The Archive · 1922

LAWN TENNIS

Roper Cup Contest

Y. Sheldon and W. P. Roberts, representing "America, J. Elmore and J. L. Wi ade, representing the United Kingdom, met the Country Club on Saturday afternoon to decide io? of.the Roper Lawn Tennis Cup for another year. There was a very good attendance, and spectators were treated to a generally interesting display of tennis, whilst at times play on both sides was brilliant. The Americans won (6-3, 4-6, 6-8, 6-1, 6-2), and, on the whole, well deserved their success, but they were fully extended and at one period of the game were outplayed.

Play opened other slowly, and the first. two games easily went to Sheldon and Roberts, who forced the pace and had the advantage of better combination. Their services, too, were more affective, and they had little difficulty in taking the set at 6-3.

The Americans opened the second set well with a love game, an also won the second, Elmore giving away points through faulty judgement at the net. The British pair, however, improved and brought the score level, and from this point, the character of the game became decidedly more interesting, several really fine rallies being witnessed. Some fine tennis was seen, carrying the score to 5-4 in favour of Elmore and Wade, and winning the next game vather easily. they took the set at 6-4.

The third set was the best of the match, and was nep decided -until 14 games had been played, Elmore und Wade winning at 8-6. Wade was particularly good in this set, dealing cleverly with Sheldon's fast cross strokes and getting in some wonderful returns. Elmore also did good work in lobhi keeping an excellent length. Shi don got in uw number of characteristic smashes, but gave away many points with rather wild shots. At limes there was some exceedingly pretty net play, in which all four players distinguished themselves.

Beginning the fourth set with a lead of two to one, Elmore. and Wade just failed to maintain their form. After losing three games in "succession, they looked like making a useful recovery, but the fourth game also went to Sheldon and Roberts and the American pair finally took the set at 6-1. The fifth aitd final set was almost equally decisive, Elmore and Wade winning only two games.

Tt was a well fought contest. Roberts, as usual, played with care and judgement, giving away fewer points than any of the four. Sheldon infused the usual amount of dash into his play. and in spite of many erratic strokes, was a very veeful and effective partner. As has already been suggested, except in the third set, Elmore and Wade combined scarcely so well as their

Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.

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