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members of the Cup team。 If Alonzo and his teammates are an indication
of the type of players Spain is developing a new and powerful factor in the
tennis world is entering the field to stay。
Some Other Champions
There are some individual players of interest from the countries where
tennis as a game has not reached a place worthy of national analysation
but who deserve mention among the great players of the world。
First among them comes Nicholas Mishu of Rumania。
N。 MISHU
What can I say of Mishu？ As a tennis player he defies analysis。 His
game is a freak。 He adores to do the unusual and his game abounds in
freak shots that Mishu executes with remarkable skill。 He has many and
varied services； underhand cuts； fore and backhand； a 〃push〃 off his nose；
and even one serve where he turns his back on the court and serves the
ball back over his head。
His drives are cramped in swing and hit with excessive top spin。 His
footwork is a defiance of all rules。 His volleying game looks like an
accident； yet Mishu produces results。 In 1921 he beat A。 H。 Gobert in the
World's Hard Court Championship at St。 Cloud。 Mishu is a winner。 I don't
know how he does it but he does。 He is above all a unique personality。
Cheery； individual； at times eccentric； Mishu is a popular figure in
tournaments abroad。 He plays with a verve and abandon that appeals to the
European galleries while his droll humour and good nature make him a
delightful opponent。
J。 WASHER
Belgium is represented by J。 Washer； my opponent in the final round
of the Hard Court Championship of the World in 1921。 Washer is a fine
orthodox tennis player。 His service is a well placed twist delivery of
medium pace。 He has a terrific forehand drive that gains in effectiveness
owing to the fact he is a left…hander。 Like so many players with a
pronounced strength； he covers up an equally pronounced weakness by
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using the strength。 Washer has a very feeble backhand for so fine a player。
He pokes his backhand when he is unable to run around it。
His overhead is strong； speedy and reliable。 His volleying lacks punch
and steadiness。 He has had little tournament experience and shows
promise of great improvement if given the opportunity。
E。 TEGNER
Denmark is represented by a player of promise and skill in the person
of E。 Tegner。 This young star defeated W。 H。 Laurentz at St。 Cloud in the
Hard Court Championship of the World in 1921 when the latter was holder
of the title。
Tegner is a baseline player of fine style。 His strokes are long free
drives of fine pace and depth。 His service is hardly adequate for first flight
tennis； yet while his ground game cannot make up for the lack of
aggression in his net attack。 Tegner is not of championship quality at the
moment but his youth allows him plenty of time to acquire that
tournament experience needed to fill in the gaps in his game。 He is a cool；
clever court general and should develop rapidly within the next few years。
H。 L。 DE MORPURGO
The Italian champion； H。 L。 de Morpurgo； is a product of his own
country and England where he attended college。 He is a big； rangy man of
great strength。 He uses a terrific service of great speed but little control on
his first ball and an exaggerated American twist on the second of such
extreme contortion that even his great frame wears down under it。
His ground game is of flat drives that lack sufficient pace and accuracy
to allow him to reap the full benefit of his really excellent net attack。 His
volleying is very good owing to his great reach。 His overhead； like his
service； is hard but erratic。 Unfortunately he is slow on his feet and thus
loses much of the advantage of his large reach。 He seems to lack
confidence in his game but that should come with more experience。
A。 ZERLENDI
Tennis in Greece。 No！ not in ancient times but in modern； for that little
country has a remarkable little baseline star； by name A。 Zerlendi。 This
man is a baseliner of the most pronounced type。 He gets everything he can
put his racquet to。 He reminds me irresistibly of Mavrogordato； seemingly
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reaching nothing yet they all come back。 I cannot adequately analyse his
game because his first principle is to put back the ball no matter how； and
this he carries into excellent effect。 Zerlendi is a match winner first and a
stylist second。
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CHAPTER XVI。 THE COLONIES
Australasia
The death of that sterling sportsman； Anthony F。 Wilding； and the
natural decline in the playing powers of Norman E。 Brookes； owing to the
advance of years and his war experiences； leave Australasia （Australia and
New Zealand） in a somewhat uncertain condition regarding its tennis
prospects。
NORMAN E。 BROOKES
Volumes have been written about N。 E。 Brookes and his tennis genius；
but I would not feel right if I could not pay at least a slight tribute to the
greatest tennis player and genius of all time。
There is no need to dwell on Brookes' shots； his marvellous
mechanical perfection； his peculiar volleying style； his uncanny
anticipation。 All these are too well known to need my feeble description。
They are but the expression of that wonderful brain and dominant
personality that lie behind that sphinx… like face we know as Brookes'。
To see across the net those ever…restless； ever…moving eyes； picking the
openings in my never too… well guarded court； and know that against me is
pitted the greatest tennis； brain of the century； is to call upon me to
produce my best。 That is what my match with Brookes meant to me； and
still does to…day。 Brookes should be an inspiration to every tennis player；
for he