按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Richards； the chop of Wallace F。 Johnson； the smash of Patterson； the half
volley of Williams； and the back hand of Pell。 The future will find the
greatest players combining much of these games。 It can be done if the
player will study。 I believe that every leading player in the world in 1950
will have a drive and a chop； fore… and backhand from the baseline。 He
will use at least two styles of service； since one will not suffice against the
stroke of that period。 He will be a volleyer who can safely advance to the
net； yet his attack will be based on a ground game。 He must smash well。 In
short； I believe that the key to future tennis success lies in variety of stroke。
The day of the one…stroke player is passing。 Each year sees the versatile
game striding forward by leaps and bounds。
The future champion of the world must be a man of keen intellect；
since psychology is assuming the importance that is its due。 He must train
earnestly； carefully； and consistently。 The day of playing successful tennis
and staying up till daybreak is over。 The game is too fast and too severe
for that。 As competition increases the price of success goes up； but its
worth increases in a greater ratio； for the man who triumphs in the World's
Championship in 1950 will survive a field of stars beyond our wildest
dreams in 1920。
What of the various countries？ America should retain her place at or
near the top； for the boys we are now developing should not only make
great players themselves； but should carry on the work of training the
coming generations。
England has but to interest her youth in the game to hold her place
with the leaders。 I believe it will be done。 I look to see great advances
made in tennis among the boys in England in the next few years。 I believe
the game will change to conform more to the modern net attack。 England
will never be the advanced tennis…playing country that her colonies are； for
her whole atmosphere is one of conservatism in sport。 Still her game will
change。 Already a slight modification is at work。 The next decade will see
a big change coming over the style of English tennis。 The wonderful
sporting abilities of the Englishman； his ability to produce his best when
79
… Page 80…
THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
seemingly down and out mean that； no matter how low the ebb to which
tennis might fall； the inherent abilities of the English athlete would always
bring it up。 I sound pessimistic about the immediate future。 I am not；
provided English boyhood is interested in the game。
Japan is the country of the future。 There is no more remarkable race of
students on the globe than the Japanese。 They like tennis； and are coming
with increasing numbers to our tournaments。 They prove themselves
sterling sportsmen and remarkable players。 I look to see Japan a power in
tennis in the next twenty…five years。
France； with her brilliant temperamental unstable people； will always
provide interesting players and charming opponents。 I do not look to see
France materially change her present positionwhich is one of extreme
honour； of great friendliness； and keen competition。 Her game will not
greatly rise； nor will she lose in any way the prestige that is hers。
It will be many long years before the players of those enemy countries；
who plunged the world into the horrible baptism of blood from which we
have only just emerged； will ever be met by the players of the Allies。
Personally； I trust I may not see their re…entry into the game。 Not from the
question of the individuals； but from the feeling which will not down。
There is no need to deal at this time with the future of Germany and
Austria。
Australasia and South Africa； the great colonies of the British Empire；
should be on the edge of a great tennis wave。 I look to see great players
rise in Australasia to refill the gaps left by the passing of Wilding and the
retirement of Brookes。 It takes great players to fill such gaps； but great
players are bred from the traditions of the former masters。
The early season of 1921 saw a significant and to my way of looking
at it； wise move on the part of New Zealand when the New Zealand tennis
association withdrew from the Australasian tennis association and decided
to compete for the Davis Cup in future years as a separate nation。
No one can deny the great help Australia has been to New Zealand in
tennis development； but the time has come now for New Zealand to stand
on her own。 Since the regrettable death of Anthony F。 Wilding； in whose
memory New Zealand has a tennis asset and standard that will always hold
80
… Page 81…
THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
a place in world sport； the New Zealand tennis players have been unable to
produce a player of skill enough to make the Davis Cup team of
Australasia。 It has fallen to Australia with Norman E。 Brookes； to whose
unfailing support and interest Australasian tennis owes its progress since
the war； G。 L。 Patterson； W。 H。 Anderson； R。 L。 Heath； and Pat O'Hara
Wood to uphold the traditions of the game。
The Davis Cup challenge round of 1921 was staged in New Zealand in
accord with the agreement between Australia and New Zealand and also in
memory of A。 F。 Wilding。 The tremendous interest in the play throughout
the entire country showed the time was ripe for a drastic step forward if
the step was ever to be taken。 So after careful consideration the split of
Australia and New Zealand has taken place。 What will this mean to New
Zealand？ First it means that it will be years before another Davis Cup
match will be staged on her shores； for it takes time and plenty of it to
produce a winning team； but at the time； the fact is borne in on the tennis
playing faction in New Zealand that as soon as they desire to challenge；
their players will gain the opportunity of International competition。
Experience matures players faster than anything else and I am sure that
the move that will place a team of New Zealand players in the field in the
Davis Cup will be the first and biggest step forward to real world power in
tennis。 New Zealand produced one Wilding； why should not another
appear？
I