Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-04

err Importance.
In singles, therefore. the center
idea has Its limitations, for naturally
the striker-out cannot make effective
use of it unless his opponent stays
back. Even if he does. l am a believer
in more variation of the return. In
doubles great many more shots are
Played down the center than in singles.
This does not necessarily mean more
frequent application of the center"
theory. Tor more often you play down
the center between the two men not to
lessen the angle Of return. but because
it Is the best and the safest place to
put the ball.
The most usual return is cross-court
that is. across the center portion of
the net rather than up the sidelincs.
The reason for this is natural. for a
player is apt to make a large numoer
of his shots through the medium OF
least risk. Obviously. playing over the
center portion of the net involves the
least amount of risk. both as to dtrec-
ton and elevation. for the net is lowest
at this point.
Never try to smash receive-that is.
in such position that the element Of
missing risl: is considerably reduced.
Many players are prone to go for diff
cult passing shots when OF their PAL
ance. and the chance against their
scoring at such times is enormous. In
r:vorite shot ia to drive for his feet
However. this is practiced good deal
more in doubles than in singles. If
base line man comes in slowly. ne M
yites play around his feet. and con-
scouently is rarely disappointed. As 1
have mentioned. l wish to correct any
impression that Brookes comes III SLOW
~ His run-in is Of cat-like ag1ity,
and it was not so much playing ms
feet that concerned me in returning
his service. as 1t was getting the Dali
somewhat wide of his reach.
Hammering Opponents Weakness.
To make another point. should not
say it is good general rule always to
hammer your opponents weakness. un-
less. of course. your opponent has some
very paipable one. 1t is better actics
to vary your attack, oftentimes even
playing through your opponents
strength, and then returning to his
weakness. Possibly. at the end of tie
match, il Il summary could be made,
you would find you had played the ma
jority OF your strokes to his weakness,
but bv no means a very large majority.
his strength and weakness is. OF course.
one of the keys to successful tourna-
ment play, but ] believe that efforts in
this direction before one is actually
face to face with the man on the oppo-
site side of the net are so much time
wasted. Instances are rare when one
player can map out in advance a mode
of campaign. as did Wright when he
met Brookes at Melbourne, and adhere
to it persistently with success. And
Wright, great general that he was.
would have abandoned his first plan
very quickly il better one had sug-
gested itself as the match progressed.
Like a skilled boxer. the tennis
player must try out his man by actual
contact. II he possess the keen intui-
ton necessary to premiership he will
assimilate subconsciously his oppo-
nent's tendencies in the first few eX
changes. All previous ideas OF play
must be dropped the instant they prove
faulty. The contestant must be quick
to grasp each possible advantage that
suggests itself as the match proceeds.
What Sportsman Does Not Do.
As to general atmospheric conditions.
the sun and wind oftentimes material
~ affect ones game, but in match play
these elements are rarely utilized by
true sportsman against his opponent.
and. Furthermore. the rules of the game
as far as possible tend to equalize any
hardship apparent. For instance. IL the
sun and wind are worse on one side
than on the other, the rule for chang
ing sides after the odd game prevents
one player getting more than his share
of unfavorable conditions. In another
instance. II players opponent must
look directly at the sun to find lob.
a sense of good workmanship VIII
usually prevail. and the other will not
increase his lobs. "Soblessc oblige" is
the true spirit Of the game. and no per-
manent advantage was ever gained by
transgressing 1t.
In closing. the baseline game is al
most wholly a bygone in fast play.
shall cover, later on in this series. in
The Volley," the necessity for the
striker-outs no less than the server. to
get TO the net and hold 1t whenever
possible. The service and first return
are really a duel for this priced po-
sition.
Tais is one Of a series Of articles On tennis by
Champion ,IcIoI:hl!n thar Is appearing eicin.
s.vely In this paer. Another article entitied
Tine ForeLard." will appear next Sunday.