New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-11
sastralaSianS Practise on
the Courts of the West
Side Club.
ROTH MEN SHOW
RANGE OF STROKES
defensive Play of BrookeS Will
Furnish a Difficult Barrier
Against Mclaughlin.
r.rrn III AN-ruOPNE
RV FRFO HAWTHORNE.

"a fsce and with dark hair and wearing
Ssrk business suit and small cap.
',e,red out on the turf courts at the
.u..t side Tennis Club, at Forest Hills,
long Island. yesterday afternoon. BY
- side strobe a blond giant, bronzed
a, the sun and with every indication
III the trained athlete.
aRrookes and Wilding, the Australia
,i.rsl" was the tip that ran from seat
n seat on the huge stands surrounding
tbe courts by those who had sat pa
t;.r,lv waiting in the Scorching sun for
more than two hours.
And il was so. The two men upon
whom the people from the other side
Of the world pin their faith to take
back the Davis Cup TO Australasia had
arrived az the scene Of the challenge
round international lawn tennis
matches next Thursday. Friday and
saturday for their frst practice on the
courts.
After comforting for few minutes
VIII Robert ID. Wrenn. George T. Acee
and Julian :. Myrick, Of the Davis Cup
eommittce. Brookes and his partner
vent back 20 the clubhouse to prepare
for the courts. Mrs. Brookes, all in
white. sat in the cool Of the veranda
and watched her husband as he and
Wnding Dstted the balls over the net.
Players Try Out Shots.
No attempt was made 20 keep a
score, the men contenting themselves
with practising different strokes and
getting acquainted with the peculiari-
ties Of turf light and runbacks.
From what was seen Of the pair in
action Yesterday Brookes left the better
impression. His strokes were clesnly
executed his control was marvellous
and he struck 80 the ball with great de-
termination. Wilding was less sure in
ms piaving and seemed 10 have some
difficulty In gauging the bound of the
hall. but he showed plenty OF speed and
covered the court with giant strides.
As preliminary BroOkes asked the
New Zealander 10 give him practice at
driving from his backhand Wilding
Kent sending the ball TO his partners
rirht hand. and the great left handler
sent 10 slashing back with remarkable
speed and accuracy, showing a prefer
snce for placing the ball close 10 the
side lines.
The Austrslasian team captain did
seem 10 care whether he took the
on the bound or the yolley, but
T. As lust as deadly when it was in the
as when taking it on the rise. HIS
fleet action, combining as II does a
cided follow through with the racquet
ard a concerted blending Of arm and
body I'm the stroke, aroused admiration
On every side.
Next Brookes asked his partner to
send him up high lobs, and Wilding
accommodated, interpreting deep ones
With the short variety that landed
dose 10 the net Here again the leader
n the Australasians appeared torml-
Ssble. Although his treatment OF the
Job has not the spectacular features
that distinguish the work OF men
Ike Mclaughlin, Behr or Murray, II IS
rotieeable that the Australasian seldom
puts the ball out Of court or INTO tne
ast Il generally lands within lnches
n the base line and near the corner
Of the court.
Brookes Takes Tumble.
Neither Of the foreigners wore spiked
,boes nor will they when they face the
lrsricaDs for the Davis Cup. Once
a. twice they slipped slightly on the
ersss in attempting 10 turn quickly
All upon one occasion Brookes, IN
yoino after a 'cross-court shot from
Wudine's racquet, almost spread
sscleS on the turf. He came up limp
inc and strobe about in the back OF his
court for several seconds, as though n
main. Finally he came back TO the net
and began rubbing his left ankle, the
,ne ne strained in Pittsburgh recently,
Vilding ran forward anxiously ana
he and Brookes talked in low tones,
then they changed courts ana went
back 10 their practice. Wllolng Degan
practising the same strokes as ms par'-
ner had done, slashing at the pail WheA
il came TO him overhead as Vielously
as though he was facing the oelehu-
ing team. ,....,,.,.
Of an exclamation when he "mulis
stroks snd even the expression Of his
fsce remains immovable. Wildlng Is
"A PLAYER Of more fiery temperament put
even he limited himself TO a MID
dash" At the most annoying moments
8 n is hard 20 make comparisons pc
tween two players when they are hot
pitted against one another, or are not
cen on the courts at the same time
Tberefore. il is difficult 10 figure 1ust
how Brookes will handle the terr'hc
speed Of Mclaughlin when the Two
emo face TO face this week. But from
What has already been seen of the
Australians playing, il looks more ana
more As if the struggle between him
and the American "Red Hope" nc
Louehlin. will be the feature Of the IN
ternational matches.
Rrookes is a master of the technique
Of lawn tennis and wears defensive
srmor Of strokes that is not equalled'
probably. by any player in the world