Norwich bulletin., 1911-11-01
ON AMERICAN TENNIS.
British Expert Rates Larned and Lit tie as Foremost Players in That Country.

c. P. Dixon, who led the British Isles lawn tennis team in the preliminary tie matches, has some interesting comment upon the methods of leading American players in the latest issue of the English official organ. The famous Briton brackets William A. Larned and Raymond D. Little as the foremost American wielders of the racquet.
 In comment he says in part:
 There are several points of contrast between American and English lawn tennis players and their methods. One is as forcibly struck by the compara- tive weakness of American players from 'baseline as much as anything else at first sight. There are, of course, a few notable exceptions, for instance, W. A. Larned, the United States champion. whose back court play IS, perhaps. the principal feature of his excellence. Raymond D. Little is an other player whose powerful forehand attack. These two Americans possess styles more approaching those of our own leading players.
 '"rhe two Wrenn brothers, though neither is particularly severe off the ground, possess methods more in ac- cordance with many of the English school In doubles the Wrenns are more subtle than forcing, and they frequently employ the lob with great effect. The general body of American
 
 show an inferiority in both the pace and length of their ground strokes. There is no player in the United States with quite the force behind his driving as that of s. H. Smith, or the power and consistency of A. w. Gore, at his best The stiff arm drive is hardly ever seen. In style and eXecu- ton we are superior also. The strokes oI a large number of American players of the ground are belabored-they get there, but more energy is expended in so doing. Even among their first class players several use the chop, and the clean, hard hitting practiced so contin- ually here is conspicuously absent in the play of the Americans.
 More importance is attached by our friends on the other side to service and volleying, and in these depart ments the superiority of their players over us is most marked. To gain the ret position and win the ace by clean placed volley seems to be the para mount consideration with most of their players. In fact, their methods may hle described as bustling- As to ser vice, Maurice E. McLoughlin's service is of the fast, swerving American type, it enables him to use his great volley- ing powers effectively. Very few of his countrymen are so powerfully arm ed in this respect. but numbers pos SesS very awkward services, notwith- standing. T. c. Bundy, the player from Los Angeles. has a puzzling re- verse service, and many others could be named who score heavily in this department. The services of our own leading players, on the whole, suffer much in com parison. I include in vol leying all overhead work, and here again the Americans are the stronger in that they are more consistent.
 '.McLoughlins smashing is as severe as that of any player I have come across, and very rarely does he miss sitter Though the Californian in this particular is faciIe princeps in Amer ica, many other players smash almost as well; not only from close to the net, but some distance back"