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Richards worry Kumagae； who is certainly Murray's superior； and yet not
cause Murray trouble？
The answer lies in this style of game。 Richards uses a peculiar chop
stroke from the baseline that is very steady。 He can meet Kumagae at his
own baseline game until he gets a chance to close in to the net； where his
volleying is remarkable。 The result is； against Kumagae's driving he is
perfectly at home。 Murray is a vicious net player who swept Richards off
his feet。 The boy has not the speed on his ground strokes to pass Murray；
who volleys off his chop for points； and cannot take the net away from
him as he cannot handle the terrific speed of Murray's game。 Thus
Murray's speed beats Richards； while Richards' steadiness troubles
Kumagae； yet Kumagae's persistent driving tires Murray and beats him。
What good are comparative scores？
Charles S。 Garland always defeats Howard Voshell； yet loses to men
whom Voshell defeats。 Williams proves a stumbling…block to Johnston； yet
seldom does well against me。
The moral to be drawn from the ever…interesting upsets that occur
every year； is that the style of your attack should be determined by the
man's weakness you are playing。 Suit your style to his weakness。 A chop is
the antidote for the drive。 The volley is the answer to a chop； yet a drive is
the only safe attack against a volley。 The smash will kill a lob； yet a lob is
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the surest defence from a smash。 Rather a complicated condition； but one
which it would do well to think over。
The most dangerous enemy to R。 N。 Williams is a steady baseliner of
second class。 Williams is apt to crush a top…flight player in a burst of
superlative terms； yet fall a victim to the erratic streak that is in him when
some second…class player plays patball with him。 Such defeats were his
portion at the hands of Ritchie and Mavrogordato in England； yet on the
same trip he scored notable victories over Parke and Johnston。
Abnormal conditions for match play always tend to affect the better
player more than the poorer； and bring play to a level。
The reason for this is in the fact that the higher the standard of a
player's game； the smaller his margin of error； the more perfect his bound
must be； and any variation from the normal is apt to spell error。 The
average player allows himself more leeway； and unknowingly increases
his chances on a bad court。 His shot is not judged to the fraction of an inch
in swing as is the top…flight player； so a slight variation does not affect
him。
Many a great match has been ruined by abnormal conditions。 Rain
caused Williams' downfall to N。 W。 Niles in the 1917 American
Championships。 Rain and wind marred a great battle between Gobert and
Johnston at Eastbourne in the Davis Cup in 1920。
The clever match player must always be willing to change his game to
meet conditions。 Failure to do so may spell defeat。
It is this uncertainty； due to external conditions； that makes
comparative records so useless in judging the relative merits of two
players you know nothing of。 Rankings based on mathematical
calculations of scores are absolutely useless and childish； unless tempered
by common sense。
The question of the fitness of conditions of play can never be
standardized。 In America you play only if clear。 In England sometimes
when clear but more often in rain； judging by the events I swam through in
my recent trip。 A match player should not only be able to play tennis； but
should combine the virtues of an aeroplane and a submarine as well。
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CHAPTER VIII。 THE PSYCHOLOGY OF
PHYSICAL FITNESS
Physical fitness is one of the great essentials of match play。 Keenness
can only be acquired if the physical； mental； and nervous systems are in
tune。 Consistent and systematic training is essential to a tournament
player。
Regular hours of sleep； and regular； hearty food at regular hours are
necessary to keep the body at its highest efficiency。 Food is particularly
important。 Eat well； but do not over…eat； particularly immediately before
playing。 I believe in a large hearty breakfast on the day of a big match。
This should be taken by nine…thirty。 A moderate lunch at about one o'clock
if playing at three。 Do not eat very rich food at luncheon as it tends to slow
you up on the court。 Do not run the risk of indigestion； which is the worst
enemy to dear eyesight。 Rich； heavy food immediately before retiring is
bad； as it is apt to make you 〃loggy〃 on the court the next day。
It is certain injury to touch alcoholic drink in any form during
tournament play。 Alcohol is a poison that affects the eye； the mind； and the
windthree essentials in tennis。 Tobacco in moderation does little harm；
although it； too； hits eye and wind。 A man who is facing a long season of
tournament play should refrain from either alcohol or tobacco in any form。
Excesses of any kind are bad for physical condition； and should not be
chanced。
Late hours cause sluggishness of mind and body the next day。 It is
very dangerous to risk them before a hard match。 The moving pictures
immediately before playing tennis are bad； owing to the eye strain caused
by the flicker of the film and the strong light of the camera。 Lead a normal；
healthy life； and conserve your nervous force wherever possible； as you
will need it in the hard matches。
〃Staleness〃 is the great enemy of players who play long seasons。 It is a
case of too much tennis。 Staleness is seldom physical weariness。 A player
can always recover his strength by rest。 Staleness is a mental fatigue due
often to worry or too close attention to tennis； and not enough variety of
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thought。 Its symptoms are a dislike for the tennis game and its
surroundings； and a lack of interest in the match wh