Omaha daily bee., 1911-11-12
American Tennis Men
Lauded by Dixon

NEW YORK, Nov. 11.-wnliam A.
Lsrned and Raymond D. Little are put
at the top OF the tennis list in this coun-
try by G. p Dixon, who led the British
team in the preliminary tie matches for
the Davis cup on the courts OF the West
Side club. According TO Mr.. Dixon. there
fore, in Larned. Wright and McLouRh-
lin America Ia not sending tho best possl-
bic team to New Zealand to annex the
much coveted trophy. II In pretty gen.
orally conceded. however. both in Eng
land and IN the antipodes. that the
Americans have an excellent chance OF
meeting with success this year. In writ
ing OF the American game IN the official
lawn tennis journal IN England, Mr..
Dixon says!
There are seveg Al points of contrast
between American and English lawn
tennis players and their methods. One
Is forcibly struck by the comparative
weakness OF American players from the
base line as much az by anything else
at first sight. Therefore. OF course.
few notable exceptions. For instance, w.
A. Larned. the United States champion,
whose back court play Is perhaps the
principal feature OF his excellence. Ray.
mond ID. Little Is another player whose
powerful forehand drive constitutes
deadly engine OF attack. These two
Americans possess styles more approach
Ing those of our own leading players
1.-THE Wrenn brothers. though neither
is particularly severe off the ground
possess methods more In accordance with
many OF the English school. n. D.
Wrenn, former champion OF the United
~ .ls.Ia
Powell in his net play, and this similar
lily is Increased by the fact OF their both
being left-handed In doubles the Wrenns
are more subtle than forcing and they
frequently employ the lob with great Of.
feet.
1.-The general body Of American players
as compared with our own show Of In
feriority both in the pace ana length OF
their ground strokes. There are no play
ers IN the United States with quite the
force behind the driving OF =. IT, Smith,
or the power and consistency Of A. w
Gore at their best. The stff-Rrm drive
Is hardly ever seen. In style and exeou-
ton we are superior also. The strokes
Of large number OF American players
off the ground are belabored-they get
there, but more energy ls expended in 50
doing. Even among their first-class play.
ers several use the chop. and the clean
hard hitting praotised 80 continually here
Is conspieuously absent in the play of the
Americans.
More Importance ls attached 10 our
friends on the other side to service and
volleyinE. and IN these departments the
superiority Of their players over us ID
most marked. TO gain the net position
and win the ace by a clean placed yolley
seems 10 he the paramount consideration
with most Of their players. In fact theii
methods may be described as bustiing
As to service, Maurice Y. Mclaughlin
service is OF the fast. swerying American
type, and, skillfuliy placed as II generally
is. & enables him TO use his great yolley-
! ing powers effectively. Very few Of hii
countrymen are 40 powerfully armed IL
this respect. but numbers possess verS
awkward services Notwithstanding. T. c
Bundy. the player from Los Angeles. hai
puzzling reverse service. and many
others could be named who score heavily
I'm this department. The services OF oui
own leading players on the whole suffei
. much In comparison. include in volley
, ing all overhead work, and here agar
the Americans are the stronger in tina
, they are more consistent.
"Mef.aughliB's sm8sLinE Is as severe O.
that % am player 7 have come across
I and very rarely does he miss . sitter.
! Though the Californian IN this particular
{ Is facile prinoeps IN America, many othe
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