El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-10-11

THERE has probably never been a
l tennis national championship
tournament held in this country IN
which the Logging OF the leading con-
tenders represented so much as IN
one recently closed at Forest Hills.
y. J. There Is not an atom OF evag-
geratIon IN the statement that Robert
Lindley Murray. the great California
meteor, who stands as the title holder
and the successor OF Lieut. r Norris
Williams. second. owes quite as much
TO his good and sturdy legs as 20 his
racquet There we're times. and many
OF them in the great tournament,
when Murray's skill with the racquet
was OF very WaverIng and flicker
ing character But his legs never
faltered. 1t is an indisputable fact
marvellous energy IN moving about
the court.
A Track Athlete
It was Murray's legs that helped
him over the tight places in many OF
the matches. It was partially due to
the fact that he began his career in
sports as 4 track athlete. He was
hurdler and Splinter. In earlier
rounds Murray certainly forced some
OF the matches TO five set limits. He
had confidence in his legs. II was
certainly so IN his match against
Frederick 3. Alexander. At that time
the Californian knew his strokes
were not going smoothly because OF
lack Of practice. His legs he could
absolutely depend upon to win
OF course, the subject OF careful
fOotWork f. by no means new. 1t
n simply the fact that IL has been
80 completely demonstrated dur
~
n good pair OF legs will support
mediocre game and turn n defeat
into a triumph that has brought
the subject to the fore.
It has a realization brought home
IN all seriousness TO some Of the
players. They had TO pay the pen
atty and among the number in this
category was Beals c. Wright. the
former national champion. He realized
fully what ability TO jump 10 the net
would have meant TO him IN his match
against Kumagae, but even when his
legs refused to back up the rest OF
his game, the gallant veteran fought
II out TO a five set limit.
Jap A Slayer.
OF course. II may be considered that
legs are only another synonym for
stamina kumagae is an example or
this contention. The japanese does
not possess much in the way OF
in the way in which he foots over a /
court and true to the Japanese trait, J
he never appears TO tire Every fol- /
lower OF lawn tennis who witnessed 4
the defeat Of William NJ Johnston, 1
the young Californian. by Kumagae at Z
Newport in 1916 IS fully aware as TO ]
what legs and stamina played IN that 4
battle.
There has been so much attention
paid TO court generalship and strokes 4
Of late that the physical attributes OF
the game appear 70 have been COM
pletely overlooked. And that. too,
when the lawn tennis slogan for the
season has been that the matches,
tournaments. and the championships
we're doomed as a help to the phys
cal fitness OF the nation in war time.
That tennis IS good FOR the purpose
was shown several years ago by Har-
yard professors who proved that the
average nine OF ten game set Of lawn
ennis represented nearly two miles
u foot work
Requires Endurance.
The ordinary man. who has neither
played lawn tennis nor given the SUBJ
ect any consideration. does not havel
he slightest comprehension what eX-
raOrdinary strength. endurance and
power are necessary for fast play.
Maurice +. Mclaughlin stood at the
op OF the game in his day largely be-
ause OF wonderful physical qualities.
England marvelled At his footing over