New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-03
ENGLISH VIEW or AMERICAN TENNIS.
MAHONY THE IRISH EXPERT. PRAISES NATIVE
pLAYING-BRITIsH COMMENTS oN THE
AMERICAN VICTORY

Before the visiting English avn tennis experts lef,
for home after the big championship tournament at
Newport last August, the three Of them expressed
themselves as particularly pleased with their trip
Al praised American players and American h"sri-
tally. and complaint was heard Of the dreaded
effects OF our climate American players. however.
were anxious 10 hear what the visitors wouli say
after they had reached home That the good grace
with which they took their defeat While sttH among
Ms was sincere Is shown by article which appears
in the las; number Of Lawn Tennis the official or
gan Of the English player. which mas jus; been re-
ceived this side.
The differences between The game a played IN
England aud America. says the celebrated lrsh az
peri II s. Mahony although slight. are very de-
cidcd In the first place. the American bail Is not ~
lively as that used in England. though exactly SIM
lar in size weight ana cloth cover. and the couris
have much longer grass them. Tie result OF this
is that the hop OF the ball Is mucn lower ana
shorter and in consequence the players have all Gull
tiva,cd underhand drives with "A vertical racket
even on the backhand this Is done. The stroke IS
played quite close to the body with the head cf the
racket down and the chow up. looking 10 English
ewes very awkward stroke. For an American
player to be stronger his backhand than his fore
| hand is Il rare exception. while over here such a
thing Is quite common
The foo-fsut rule is that one foot must Dc OH
the ground behind the line: the Other mas be any
where long it Is not on the ground IT. ironi OF
the line In consequence. the server gets fay
ward or more closer in America than In this country
| and Is enabled to XII the volley on the FIRST stroke
| All things tend make running In on the SCI vice
! necessity. This the American players DO remark
ably vel they Dart In and Kill many a vo,y winch
an English player would let drop. half-voiey or vol
| ley weakly.
The very high lob Is used good deal. a1I yc.y
| puzzing It is. American players not much
bothered by high winds We are. thai Il IL POI
! siblc 10 lob with great accuracy. OF their grJdnl
play. especially on the forehand There Is Nothing 20
be sad but praise ana tnose VINO '.w ''.meI
will thoroughly ndorse TINS opinion. a....,... 49,
whole category OF American skill except the back
Notes on American Lawn Tennis" lie says that
George Wrcrn has a drvt that reminds one OF
then declares that Stevens backhand stroke re-
scmbe those OF Ernest Kenshaw. In ending his
i observations he praises American hospitality. ana
I'm conclusion 1 can only sax that The Am,riean
their matches and 1T IL pleasure 20 play asainst
such opponents. whatever The result OF The contest
The English papers have not accepted the British
failure on the tennis courts quite 50 graciousiy.
Lawn Tennis" keeps barking ediiorislly on the
American climate and d a are d eTecs upon '6
repeated declarations from the visitors before they
! On only one day during their American campaign,
ana mat was at Hobokcn not Tewp5ri. Al the
Vim 10 be great players, but there Is always a
reservation to be mad N favor OF The climate
1
At least one OF the foreign sporting publications.
! however admits The britisn Geieat gfaeeiuiiy'
~. English Athletic Record IN recent issue,
says: , -, .,r American cnuslns T. no
,rtnnu,n quantity. We had w. \. Larned here
ins, year and in the opinion OF many there was
ias' 1ner PLAYER at the championship meeting.
T TS for two sets and ne best part OF the
mrs Ina, was not approached 10y any other
competor and only lost throush lack OF 1taynS
poo""nc mad. the pace too hot to start win Ihs
20 acrordinc TO American contempoi ar
year, ~ no v7n,, better than he was last, ana ms
df.ot Of Wrcnm l.ongwood would &C. to ochhrm
as,,"' !, vas n fvc-sct match. too. which stows
,hn, he can stay Therefor mad NItiln or i' 10
- ~, Wimbledon this year their chhlctS 81 sue
I'ch az ~ "nwor have been lightly esteemed.
* might OF course BE- urged ine' m s eV vrT
W Of the full strcnLth OF f.hkiu'
Ne decline TO avail ourselves OF uhaI rs,esei
England Mahcny though he WIS Oh, Oh avns rs Is
yTt.h champion and has beaten w. hau5 hn,y,
Nsbe in MS day Is capable OF beas 81 doing
The went TO America win the "'''"''o" " N'
, their best ard they d!d H.