Queer at First But What of To-Day?

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 292, 1 March 1928, Page 7

Queer at First But What of To-Day?

ORIGIN AS SPHAIRISTIKE FIFTY YEARS OF TENNIS „ JL irst , Played ,n 1873 under the name of sphainstike, lawn tennis has made amazing progress ? n ® *-eflects on the game’s standing to-day as one of the world’s reai'vf s P° rt .s. Ot® conclusion must be f lu , st Possess some ex- ,?£ dlnary intrinsic merit. When first played the net was higher than at present, and the court had an shape, but it was not long before the present measurements and hefeht °| court ’ and the present height of the net were adopted. Kxcept in regard to the footfault rule there has been no great change in the laws of the game for the past 40 years, nor is there any general demand for changes. An Englishman, Major Wingfield was the inventor of the game. His t^le h° ur -&lass shape, was 60ft by 30ft, narrowing to 21ft at the net which was 7ft high at the posts, and 4ft Bin in the centre. The service was from a service-box in the middle of the court, but this was soon abolished, and then the game began to make headway. FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP In 1877, the first championship was held by the All-England Club, and a code of laws was drawn up. The most important changes were that the court was made rectangular, and the net was lowered to 4ft 9in at the posts, and 3ft 3in in the centre. In 1883 the net was lowered to the present height, and it was in that year that the game of lawn tennis, as we know it to-day may be said to have begun. It spread rapidly during the 80’s, but was in a stationary stage during the

•JO s. Then, with the beginning of the i -Davis Cup matches in 1900, it received a- fresh impetus, from which it has »never looked back. Each year sees more and more P i a >' ers ’ increasing club memberships and tournament lists. The public too, gives fine support by attending the chief matches in great numi hers, while the space devoted to the ! same by the Press all over the world is perhaps the best indication of the spread of the game and its popularity. IT WAS DULL AT FIRST With the great height of the net in those early years, players could do little except return the ball over the net, and there was not much in the shape of pace or placing. Volleying was practically unknown, and when attempted, was at first regarded as unsporting and ungentlemanly. So a match was a dull trial of patience with long rallies. When the height of the net was lowered, the players began to acquire pace, and the volley was adopted as a means of offence. With the net 4ft high, a capable volleyer entrenched on the service line was hard to pass, but the further reduction in 1883 made this position untenable. _ LATER DEVELOPMENTS Later developments have consisted of increase in pace in ground strokes and volleying, and particularly the use of fast services. The American service, when introduced, was regarded as an awesome affair, but leading players soon learned a method of counter-at-tack by taking the service on the rise. To-day a world's champion must possess every variety of stroke and no weakness, allied to good physique and good headwork. Pace alone or the wild rush to the net on any and every occasion are no longer cultivated by the greatest players. Perhaps the greatest advantage of tennis is that two individuals can obtain heaps of exercise in enjoyable fashion in less than an hour. The advantage to business people and residents of country towns over games which require a greater number of players is obvious. GAME FOR ALL The game, to<), may be enjoyed by all grades of players, from the champion down to the rabbit. Of how many other outdoor game* can this be said? As regards spectators, the gallery at a big match is so close to the court that every stroke and expression of the players may be clearly seen, and this almost personal contact between players and spectators helps the public interest. Then last, but not least, there is the social side of the game, both sexes take part and appreciate the fine points of the play. Is it any wonder that tennis is played all over the world, and that every continent has been represented in Davis Cup contests?