The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-08-15
CONDITION IN TENNIS,
The Part 1t Plays In Winning
Hard Fought Tournaments.
YOUNG LARNED IN GOOD FORM
Brother Of National Champion Has
Displayed Great Skill In Recent
Rsmes--Discussion Over Net Cord
esrokes-Proposed New Rules.

The triumph of the younger Larned
Mdwin p, for the middle states tennis
tjtle was regarded as a combination o.
fairly developed skill backed by thu
splendid condition Of the player. Tha
On the latter respect be was the master
Of both William ]. Clothier, ex-nationa
champion, and Raymond ID. Little, tht
captain of the International team o.
feQ6, was regarded as his chief asset
against the two veterans. Larned hat
trained himself like Spartan and had
10 carefully husbanded his strength
that he was enabled to endure faster
fpotwork than either Of his two famous
upponents. 1t was this attention to the
necessity Of keeping the physical con
dition at its perfection and all OF the
faculties so tuned up as not to jangle
nj high tension that had contributed tc
the young experts success. In meas,
REe It was the same painstaking care
which had brought greatness upon the
hwn tennis courts. and for that same
reason there was the general opinion
that a second member of the Larned
family will be a maker of lawn tennis
history.
lust how the men who are showing
great promise fail of the coveted at
tninment was illustrated most spe.
rifcally, Gustaye f. Touchard, Ma
fhaniel w. Niles and Irving C. Wright
being mentioned in contrast. Touch
ard and Wright are regarded as the
most careless of their physical need.
The former does not observe the needs
u somewhat frail constitution. He
frequently wears himself out by some
petty diversion and then makes daz-
King, brilliant effort to win matches
by sheer nerve. The younger Wright is
much the same. With Niles 1t is some
what different. He has experienced
1fse pangs and twitches of rheumatism.
and to this those who know his adroit-
ness as forcing player attribute his
PIkr showing against Edwin P. Larned
IN the middle states final, win of
anly six games in three sets. Actually
in the pink of condition and on even
terms there are many who believe that
Mes would more often defeat the
younger Larned than lose to him. He
possesses the greatest courage. while
MS handling of the racket Is always
hacked by excellent and calm judg-
ment, as was evident In his defeat Of
Theodore Roosevelt Pell before he met
LArned.
While 1t is not mollycoddling that the
players should give themselves, the
followers of the game believe that the
Nigprs Of lawn tennis are such that
none may hope to win high honors
except by a sane observance Of their
particular needs. Rest, especially 10
The way Of regular nights sleep and
the avoidance of stimulahts to sustain
them through their matches are in the
estimation of the studious ones the
absolutely necessary factors of success.
Aside from these questions, the sub
jet of the height of the net and the
attendant luck of net cord strokes has
ROME in for some timely and profound
debate. Carelessly stretched nets
eTuse all of the top fight of the play
Els more worriment than all of the
Sther things which they have to
xombat 1t overthrows the best serv-
Zee, no matter how long and patiently
The player has taken to develop it, and
throughout is source Of grievance.
That most groundsmen feel that their
Iury is done when they stretch the net
ERut to the limiting band in the center
does not suffice. Many Of the players
eGnplain that the bands loosen from
the rings in the ground as the season
progresses and that with month or
two Of usage one or even two inches |
are added to the net in the center |
The strange part of it is that few Of |
them care to appear finicky by request
ing the referee or umpire to decide |
BpIn the correct height.
The net cord stroke finds an ally in
MI loosely stretched nets. but beyond |
That one point the opinions are as va
Esuus as the sands of the sea as to
what manner should be pursued in
sUEae way limiting the stroke which |
I'm practically every instance is bit
Bk lnck that has turned the decision
In many matches. The majority of the
nlayers agree that it would be as great |
RB injustice to forfeit the stroke en-
tirely as to promulgate the rule that
the point be replayed from the serv-
Zee again. There Is q growing tend |
Eney to mark an additional line across |
The court parallel with the net at ap- |
Eroxfmately the distance of foot |
from it in either side. In order that a |
net stroke be fair as a return the ball |
Rust drop beyond that line, its failure |
10 do 80 to be considered as a net for |
tifs player making the stroke. This ap- |
pears to be the most popularity es-
yoused method of overcoming the
yexed question, and so general has the
discussion of it been of late that some
ffdng of this kind may at last find its
a2ace in the rules.
not for many seasons on the Ameri-
eHn courts have the players endeavored
b lift the game to the place that it de-
serves in this country. In every direc-
aion there is a manifest intention to