Back From Sydney

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 456, 11 September 1928, Page 17

Back From Sydney

Norman Sturt, Tennis Champion, Comes Home • ENTHUSIASM FOR AUSTRALIA “A hankering for Auckland, and private reasons, brought me back from Australia.” Norman Sturt, New Zealand repreeentative tennis player, returned to Auckland this morning by the Marama. Although he was received with enthusiasm in Sydney he could not stay away from Auckland. He will go back to his former club, Remuera, and will play in the next New Zealand tennis championship tournament. “I did not play any matches in Australia,” Mr. Sturt said this morning,

on his arrival. “I was treated with the greatest kindness and was given a month’s free tennis at the White City courts in Sydney. “The courts at White City are perfect,” he continued. “It is a very big playing centre with 38

grass courts, which are always crowded. “They are most wonderfully kept. I was there in midwinter and yet the courts were perfect to play on. “L. G. Knott intends to stay in Australia and will do very well there in the tennis world. "Junior players are given every encouragement In Sydney. When I was there J. O. Anderson was giving free lectures at Anthony Hordern’s and always had large audiences. His time is fully occupied in giving lessons. “The Sydney players all speak very highly of New Zealand and are keen that we should visit them again. The New South Wales Association is exceptionally keen for New Zealand to send over a tennis team of young, promising players to compete in the Australian championships when, the Englishmen are there. “If that is impossible they offer us an open invitation to send a team whenever we can. “It is marvellous to find the White City courts occupied all day and any day of the week. The Australians always find time to play tennis and they get every encouragement to do so." Mr. Sturt is of opinion that he has learned a good deal from his visit to Australia. He played against Peach and Dunlop, who is a very promising young player.