LAWN TENNIS
On the Azure Coast

One of the most remarkable consequences of the development of the game and the extraordinary popularity of tennis in the five parts of the world is the fact that, from January 1 to December 31, there is always somewhere under the sun fervent amateurs who compete for prizes, cups, laurels and reputation in tournaments which attract more and more numerous entries. In Europe and America (except probably in California), the season on open courts lasts five or six months, and, at the end of autumn, those who give up playing on wood tighten their balls and rackets until next spring . It is not the same for those who can spend some time on the Côte d'Azur or who have the leisure to spend a season there, because, throughout the winter and a large part of the spring, the Côte d'Azur becomes the most important and most renowned center of tennis activity; in fact, there was no "star" or somewhat famous champion who was not attracted, at that time, by the desire to try his luck in these already famous clubs, Beau-Site, Gallia, the Métropole de Cannes, the Nice-Tennis-Club, the Tennis-Club de Menton and the Tennis-Club de la Festa in Monte-Carlo. The Côte d'Azur has been, for a very long time now, the winter meeting place for all fans of the game and, before the war, Alexander, Brookes, Wilding, Decugis and the illustrious Doberty brothers met there several times in matches fiercely contested.
Le Beau-Site de Cannes is the oldest tennis club and, according to many experienced players, its courts are the best. The Club has twenty first-rate courts; last year it was particularly fashionable and Aeschlimann, the Swiss champion, Colonel Hayes, Lord Rocksanage, Miss Ryan, Mrs Beamish were the best known members. Nice also has several clubs: the Nice-Tennis-Club, the Club du Parc Impérial, the Club de la Place Mozart, which saw the best player in the world grow up: Suzanne Lenglen. Monte-Carlo has very famous courts at the Festa, where the great Monte-Carlo Cup is contested each year at the end of February, which has been won in turn by Ritchie, Alexander, Lowe, Kingscote, Decugis, Count Balbi, which perfectly symbolizes the international aspect that all major events take on the Riviera. The tournament season begins at Christmas, in Monte-Carlo, then three big weeks follow one another in Cannes, at the Beau-Site, the Carlton and the Gallia-Club; after the Monte-Carlo International Cup, the matches continue in Nice, where we can admire a remarkable player, Count Somarakhoff-Tilston, who never leaves the Riviera, and the season ends in Cannes, with the Metropole tour , which last year illustrated the exploits of Senorita Alvarez, the young Spanish star who triumphed over Miss Goss and Miss Baucroff, two very famous American rackets.

Alain Gerbault and Suzanne Lenglen

There is no point insisting on the quality of the tennis we play on the Côte d'Azur, when we have been able to get used to the very harsh light, which is extremely annoying in the first days. Valuable professionals abound there. Perci Pleming, Barke, Major Randall, who would beat many amateurs, and Count Soumarakhoff, to speak only of those who are permanently there, are responsible for giving the answer to the best. French players are few in number on the Côte d'Azur, it would take too long to list what keeps them away from it, those who made a few appearances there in recent years stayed there for a short time. Cochet Borota played in Cannes and Nice in 1922, but they did not have time to get used to the light and did not give their full measure. Fortunately, if we don't have the numbers, we have the quality! Suzanne Lenglen is very loyal to Nice, where she started playing tennis, and she is particularly at ease on the courts of the big clubs on the Riviera; we remember what masterful beatings she inflicted last year on Mrs Mallory and the best English players; it was a great opportunity for her to take justice to all the “bluffs” and all the malevolence of the American press. The very likeable Alain Gerbault, whose reputation has become worldwide since his famous crossing of the Atlantic, is also a pillar of the Côte d'Azur; he gave the best a hard time on the Riviera and, in 1922, thanks to his momentum and the effectiveness of his volleying in Doubles, he defeated an Italian-Australian combination in the final of the Monte-Carlo Cup. The 1924 season on the Riviera promises to be as brilliant as that of 1923. The best American players must return and the cream of European talent will compete there as in the past.

JEAN SAMAZEUILH.