The New York herald., 1922-11-23
RULING SOUGHT ON
UNFINISHED TENNIS
Federation to Decide When a
Match Shall Be Replayed
and When Resumed.
BY SAMUEL }. BRooKMAN.

Shall a tennis match halted by rain
or by darkness be played over again
or shall the players on the first oppor-
tunity following the <ostponement re-
sumo from the point where the match
was stopped? The present rule states
that they shall not go back but resume
unless they mutually consent to do
otherwise. Or they may put It up TO
the referee Of the tournament.
While the rule has given satisfaction
IN general there have been instances
where 1t has worked an injustice to
one or the other OF the contestants, and
there was not little discussion on the
point at one of the leading tournaHiehts
of the last outdoor season.
Take the case for instance OF match
between two players one of whom can
travel n swift pace for single set but
who usually slows down TO about o.
per cent of his effectiveness tnere-
after. The latter player we Will say
has won the first set through superior
skill but his lack of stamina has cost
him the second by wide margin and
apparently his opponent has the match
well in hand when postponement is
forced by rain or darkness perore the
third set Is begun. The third DIVISION
OF play Is contested the following DAY
and the man who can so great guns ior
ona set. wins. Beyond question the
slow starter who was so well on the
road to victory the previous day has
been unintentionally deprived OF an
even chance to victory.
This case has led to the belief among
many tennis players that when match
Il; halted at the end Of set or when
the score in any one set Is tie that
the contest ought to be played oil over
again instead of being resumed at the
point reached. They would favor an
amendment to the rule that would make
>the replaying Of the entire match COM
puIsory Nif the opponents could not
agree on any other procedure
There Is another side TO inc question:
however. The tournament cannot DC
held up just because one match IN
preceding round has been incompleted'
ana II NAV be necessary for the ultimate
winner of the unfinished contest to play
another match on the following day. In
that event, 1t would scarcely be fair 70
ask him to play his unfinished match all
over again and then engage another %.
ponent Immediately afterward. Neithel
would It be fair to ask his next opponent
to wait another day, for the latter. II ne
proved TO be the winner, would be forced
10 catch up with the rest OF the field
eventually.
At any rate the question has at
tracted wide interest In European tennis
circles, and It has been listed as one
of the problems for the delegates Of the
various tennis playing nations to wrestie
with at the international tennis con-
ference to be held in London December
21. There is desire on the part of the
British Lawn Tennis Association to have
the ruling made universal, and to have
it cover all possible cases OF procedure
in the event of incompleted matches.
The desirability for retaining or elim-
mating the ten minute rest interval be-
tween third and fourth sets is another
question that is being discussed and
that will be brought up at the meeting.
A universal standard weight for tennis
ball and universal rule on foot fault
ing are other leading topics.
Bonar Law, the new British Prime
Minister. is keen disciple OF tennis.
Last spring he competed successfully in
doubles with II. NJ. B. Fisher at Cannes.
and he has frequently engaged in
tournaments a the Queens Club of Lon
dan, confining himself, however, TO
doubles as q rule.
In the platform OF the Reform Conn
mittee Of the British Lawn Tennis As
sociation, which will probably shape the
policy OF the organization at the annual
meeting on December IL, are the fol-
lowing 'planks':
ITO restore the prestige and influence
OF the country as the leading lawn tennis
nation; to promote adequate cooperation
with overseas organizations to train
and encourage by every means con-
sistent with true amateurism. players
capable of regaining the Davis cup TO
assist development OF tennis In the uni
versities; to strengthen the movement In
favor of introducing lawn tennis In the
public schools; to stimulate public PARK
tennis; TO give greater publicity to the
aims and activities of the governing