SEA-GIRDED ST. ROMAN

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 957, 28 April 1930, Page 7

SEA-GIRDED ST. ROMAN

THE peak of the Riviera season will soon be reached, reserved for the international meeting at Monte Carlo. Strictly speaking, the courts for this major tournament are not in Monte Carlo at all. They are situated about a mile from the Principality’s boundary—at sea-girded St. Roman, which is on the road to Mentone. Those who are anchored at Monte Carlo rather deprecate the journey out; for the way is tortuous and motor-choked; nor is travel of any kind in keeping with a country which is not much larger than Trafalgar Square—the sense of compactness seems to be broken, says an English writer.

“In building the largest tennis club in the -world the smallest country in Europe has gone from one extreme to another. Thirty years ago, when I first knew Monte Carlo, the tournament was conducted on two courts — their site long since buried beneath a palatial hotel. They lay within a stone’s throw of the Casino, and it was no uncommon sight for women of high degree to hang their bags of gold on the backs of their chairs facing the court. Players were limited in number and the programme in length; Great Britain then ruled the courts and nobody ever dreamt of a French or German victory. “The Doherty brothers were the 'princes charming * of Monaco as they were of Wimbledon. Since they were victors so often their rare defeats stand out. “One of them was in doubles at the hands of S. H. Smith and F. L. Riseley, visiting the Riviera for the first time. These two famous teams could not meet in the championship doubles, for R. F. Doherty was the holder with G. W. Hillyard; and these two were defending their title. But the resourceful referee found a way out of the difficulty. He drew the pairs together in the first or second round —I forget which—of the handicap doubles, placed them on the same mark, and arranged that they should play the best of five sets. A fine match resulted. The Dohertys ultimately lost it. Neither of them was in very good training, nor were they quite as formidable on hard courts as they were on turf. DOHERTY'S REVERSE TI. L. Doherty’s reverse in singles occurred on the Condamine courts, a large arena down by the harbour. lie had retired from the singles championship and was wooing the rival goddess of golf; his re-entry for the Monte Carlo Cup was more or less fortuitous. Nevertheless he was heavily backed to win it, for the lustre of a great name is not easily dimmed. One of the Standard Oil kings, however, was prepared to lay odds of two to one on “Fteddie” Alexander, an American player who, returning from a Davis Cup tour in Australia, had been carrying all before him at the Riviera meeting. Doherty had considerable trouble with Rjtchie in the semi-final round; the faith of the British camp still remained strong. Judge thefir surprise when the American won in three sets, not even removing his sweater in the act! Alexander was rightly proud of his triumph, but some of his countrymen in the lapse of years have rather exaggerated its importance. The winner was in full practice; the loser had not played a serious match for many months; he had come back just for the fun of the thing. Nevertheless Alexander ' was a stalwart fighter. He had a fierce kicking service and followed it to the net with murder in his eye. His chop volleys, of which lie commanded a wide range, were favoured by the yielding sand; and to lob him against the white background of the Condamine Square, which caught every ray of the sun. was an unprofitable expedient. IN RECENT TIMES Searching for a more favourable arena, the executive opened new courts

on the top of a garage behind a British bank. So steep was the gradient that players when they had climbed up were already exhausted: and so limited was the accommodation for spectators that if a royal prince arrived in the middle of a match it was difficult to find him a seat. La Festa Club, however, was the scene during its relatively brief career of many memorable engagements. Here Mile. Lenglen played her last match in the South of France, and here Miss Wills and Senorita de Alvarez waged a. brilliant battle. In recent years interest has been focused on the Butler international trophy, an event for doubles pairs instituted by Mr. George P. Butler, who makes its success almost his life hobby. The entries are by invitation, and no one country can be represented by more than three pairs. Italy has won the trophy twice through Baron H. L. de Morpurgo and P. Gaslini. France claims three victories, the first and third with Cochet and Brugnon, and the second with Cochet and de Buzelet. Since the trophy may be won outright by any player with three victories to His credit, not necessarily in succession or with the same partner, Cochet is now the owner of a prize of outstanding value and design. If Brugnon should be on the winning side this year he will be equally fortunate. BRITISH PAIRS British pairs have been in the final twice —once through .Noel Turnbull and Kingsley, and last year through Eric Peters and Rogers, who bowled over some strong couples and are to re-enter the lists again this year. America will be represented in the Butler trophy by Tilden and Coen. Tilden has won the American doubles championship on several occasions with young partners: they would seem to inspire his zeal like nothing else. It is said that his chief ambition on the Riviera is to win this event. If the galleries in the South of France this year have shown some decline in size as compared with those in the Lenglen era, this is not because the standard of play has been any lower. On the contrary, where the men’s competitions have been concerned, the quality has been higher than for many years past; former finalists have-found themselves crushed by some new invader or outpaced by some fleet-footed youngster. “Gates” have been less because visitors generally are fewer. Rich Americans are guarding their interests at home. No doubt they will come again when the situation improves.