LAWN TENNIS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 178, 14 December 1912, Page 7

LAWN TENNIS.

The Park Tennis Club has decided to open its courts to men on Tuesdays, as well as to ladies. It is expected they will be available every other evening after Xmas.

A Sydney critic, writing just before the Cup, refers to the Australasian team, headed by its unbeaten captain, N. K. Brookes, and, after viewing the Victorian's form, saw no hope of his being beaten in the singles and doubles; and Heath was also expected to win, although not at his best. The "unbeaten captain" is amusing to those who know that Brookes, during recent years, has been defeated by Lamed, Heals Wright (three times),. Wilding and Parker, and now we have Parke doing the trick, and for this latter Ave await the excuses, not of Brookes, but of Australian critics. At the dinner in Melbourne Parke said that he caught Brookes on his day off. Xo notice can be taken of pleasant postprandial speeches. CP. Dixon is credited with the statement (made in Sydney) that Brookes' form was equal to his best days. The cables inform us that he was very tired towards the close of his match with Parke. Eight deuces were recorded in one game, and many others would be nearly as long. It is those long games which find out the weaknesses in one's armor. If Brookes could have beaten Parke in straight sets lie would have done so, for he knows that long matches are not in his own interests. Tim Irishman went for every stroke, and make Brookes do plenty of running about, and the Victorian broke down under the strain. Brookes played just as well as Parke allowed him to play. This truism reigns in all Held and indoor sports. Already there is talk of an Australian invasion of England to try to bring back the Cup. Dunlop cannot go, but Brookes and Heath are willing. Why should Health be chosen? There is no use sendi ing beaten men. Moreover, Wilding is on the spot, and Doust also if required. The Xew Zealander some months ago expressed his readiness to assist in recapturing the Cup if it should be lost to America, and no doubt he is still willing to sacrifice business, interests. If Wilding and Brookes consent to play, the expense of sending others need not be incurred, as if Brookes is prevented from visiting England Doust and Wilding would make it very interesting for the other nations.

R. D. Wyboumc, tlic 'faranaki player, is at present in England, and lias competed in the Tulso Hill tournament. He was beaten in the third round of the, championship by Hill. B—o, o—2. In the handicap Wybonrne was on the owe 40 mark, yet Lovcll had 15 2-0, and Wybourne'in the championship scored 10—8, 7_9. Then Lovcll retired. Evidently the New Zoalander was over-rated. It is strange how the following information was obtained which appears in the official organ of the Lawn Tennis Association nf England:—"There was a •welcome addition to our oversea visitors at Tulse Hill in R. D. Wybourne, who has "won many events in New Zealand. Wybonrne. who has all the necessary physical attributes- for the game, has been holiday-making in the British Isles | for over two months, and giving lawn tennis a rest. Thus he was not adequately equipped for his entirely new experience of playing on rubble courts. Tn New Zealand the game is exceptionally well favored by high quality grass courts, and hard court playing has yet to forge ahead in that country." It is 17 years since A. W. Dunlop won his first State championship. During the years which have ensued he has scored more championships than can be counted out. His style of play has gradually changed, however. With the advance of years he has become more and more of a volleyer, and less and less of a base-lino driver. Now he has lost the pace necessary to take him up to the net in singles, and he has gradually fallen from first-class rank in that branch of the game. In doubles play, however, he has improved continually, until now many good critics give him a place among the greatest double players of the world. Like Brookes and Heath, Dunlop is a Victorian.