New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-02
BrookeS, of AuStralaSian
Team, Expected to Cur
tail His Schedule.
CAPS ARE FAVORED
BY THE FOREIGNERS
Many Salamanders Among Amer
lean Stars Play Bareheaded,
Even in Hottest Sun.

J. c. Parko. the genial, sturdy team
captain Of the English lawn tennis
players, expressed the utmost surprise
tho other day when told that Norman
+. Brookcs, head Of the Australasian
team, had signifed his intention Of
playing with Wilding in every match
Of the preliminary Davis Cup rounds.
The Irishmsn; hazarded the guess
that Brookes would think better Of his
decision before the series Of matches IS
completed, seeming 20 imply that the
Australian has not the necessary phys
real strength TO 60 through the SEIZED
ulc he has mapped out for himself
Indeed. Il might we'll tax the
strength OF the strongest player TO en-
gage n nine three out OF hve-Set
matches OF international Importance,
and then. At tho last. 20 face the cream
o. the lawn tennis players IN Ameri't
for the premier trophy OF the q
crsc. Yet that Us what Brookcs has
contracted 10 do. provided the Aus
trslians arc successful against the Eng
lish team in The final round Of the
Davis Cup preliminary matches.
10 is known that Brookes is const-
tuuonally weak, and this kept him
from an active career on the courts for
.cveral years. il rs only recently that
he has come back 20 his best form. Il
seems like dangerous thing, IN such
case. for the Australasian captain 10
hazard his strength in the undertaking,
and many arc Of the opinion that he
win make q serious mistake II he ad-
heres 70 his determination.
But then. Brookes probably knows
his own limitations better than any
body else and the wisdom of his
course will be known after the chal-
lcngc round is matter Of history.
Spectators at the international
matches viii notice that the foreigners
wear caps while playing. This is
custom rare indeed in this country,
where our men are accustomed 10 play
under 8 broilirg sun all the afternoon.
% is due simply 20 a difference OF
opinion.
The astutc Brookes. upon the occa-
sion Of his arrival from England the
other day. strongly condemned the
practice OF going without headgear.
Commenting upon the collapse OF K.
Iindlcy Murray. the Californian. al
the Scabright tournament, the Aus
talisn lifted one eyebrow and re-
marked:
What else could you expect? That
come. from the ridiculous practice
you Americans have of playing IN a
hot sun withou- a cap Il is bound
TO affect your strength and speed.
Yet T.. Norris Williams. I'd. OF the
Davis Cup team. fairly revols IN the
heat and is never so happy as when
engaged I'm q red-hot match with the
sun burning gp the court and the mer-
curry flirting with the top Of the glass
tube. Williams scorns hat or cap, but
louscs his head with iced oatmeal
water
There arc countless other instance
Of American players going through
fyc-sct matches without head cover
INK or any kind. It's case OF ever!
man 70 his own liking
Have YOU noticed the tango glide
OIL the courts Many of our Leading
Iar.u tennis stars make use OF II IN
their service m the effort 70 evade
tho foot-fault rule Williams IS an
adept IN the art; so are Murray, penn
Poll Johnston and half a dozen others.
The foot-fault rule provides That inc
hack foot must not come over the pase
limo until after the racquet has met
tbc hall. After studying out dozen
different ways OF avoiding brlIgt.H,S
over that bothersome back toot' w III
laue and the others solved the PROP
lem 10 their CWn satisfaction Dy start
inc Tho rear foot slowly ior"aId ~
they threw tho service ball ABOVE 'hei'
beads .,o,o ~ =
.-ra,,rd beck Of the service line they
,.ra5u.lly grew so proficient IN the arr
.b.t ihe service stroke was maze the
f~actiou OF an instant before the PACK
cot came forward with full sweep
over the line. -, 80.
Timing this with mathematical eNt
.ctrcsr. the tango glide allows tnt
,Jo,cr 10 he we'll started for the rush
.o,.ard the net as soon as the ball mas
mot The racquet. This 70 OF great ''il-
portaucc. as every second cameo III
making for tho net after inc seI'l0'
may mean the winning OF IN -.
hon tbc defending team faces the ioi-
,i~ncrs ~ the West Side Tennis C;uD
on the 18th, 14th and 10Th OF IN >
month.
1r Won see Karl Behr take a savage
tue AZ his belt or parade moodlly aooCV
tbe court. muttcring under MS Dred
and rlsrinc from behind his eyeglasses
,bue thc international matches are
+, nrorress. don't get unduly eHcltei'
That's Karl's manner on the court Wn ne.
,binos arc waxing close. lie really
f-,,I half SO angry as he looks, and -
entirely unconscious OF ms acuohs'
Vow that the Davis Cup team ha'
bocp chosen. IL does no harm to cast
tbc eve backward over the season 8
playing. r. Liudley Murray, inc CAn-
fo~nia youth ' made ms nrSt aP'
,,osrsprc in .,, cast this spring, has
cord that some Of the greatest "t
the ranking players might "eu c.t,..
Ou. Of a total Of sixty two mat mes
> has taken part m against 'Rs 49,
nlavers this country boasts OF, Murray
has only lost-four TO date. One o.
these was to Mclaughlin. at Long"oou'
another TO Williams at Seabrlgh'' one
10 George ~. Church. IN wilmington
aud the other TO William VI. Johnson
90 Westchester
Am these matches took place on turf,
and when IL is remembered that MUIR
ray PLAYED on grass for the first time
I'M his life few weeks ago the strength
n his game can be easily understood.
I'M every match he lost he made has
opponcnts 20 az top speed p defeat
him and he is improving with every
match. What will he do in 1919
Wouldn't the Giants or the Athictlc5
enjoy percentage Of 1875 just low!
mat is lust what Murray's percentage
H. and the chances are he viii boost
a considerably before the season ends.