The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-25
THE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP.
Opinions on the Match between Pettitt and
Saunders-The French Champion.


Saunders-The French Champion.
LONDON, May 14.-Nlany years have passed
since tennis has had such boom In London
as at pre- emit The presence Of Pettitt among
us Is much. but the interest ID immensely add
ed to by visit OF about fortnights duration
which young French player is paying us.
The peculiar circumstances under which ten
mis- has always been conducted have caused
the game to run very much In families To
go no further back than the present
day. we have the Tompkinses and
the Lamberts. who at ono time monopo-
lized the game from q professional point OF
view. and they were preceded by the CoXes.
In France this has been tho same for at least
century and half. the children OF paumters.
naturally enough. falling in their fathers foot
steps. We have survival Of this in the Della
haye family. the most celebrated OF which was
Charles. who was. however better and BY the
French being as. fond Of nicknames as we are.
"Biboche" now keeps the tennis court at err
e8ss but he Is an old man Of 0s ~ and
ton he has devoted to u nephew. by name
Lesueur,. who has become good enough to
nickname is lie Bisluon." ana the origin OF
It is papable enough. This is the young man
US. and yesterday, the 18th Instant, he made
his first appearance, the scene being the Prin-
ces' Club and his opponent c. Saunders. The
the attraction the greater. Tor the eyes Of Eng:
land are upon him. and what he does Is OF
full that the .dedans oil the court should have
been choke full the nSpdnE the
Medleycott ana Admiral Seymour. while many
ladies Graced the, sitting room. the windows OF
which overlook the court.an arrangement ex-
listing nowhere else. believe.
Saunders gave LIE Bsquon fifteen. some
argument ensuing whether the odds should not
be half-thirty especially as the English balls
n
From the first game It was clear that an exhi:
bition Of fine tennis. In which the ma king OF
iect was In store for the spectators. The
French have reputation for playing this game.
BEARS @ Sod @ en
more entirely different from the slashing game
PLAYED on the preyious Saturday between Pet,
the main idea Of both players being to slam the
chases has not been seen for years than that OF
the Frenchman who thought nothing Of chase
Ssa nss sn The
e ds S %s % HS TsS s .ausn II
in a wonderful manner: but 1t was ali OF no
avail against Saunders; who let nothing go By.
the ball falling dead of the wall at times as
though 1t were made Of putty
first set. one in tho second. and two In the
third and this although Saunders could not
odkns R f TO fs ba w hSs5 nf TO
that II 1t Is as simple as 1t was yesterday when
he plays Pettitt ii at player will have an enjoy
dedans. This service by the way. is one which
Biborhe himself made so deadly. and IL is curl
ephew q greater variety and severity OF SER
vice With Saunders the popularity exists
that on some days he does this particular ser
vice to perfection. while on others it is the SIM
plest imaginable to return. Saunderss all
round play was. however. quite irresistible.
can Judge from seeing him play once. quite
the equal Of any Of our English players, aud
SSt ne sHa win 3ny s three es
to a man, are naturally supporters Of Saun-
ders, and 1t would be high treason to suggest
had ghost OF a chance. Indeed. believe that
odds OF Saundesrs ere ere being Offered by menu
eouid not be otherwise than highly IMPRESSED esed
by SRunderss play. which was magnificent.
After hearing all the encGnliums on Saun-
90 over 10 the Queens Club and hear them ali
there declare for Pettitt. His forcing play In
ish any one not familiar with saunderss G play
The question is however. not what he did with
Latham. but what he will do with Saunders.
anything that Pettitt has ever done. While he IS
forces. though here again amusing diversity Of
opinion comes In. Says one professional, who
sand pGhp not ry aRs1 to sssRR 4
poor Saunders is to do against such forcing.
He is none Of the quickest" While anotheri
you that, as stopper. he has no equal. We'll.
he need DO all this and more. II Pettitt Is going
force ms he did against Latham on the 10th.
Latham, il was clear. was fairly, frightened at
the terrific pace Pettitt got on the ball and 1t
Is not easy to see how any man could have
stopped some OF his shots. It will be noticed
TINT harp good deal on Pettltts forcing.
Il is his strong point In everything else
Saunders is certainly his superior.
that the use OF French balls Is in Pettitt's
favor The fact Of their being deader will pre-
vent their coming Off the end wall, consequent
y Pettltt will have, fewer opportunities for
been practising with Saunders, using French
balls. Is that when he returns the bal it is no
use waiting for 1t to come OH the end wall. 1t
must be taken on the yolley, half voey. OF. the
player with little cut, like Pettitt undoubtedly;
but the persistent cut Of Saunders will have
terrible effect. The French balls with which
saunders has been practising are very bad ones,
and have been knocked all shapes; so much so
that Saunders has gone back to English balls.
DANSHEE.