New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-31
CONDITION
COUNTS ON COURTS
Lawn Tennis Players of Present
Generation More Careful in
Their Training.
u. S. NOT IN FEDERATION
American Authorities May Find
Rough Shedding Because of
Refusal to Join New Eu-
ropean Organization.

rOpedn organization.
Now that the all-comers' lawn tennis
championship is a matter of history and
the Davis Cup safely returned to this
country, lawn tennis players have had
an opportunity in the last day or two to
consider the splendid record of the sea-
son, so far as Americans are concerned.
While IL may be attributable in a large
measure to the enthusiasm inspired by
the victory OF the international team I'm
recovering the famous trophy from the
Britons. still the fact remains that all
the tournaments this year have been par
ticularly well attended. and never has
the picturesque Casino at Newport held
such admiring crowds. Interest centred
not only upon Maurice T. Mclaughlin
and his wonderful performance in playing
through the tournament as the browning
achievement OF three months OF continu-
Gus competition among the leading play
ers OF the world. but also upon the re-
markable development OF the American
game
At last the players OF this country
have shaken off their sacrifice OF accu-
racy for speed. They have attained
greater pace. and with IL have mastered
control in a way that compelled the
praise OF the Europeans during the Davis
Cup matches. Where this will lead TO
has been one OF the questions most dis
cussed since the ending Of the all-comers
last Tuesday, for the younger groups OF
players who are coming on 50 splendidly
have ali displayed 10 a wonderful degree
a fire and dash which hitherto had not
been thought Of.
one thing that has enabled the players
10 put such tremendous energy into the
game is the fact that after more than
thirty years the physical condition of
players has begun 10 receive the attention
IL deserves. The Californans were the
first to drive this lesson home. McLouSh-
lin trains like Spartan, and he seems
10 have legs and backbone OF steel, ca
pable OF enduring any strain. John X.
Strachan and William NJ. Johnston are
much like him, and in this section OF the
country r Norris Williams. %, has taken
a leaf from the book Of the players OF
the Pacific Coast in that ne pays as
much attention TO his regularity OF HABITS
with a seriousness that has carried him
far in a short time.
Altogether, throughout the whole list oil
l4s competitors who began in the recently
decided all-comers, the standard OF phys
ical condition was higher than II had ever
| been before in this country, and IL was
continually remarked upon. Except IN
rare instances there was no letting down
due to fatigue for every match upon the
championship court was fought 10 the
| limit. the men lifting their game higher
toward the finish. rather than dropping
off TO mediocrity, as has so often been
| seen in other years.
With the prospect bright for consider
able international play in this country
next year il is fine thing that the men
upon whom the defence OF the Davis Cup
| is likely to fall realize that perfect physl-
cal condition counts so much for the bat
tie across the net. There are other thlhss
| 10 consider however and these are caus-
| ing some Of the officials much more ahM-
ETY. than the question as TO who VIII de-
fend the cup. Henry W. Slocum, the
vice-president Of the United States Ma
tional Lawn Tennis Association. sound
ed the word OF warning at southampton
when he pointed out that the time mas al
| rived when Americans may be confronted
| with the problem of going 1t alone or
| Joining with the newly Instituted Inter
national Lawn Tennis Federation.
| The mistake has been made by many
in surprising that the English were the
most powerful factors in this organiza-
| ton which seeks 10 standardize the lawn
tennis rules Of the world. This Is far
from the fact. The federation was found
| ed nv the Germans and the French Its
executive meetings and tournament or
| two have been held in Paris. Inc lhhu-
| ences OF the federation are those OF men
well acquainted with the game as u
| exists in Europe.
! II has been more than once hinteo thd'
the International Federation Will prop
ably make some important recommends
lions as TO the regulations OF the DAVIS
| Gun COMPETITIONS at its meeting to DE
| hold in December The federation has
enacted specific legislation along CERTAIN"
lines. notably that defining an amateur
which this country refused 10 AZ
cent. IL IS more than possibility tha'
/ ~ the United States continues 70 staho
ont against the allied nations II VIII nhu
itself I'm an unpleasant predicaineh''
Az II is not necessary for challenges
for the Davis Cup 10 be recorded before
March |, 1914, there is ample time on al
/ s,des for a complete review OF the situa-
.,on and an amicable understanding or a
total rejection. Peculiarly enough severai
| omissions we're discovered In the cup
regulations this year, notably those reia'
ing n the wearing OF spiked SHOES anu
the nature OF the playing surfaces-anu
.ho regulations were framed fourteen
yoors ago The current issue Of the Eng
fish official bulletin has THIS 10 say aoo''
the scoring Of points In the competitloi''
"If the regulations governing the DAVIS
cun competition are to be overhauled' ~
IT., he worth while considering whether
,he form of the competition might not DC
aIto,ed 80 as to give more vaiue u
double play. At present double play 'a''
orlv earn one point, whereas singles can
earn four. a., so,,o,,ds
go, is true that the issue often depehds
90 very large extent upon the doupies'
- .hat a nosition in between the Two
rounds Of singles adds 10 It's Importance
Inn, q can only have real bearing upon
the whole issue when the two sioes are
en- neorly level in singles that neither sue
can vin more than two matches from the
otber II one side is appreciably better
IN singles than the other. the finest douDie
pair in the world is poweriess agalhs'