ON THE COURTS

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 216, 12 October 1929, Page 12

ON THE COURTS

BIG EVENTS OF COMING SEASON TENNIS NEVVS AND VlEWS — - — »

,(Notes by, -"R-acquet.'-'), 1

\ Tbe tennis season in Napier got a start on Saturday last, when St. Patrick's courts were^ opened under excellent conditions as far as weather was concerned. Tlie Rev. Eather Murpby, president of tbe club, presented the cups to tbe wimiers of last year's tournament and then declared tbe season open, following whick a Yankee tournament was played. The new season is now bringing tennis players mto action all over tbe Dominion and already there are questions as to what tbe big events of tbe season are to be. It is possible that a team of Australian players will visit tbe Dominion. and it is also hoped that Borotra witb a team-mate will appear on New Zealand courts this season. •t. }J; WELLINGTONIANS ABRO When tbe conibined Oxford and Cambridge team, under tbe captaincy of R. R. T. Young, tbe well-known WelImgton player, was doing so well in Aiiierica, and, by tbe by, tbe teain defeated tbe conibined Harvarcj and Yale team (the Test matcb of the tour) on tbe courts of tbe Newport Casino Club by 15 matcbes to 6, few tennis enthusiasts were aware that a British team previously won tbe Test contest for tbe Prentice Cup in America. Malcolm Young, younger brother of Russell, also sbowed good form i'n England during tbe montb that the University team was scoring in America. He played in the championship singles at Shanklin, and went througn five rounds snccesfully to the final. In tbe semi-final, lle had a great battle witb FVP. Down, winning 10—8, 6 — 8, 6—2, fitness evidently telling in the last set. Tbe well-known Davis Cnp player, J. Brian Gilbert, met Young in tbe final, and won in tbree sets straight. Last year Gilbert was in tbe final of the Ali-England Plate at Wimbledon, and in 1925 he beat R. Casey and J. Hfennessey, both of America He also beat A. H. Gobert (France) tbe same year in tbe matcb Paris v. London. Gilbert v. Young was a case of Experience v. Youth. Gilbert is 42 years of age, _ wbereas Young is in his early twenties. Malcolm Young sbowed promise wben playing in New Zealand and it is pleasing to see what good fights he puts up against English players when it is remembered that he has not a great deal of time to spare from his studies for any sport. Wellingtonians will be pleased to know tbqt be has balls Various players liave various versity. BALL BRINGING Oue of the few pvoblems in tennis to wbich 110 answer has yet been found is that as to who should. provide the balls. Various player have various ideas about the longevity of tennis balls. There must be nuite balf of tbe tennis players in Napier who niake a pair of balls last a montb or longer. and tliere are aristocrats wbo sport a new pair every week. Then again there are liumble, wbo only get a new pair at tbe start of tbe season and those wliose vocation in life wlien 011 tlie courts seems to be borrowing balls. Tlie tenmb o| tbe worn-out-ball players is quite good. They can bit harder than tbose wbo play witb hard balls, because they develop an extreme topped drive, and the ball takes tbe spin more wben old tban when new. Tbe only difficulty tliese players find is when tliev play in tournaments and cannot liandle tbe new ball. Only by playing witb hard balls can one develop into a ranldiig list player. Before coing any further I can arrive at tlie decision that a player should accept tbe standard of tbose

be plays among. If be wisbes a bettec otandard be snoula cheeriully pay the piper. it is wrong for a man to criticise tbe others ot his party for not bringing out good balls it tbe majority are content witb inferior. There is no fixed stdndarcL for a clnb player.j Lacb circle is a law unto itselt, * * * DID PRENN ERR ?. Germany defeated tlie British Isles in tbe Davis Oup contest, but tbe result was in doubt rigbt up to tbe fiftb set in tbe last singles matcb, wbicb was between Frenn and Austin. Witb two matcbes apiece, tbe excitement was tremendous wben Brenn and Austin were opposed to one anotber. Austin took the first set, and Prenu then won two sets, but tbe Britisher evened by winning the fourth set. Tmvards tbe end of tbe set Austin was attacked by cramp, wbicb continued almost rigbt tbrougb tbe fiftb set, and be fell down at tbe beginning of tbe seventb , game, and lay there until carried off tbe court. He was compelled to default with Prenn leading 0 — 1 in the fiftb set. Prenn won tbe matcb, 4 — 6,6—2, 6—4, 4 — 6, 6 — 1. It was in tbe third set that Prenn, who was obviously tiring, started to take 'longer rests between game wben crossing over tban is usual. and tbe result was that Austin was ahvays ready first, and bad to wait while his opponent was being "towelled." • Austin sbowed this annoyance. He looked up at Mr Sabelli (tbe British manager)' and Collins in tbe stand^ and remai'ked, with -sarqasm, "Technical strategy." Prenn looked done as be struggled for breath, and the perspira-t-ion rau off bim in -streams, but be • fought 011, his play still being Of a, better standard than Austin's. Prenn was witbout doubt indulging in dilatory tactics, and Mr S. W. Merribew, the American critic, summed tbe matter up correctly when he said : "Prenn took a_ little tbo mucb time ; be even lai'd bimself open to being warned;' but if be crossed tbe border line it was by 0 little that a warning would have been sufficient." Anstin tbought Prenn wasted time, but there was no reason for Austin to unduly burry in tbe way be did, consequently making matters worse for bimself, the result being cramp in tbe fourth, and fiftb sets. Gregory, as eaptain of his side, protested at Prenn's delays balf-a-doz-en times, but tbe only result from tbe protests was tliat Prenn was forbiclden to occupy an ann-cliair while lie v was being towelled between games.-, I After the tliird set, Prenn left tbe court for ten minutes' rest. Austin was also consequently compelled to do so, English players are not accustomed to an intermission after tbe third set, but to players of nearly all othe? nations it is tbe accepted praetice. Austin was back in court witb time to spare, but Prenn was two minutes late. Gregory protested. and Mr Merrihew contends that Gregory, as eaptain, "was justified in asking for a default, and, on a strict technicality, it should have been granted." Gregory; appealed to Mr Sabelli, the British manager, for help, but the latter waved bim aside, refused to leaVe bis seat, or to assist Gregory in any way British officials do not look for victory by claiming a default, and evidently that was M Sabelli' s .reason for declining to interfere. Wben Prenn played Tilden and Hunter in the singles tbe Americans being old campaigners, dallied just as long as Prenn did, so beating liim at bis own game. Had Anstin taken bis time just as Prenn did he migbt have got tbrougb without cramp, and witbout losiiig bis temper. i