LAWN TENNIS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 317, 31 May 1913, Page 8

LAWN TENNIS.

THE AUSTRALIANS IN AMERICA. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Received 30, 11.20 p.m. New York, May 30. Pell and Haggett (the latter an Eng- j li.-ili professional) defeated Doust and j Rice in the doubles, 6 —i, I—6,1 —6, I—s.1 —5. A high wind greatly hampered the Australians. MEETING OF THE NEW ZEALAND COUNCIL. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. At the quarterly meeting of the Council of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association, the statement of receipts and expenditure showed a balance at the bank on April 30 of £96, and at the Savings Bank of £283. Receipts from all sources from February 1 to April 30 amounted to £525, including £4O subscriptions, £B2 from the British team's tour, and £sl from the New Zealand and Australasian championship. The secretary reported that since the statei ment was,prepared additional receipts had totalled £56. The Australasian Association forwarded a copy of the international agreement drafted at the conference in Paris last March, and adopted by,the Australasian body. This constituted an International Lawn Tennis Association' between associations composed of amateurs, the contracting parties, as Jong as they remained members, agreeing to enforce the resolutions contained in the agreement. Attached to the regulations was a letter from the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher, expressing the hope that "the day is a long waj off when the New Zealand Association will think of adopting such an absurc set of proposals as are herein outlined.' The agreement has yet to be considered at the ilext meeting of the Management Committee. The Otago Association wrote waivin] its claim to the 1913 championshi] meeting in favor of Auckland, and sug gesting that handicaps be held in coi • junction therewith. I The matter was referred to the Mai

agement Committee. LESSONS OF THE RIVIERA. MR. WILDING'S PERSONALITY. London, April 11. In the course of a resume of the Riviera tournaments the special correspondent of. the Daily Telegraph writes: "One fact was made clear, and that is that the French get stale much quicker than the German or the English. They build themselves up on nervous energy; fc the Teutons and ourselves have been solid strength in reserve. Mr. Decugis was irresistible for a fortnight; then he collapsed. The lileinschroths and Rahe, with less imagination and more brute strength, kept it going merrily throughout the series of tournaments; tliey were even better at the end than at the , beginning. I "The Germans, indeed, scored- a long line of triumphs. Only two forces could check them—Mr, Wilding's personality and M. Decugic at his best. Against | the champion they.could never 'Win a set's indeed, they were beaten before' they went on to the court. His dominating driving forced them to take risks warranted neither by experience nor good E. generalship. There was nothing subtle about their game. Mr. Wilding read their minds like an open book. He anticipated the " direction of their returns, and was in position to stow away the ball. But against the softer-hittirg English baseliners the Germans invariably succeeded. They won on length and strength; they beat their opponents down as a strong wind beats down corn. The English stroke, fashioned on the grass court, with its slower surface and its late and low hit ball, has been proved relatively innocuous on the fast sand courts of the Continent. The German takes the ball Ta either on the rise or at the top of its °f bound; the Englishman, as a rule, takes it on the fall. The difference is the vital one of time, leaving the virtues of 'top' out of the question. The German gains that valuable second or two in which movement to the-next position is secured. Sure' of his stance, he can hit more firmly and more aggressively; his British opponent always seems to be just a m#U merit or two late for his stroke. lN "Decugis is not equipped with the German ground strokes. Why, then, docs he beat, them? By coming to the net j■ and attacking them, nimble-brained, on the volley; but even Decugis is beaten by the Germans if, and when, outside factors like wind upset his game, or his strokes have lost firmness by overwork. "Though overshadowed by their Continental rivals, the English competitors had some successes to their credit. Mr. Wilding was in a class by himself at Monte Carlo and Mentone, losing but A. one set (to Decugis in both cases) at each, and beating the Germans with conj_ summate ease. A firm sand surface suits the champion's forceful game; his topped drives have extra pace and guile on its fast surface.

"Though very near defeat on three occasions, H. Kleinschroth and Rahe maintained an unbeaten record in doubles. They won six tournaments, and strengthened their combination at each. Both are very nimble of hand and foot, and liavp a great asset in their return of service, which is always severe, and generally well placed. One would not describe them as a great pair in the inter l national sense. Their tendency to crumple before fast lobbing, such as Mr. Ritchie employed at Cannes a week ago, was too evident, while the narrow escape experienced at Mentone, where Mr. Wilding played them almost single-handed, showed the limitations of their resources. Yet the ' beauty and variety of their strokes, their grace of execution, and their fine footwork, must be acknowledged."