Lawn Tennis

Ireland was the first to establish a women's championship event in Dublin in 1879; Wimbledon did not follow suit until 1884 when, from a field of 13, Miss Maud Watson emerged vic torious. Her nearest rival was Miss Bingley (afterwards Mrs. G. W. Hillyard), who was destined to win the title six times—a rec ord eclipsed by Mrs. Lambert Chambers, who won it seven times, and equalled by Mlle. Lenglen.

For the first 3o years of its existence (1877 to 1906) the men's singles championship at Wimbledon was won by an English or Irish player; during the next 23 years (1907 to 1933, the war period closing the championship for four years) the title was only twice won by a home competitor—A. W. Gore in 1908 and 1909. From 1905 (when Miss M. Sutton, of California, was victorious) to 1935 the women's championship went to an overseas competitor 16 times. These relative figures were a remarkable tribute to developing skill in other lands. Australia, through Norman Brookes, was the first to break through the citadel at Wimbledon in 1907; New Zealand followed with Capt. A. F. Wilding (killed in action in Flanders in 1915), who held the title for four succes sive years. After the World War it was won twice by Australia (G. L. Patterson in 1919 and 1922), three times by the United States (W. T. Tilden in 192o and 1921, and W. M. Johnston in 1923), and five times by France (J. Borotra in 1924 and 1926, R. Lacoste in 1925 and 1928, H. Cochet in 1927). The reasons for "oversea" success at Wimbledon and elsewhere, notably in the Davis cup, the international team championship of the world, were several and varied. There was no reluctance in America to culti vate lawn tennis in the schools and universities, nor had the youth of America, nor of France, to shed the disturbing habits of other games like cricket, with its different footwork and stroke-play. Climatic stability was another material factor; conditions were more uniform and tractable, development more rapid. In Cal ifornia, the home of many great players, for example, it was pos sible to pursue lawn tennis under consistent conditions the whole year round. France had a winter outdoor season on the Riviera as well as a winter indoor season in Paris; her young players had increasing facilities for keen competition. Australia and South. Africa were also favoured by climate, beneficial alike to continu ous practice and physical training.

Handicapping.

The original handicapping, it may be noted, was by bisques, borrowed from tennis. A bisque was one stroke which might be claimed at any time during a set, except that it might not be taken after the delivery of the service, nor by the server after a fault, though in this case the receiver might take it. In 1890 bisques were abolished, and instead of the alternating odds of half-i5, haif-3o, etc., smaller fractional parts—one quarter, two-quarters, and three-quarters of 15—were introduced, these being given or owed in augmentation of other odds. This system was superseded in 1894 by substituting sixths of 15 for quarters, to be given or owed in accordance with a differential table. For example, if A received three-sixths and B received 3o, A would concede B 15 and four-sixths in every set—that is, B would receive two strokes in four games out of six and one stroke in each of the remaining two games.

Wimbledon's championship roll, which is appended, reveals, in both sexes, the dominating influence of individual players. Their styles and personalities were distinctive, but each successive champion expressed the development of stroke play and tactics. If the Renshaws were the first to quicken movement, introduce the volley as a decisive complement of the drive, and reveal the winning efficacy of the "all-court" game, their successors have built boldly on this foundation and evolved an art which, in its highest expression, demands the agility and stamina of youth, the wisdom of experience and the tenacity and resource of a strong character. The brothers Doherty (champions in singles and doubles for a decade) typified the effortless ease of a natural style. Dr. Joshua Pim, of Ireland, though less consistent in his play, had the same inborn capacity and required even less practice to exploit his skill. W. A. Larned (U.S.A), A. F. Wilding and R. Lacoste were, on the other hand, champions who cultivated expert talent by constant practice. Pioneers in advancing the sci ence of the game had been N. E. Brookes, of Australia, who, through the service and the volley to its reply, accelerated the at tack; Holcombe Ward (champion of America in 1904), who used the break service in its most sinister form; Beals C. Wright (cham pion of America in 1905), who made the chop-stroke and the lob deadly accessories in a tactical campaign; W. M. Johnston, of California, who, by his perfect timing, proved that maximum speed can be acquired by a small man; William T. Tilden (cham pion of America for six successive years, 192o--25), the most ver satile player of his age, endowed with great strength and stamina, and a master of tactics; J. Borotra, of France, who, by mobility and courage, revealed the volleying game in a new and spectacular light ; Andre Gobert, the French stylist, whose fast service and polished volleying, exploited on a wood surface under cover, in spired his compatriots; and M. E. McLoughlin, of California, and G. L. Patterson, of Australia, who were pioneers of the "cannon ball" service. Women players who have left their mark on the game, advancing its standard in their own epoch, include Miss L. Dod, of England, who was a champion (1887) at 15 years of age; Mrs. G. W. Hillyard, the most tenacious base-line player of the first two decades; Mrs. Lambert Chambers (nee Douglass), whose driving strokes, perfectly timed and graduated in speed, had their consistent accuracy; Miss May Sutton (afterwards Mrs. Bundy), the first American to win a championship at Wimbledon ; Mlle. Suzanne Lenglen (born at Compiegne, France, May, 1899), who won her first championship at St. Cloud in 1914, was undefeated in singles at Wimbledon from 1919 to 1925, was mistress of every orthodox stroke, executed with effortless ease and unfailing judg ment, and gave women's lawn tennis, and indeed the game itself, a wide and progressive publicity; Miss Helen Wills, now Mrs. Moody, who increased the pace of women's driving to that of her male contemporaries; and Senorita Elia de Alvarez, born of Span ish parents in Italy, a brilliant and versatile stroke-player pos sessing a natural genius for the game.