Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-08-02
BRITONS PRAISE
OUR Tennis
PLAYERS


fornia, have American lawn tennis
players, so taken the English courts
by storm. Maurice E. Mclaughlin and
Wallace +. Johnson appear to be Wy
ing with each other in popularity. The
national champion is slightly the
greater favorite, although Johnson Is
coming in for considerable attention.
Charles p. Dixon, the doughty Bril-
ton, who has captained the Davis cup
teams in this country, has written an
appreciation of Mclaughlin which
shows how highly the young Ameri-
can is regarded in the land where
lawn tennis had its birth. 1t is as
follows:
But Twenty Three.
Barely %, Maurice E. Mclaughlin,
the American champion, who continues
to charm Wimbledon crowds daily
with his terrific service and dazzling
strokes, is unquestionably q wonder
fully fine player for his age, and In
many respects unique. BY his calm
and natural derneanor in court, Nc
Loughlin quickly ensconced himself in
public favor. and he has already been
alluded to as the pet of Wimbledon.
Who will ever forget his first appear
ance in the center court on the initial
day, when he was opposed by the alb
lest general we have In the game, II.
r. Barrett. II was admittedly an or
deal from which even the stanchest
and most seasoned player might well
have flinched. But not the young Cal
ifornian. He was every whit as cool
and self-possessed as H. r. B. him
self. Only having landed on these
shores couple Of days previously and
at Wimbledon, it was hardly to be ex-
pected he would appear at his very
best, but the mistakes he did make
we're due more to this fact than to
any breakdown of nerves or center
courtitis. | lay stress on this point,
as it Is remarkable how we'll he bore
himself, when one remembers how
many great players CHS own country
men included) have, signally failed to
do themselves full justice at Wimble-
don. =
Is Getting Stronger.
whether Mclaughlin wins the
championship or not, and he seems to
be going stronger every day, he will
certainly leave behind him nothing
but pleasant impressions and recollec-
lions. And what fine temperament
he has! Nothing seems to ruffle him.
Serious and concentrated as he clear
ly shows himself to be when playing
the game, there Is with it all pleas.
ant and resigned determination to
take the good and bad luck which hap
pens TO come his way in the spirit in
which it shouldy be taken.
II first came across Mclaughlin in
Philadelphia, in 1909, when, though
only 10, he was looked upon as likely
to become a worthy successor to W.
A, Larned and other famous Ameri.
cans. He did not play against us in
the Davis cup that time, but Parke,
Cecil Crawley and enjoyed several
practice sets with him, and we had
the pleasure of frequently watching
him play. He was perhaps even more
brilliant than now. At that time he
chiefly used the reverse American SER
vice; it was later he adopted the ordi-
nary American service for good.
Has More Ability.
Mclaughlin went outSfor absolute
winners then, but while retaining
much of bis former brilliancy he has
now added three or four years Of first
class experience and has set a curb
on not unnatural propensity to go
out too much for his strokes. His
better and sounder judgment has no
doubt helped him considerably to gain
the numerous successes he has
achieved since and which eliminated
in his annexing the American cham
pionship last year out Of field of
over $50.
Il and Arthur Lowe both met him in
the Davis cup contest at the West
ffde Club, New York, in September,
1911, and as showing in what respect
We held him it is only necessary to
state4we both considered our chancet
against Mclaughlin, and only went
down in the fifth set after leading D.
love in it. He beatgme .afterward three
sets to one. His service, the same as
be now uses, was q far more difficult
stroke TO return on the West Side
courts than on the plumb courts at
w AhLOICuOA. Al tho lOlA yOu nCNCI
knew what the baHw going to do.
There is something about the posi-.
ton he assumes just before delivering
his service which forbodes disaster to
his opponent; a determined look, as
much as to say, Now, I've got spe-
cial hoe one for YOU, and, il the first
does not fall within the limits the
striker out has mighty busy time of
il. No other service know of quite
combines the break and pace of Nc
Ioughlin's. His second, though slow
er, has just as much spin, and is one
that few players would care to take
liberties with. His top spin forehand
drive, though different from Wilding's.
is another of hfsSdeadly weapons, and
this he uses far more than he did, and
with much more success, it taking the
place of cut drive, which he now
sparingly employs what a smash
the boy possessesi Has anybody ever
seen any one hit harder? A charming
personality has Mclaughlin, and If he
is able to continue playing the game,
hand; putting the weight, right and