TENNIS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2356, 24 November 1908, Page 3

TENNIS.

VICTORIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

WON BY A NEW ZEALANDER

WILDING BEATS ALEXANDER

United Press Association. Copyright (Received November 21, 12.2 d am)

MELBOURNE, Nov. 23. Wilding Avon the singles championship of Victoria, beating Alexander 4— -6, 6—0,-6—2, 6— -2. The games Aver© brilliant, and a fitting termination to the tourney. It demonstrated how <a physically good player wiT triumph OA’-cr his equal for actua' play concerned, but inferior in bbdil; strength. Wilding was a giant, Alexander just the average human being. After the first set the American Avas never in it. One of the features of the play Avas, for good players, the inaccurate service of both, no fewei than nine double faults taking place in four sets. Alexander’s head worl at times was faulty. Wilding Avon seven games in succession.

NOTES. Entries for the NeAV Zealand Lawn Tennis Association’s championship events close with Mr C. A. Green, lion, secretary, Nelson, on Deember IS. The contest for the Davis Cup betAveen America and Australasia, ivhich starts at Melbourne next Thursday, is creating no* end of interest in Australia. By their excellent form at practice the Americans’ chances of success have gone up considerably, and Alexander is spoken of by some of the critics as being the finest exponent of the double game ever seen in Australia. The Avay in which the competition is arranged is peculiar, though very convenient. In England and elsewhere doubles and singles are always played together at the same tourney. In America it lias long been the custom to play for the singles'at a different time to the doubles championship. When Mr Dwight Davis, .Aidio himself held the doubles championship of America with* Ward for three years (’99 to 1901), presented the cup for competition in 1900, it was so provided that if any nation should have two players .champions at singles, they could go an for that branch alone, and the same in doubles; then if one or more of the lour was good at both branches, lie could play in both. It is optional Avith the nation. The four are entered, and tAVO, three, or all of them may play in the match. The only restriction is that the two players avlio compete in the first round of tho singles must play also in the second. This rule avas enforced against the British’ Isles in 1903 ,and consequently R. F. Doherty, to give himself time to recover from an injured shoulder, gave his opponent, Earned, a Aval’k-over in the first round, and then played in the doubles and in the second round, and his side AA r on every rubber but the walk-over. America lias held the cup three years (1900 to 1903), England four years (1904 to 1907), and Australasia won it in 1907. This year’s contest commences on the 26th inst, when the skill of the competing nations Avill be put to the test. Tho Australasian Association, at a council meeting, gave further consideration to the proposal to play a match against 'New Zealand at Nelson about Christmas time (says the “Dominion”). At the urgent re.qucst of the New Zealand Association, it was decided to make further endeavors to get a team of at least four players to- visit New Zealand and play a match against the Dominion; failing that, it was decided, subject to the approval of the New Zealand Association, to apply to the Australasian Association for sanction to play either tAVO or three aside against New Zealand under similar conditions to those governing the Davis Cup matches.