British Isles have produced anu his dose work reaches a high pitch. lie ims more scalps of great players to Ins credit than any other player ol to-day, and Johnston's (ideal, at his hands adds another onldiant victory' to an aiteady long list o* redoubtable opponents. C.obert has (ideated Max Decugis in the French championship singles. Oobert also holds the French and English championships on covered courts, lie is a ycr.lab.c giant of a man, standing as he ao-es Git 3 in, and his extraordinary reach gives him a great advantage. He possesses a variety of very fine strokes, and in particular a hard service, in whiedi his reach stands him in good stead. Both the Frenchmen have been defeated in the challenge rounds, hut it is upon hard courts that they' are at their best. AH the French championship matches ate played on hard courts and suit the two French cracks to perfection, they being more accustomed to the faster conditions. On a hard court and in good form Goben is practically unbeatable, but like many continental players his temperament often tells against him in big tennis. The Japanese player, Shimidzu, has made a great impression in the tournaments in England, and the latest advices state that he heat Gobert after a strenuous hatlle which went the full five sets, many being vantage sets. He Ls a player who covers the court quickly, and moves with a minimum of effort which frequently misleads Ids opponents. He has a fast American service which he follows with great speed to the net, volleying with great accuracy. It is, however, his driving and cross court shots which are his strongest and those he sends across the net with great pace. The Rumanian player. N. Mishu, is figuring prominently in various English tournaments just now. He caused quite a sensation by defeating Max Decugis in two finals in the Riviera tournament last year. This time, however, he was beaten by Ritchie and Lowe in turn. “I never saw a more fantastic play-er,” says one who knew him. “He is full of wiles, and won many a game by serving underhand with the backhand

action. He gets it in fast with s tremendous screw. Again he will often stand 6in behind the service line when receiving the backhand action. He gets it in fact with a service, and hall-volleys everything. He has a wonderful eye, and can half-volley the ball from even a hard server. His return is, as may be imagined, most disconcerting. He hits very hard, in fact plays wildly, but is liable at any time to beat very good players. It is his foreign temperament and desire to attract attention and applause by brilliancy that, as a rule, bring about hi» downfall.”