France
Public courts in use or usable.
Paris, Rue Lauriston, 2; opened 1909.
Deauville, 1876.
Bordeaux, 1750.
Pau, 1888.
Fontainebleau, in the seventeenth century.
Unused:- Cannes. 1876.
Versailles (the scene of the famous Serment du jeu de paume) in 1789.
Austria. One court at Vienna.
America.-12 public courts, of which those at New York, Boston (2), and Philadelphia are the best known. 2 private courts.
Canada.-I court in course of construction.
Australia.-I court at Melbourne.
Tasmania.-I court at Hobart Town.
The total number is about sixty-five.
Famous Players. Of the professional tennis-players, who, in modern times, have attained the highest distinction in the tennis-courts at home and abroad, the name [TENNIS famous for their achievements during the last sixty years, the names of Edmund Tompkins, George Lambert, Charles Saunders, Peter Latham, and C. "Punch" Fairs may be specially mentioned. The first-named, who was a contemporary a of Biboche, was reputed to be the equal of the latter, though he never actually defeated and was indeed thrice beaten by the Frenchman in a formal match. But there is no doubt that he was the strongest of English players for more a [By courtesy of E. H. Miles, Esq.
MR. E. H. MILES PREPARING TO SERVE. on of J. Edmond Barre, the great French player, stands pre-eminent. Mr. J. M.
Heathcote, an accomplished writer tennis, and perhaps the greatest of all amateur players of the game, has placed on record his opinion of Barre as being "the finest all-round player the world ever produced, or is likely to produce." Barre, who died in 1873, appears, indeed, to have been much superior to any of his contemporaries, and to have enjoyed a special reputation as a match-player of extraordinary staying power, and a remarkable giver of odds. Another great French player was Charles Delahaye, nicknamed "Biboche," who, in his prime, was inferior only to Barre. The leading professional player in Paris at the present time is Ferdinand Garçin. Amongst English professionals than twenty years. A similar reputation was enjoyed by George Lambert for some fifteen years, and, in the 'seventies, the dedans of the tennis-court at Lord's was often crowded by spectators of the matches in which he took a part, and which were lit up by the extraordinary brilliancy of his execution. In May, 1885, Lambert was defeated by T. Pettitt, an Englishman by birth, but domiciled at Boston, United States of America. The match, a memorable one, was the result of a challenge by Pettitt, who was victorious by seven sets to five. In the following year Charles Saunders, at the time a young player of great promise at Prince's Club, Hans Place, became champion of England, as he succeeded in beating George Lambert, who, by the way, was then in his forty-fifth year.
TENNIS Below is given a list of champions and championship matches since 1862.
CHAMPIONS. 1810-1824, Old Cox (England). 1824-1862, J. Edmund Barre (France). 1862-1871, Edmund Tompkins (England). 1871-1885, George Lambert (England). 1885-1890, Tom Pettitt (America). 1890-1895, Charles Saunders (England). 1895-1905, Peter Latham (England). 1905-1907, C. Punch Fairs (England). 1907-1908, Peter Latham. 1908-1911, C. Punch Fairs. 1862.-J.
MATCHES.
I.
Edmund Barre V.
Edmund Tompkins at James Street, Haymarket. A draw.
Barre won 4 sets, Tompkins 6, and 4 were drawn. The last match under the old régime.
In May, 1890, a match between Saunders and Pettitt for the championship of the world and a stake of £500 was played in Lord Iveagh's court at Dublin, and was won by the latter by seven sets to five.
Pettitt thus, for the second time, proved that he was the best player in the world; but in September, 1890, he announced that he should not defend his title of champion, and as at that time Saunders was indisputably second only to Pettitt, he naturally claimed the title renounced by the latter.
In March, 1895, he was challenged to defend it by Peter Latham, of Queen's Club. The match was played in the new tennis court ("Prince's") at Brighton, and ended in a victory for the challenger, by seven sets to two. Saunders was never possessed of an exceptional physique, but he will always be remembered as an almost perfect exponent of pure tennis, the grace and finish of his play being especially memorable. Peter Latham was also by 7 sets to 5. champion at rackets. This supremacy at two quite distinct games is a special feature of his great reputation. Neither title held merely because there no one to dispute it. In 1897 Latham at rackets defended his title successfully in home-and-home match with