Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1920-11-02

in tennis. He went down before Johnston In
the final round for the London championship
his only real reverse of the year but since that
June he has been supreme the courts, beat
ing the best of all nations in the ali-cOmers tour
nament at Wimbledon after Johnston, our then ma
tional champion, had been put out. and carrying
on to the title here in September. He confirmed
his victory over Johnston by again beating him in
the East VS.. West matches in Philadelphia More
over, he won greater battle than the one
on the courts by controlling his nerves. which
year ago imposed handicap on his unquestoned
skill. SO say the students of the game, the ex
pertS who know.
Like the science of warfare ITSELF the science
of every game that partakes of the nature of
fight is perpetual see-saw between attack and
defense. Now the one, the other rules the
play and carries off the highest honors In the
fascinating case of lawn tennis the attack at pres
ent seems dominant, as it did 45 years ago when
pioneer volleycrS the cocks of the courts
The Renshaws H. England and Sears and Dwight
in America; it did in 1900 when Whitman
and Ward and Davis were our champions and
their new-fanged service too much for visit
ing English ground-stroke experts; in 1914
when McLoughlin's superb attack Hared up into
a glorious moment of supremacy, taking the meas
ures of Brookes and Wil1ing-and then left him.
This man Tiden is attack personifed. through
his service He is long, lanky, ablebodied
specimen. with strong arm. brains, cOncentra-
ton. and plenty of time for practce-all Of which
has enabled him to develop more kinds of delivery
than Christy MatheWSon ever showed including
one thAt-for the present, at least--is his own.
own your own service" is apparently his motto.
When Tilden wants to follow his service in, he
generally does what other experts generally do
delivers a high-kiclling ball that dragS the air
and vet gives the Striker-Out plenty of pace to
contend with. But when he feels special need
of point he unexpectedly shoots over nearly
straight under-spin ball that travels like shelf
and proves the late Euclid's contention that a
straight line is the shortest distance from one
point to another Moreover the ball doesn't rise
He doesn't run in behind that ball why should
he? If its good. the other is in luck to get
his racket it, luckier to block it somehow
across the net-and if it does come back Tilden
with his fine sharply-angIed driving has pot
shot at either side of the court.
This 'unholy speciality" of Tden his wickedest
service, undoubtedly rules the at present
1t puts attack ahead of defense at this writing
In fact, some thoughtful devotees, including ex
perts of high authority are asking whether under
the rules they stand, the player with the initial
attack, which is to say the server has not more
advantage than is good for the game
If the rules should be changed to curb the server
il would not be the first time. But heretofore the
changes have been comparatively mild and sue
cessive brigades of ingenious servers have con
triyed to conform to them and still maintain the
advantage. Anything further done now would
have to be comparatively radical.
Some experts say change the rules: curb the
server Others take the opposite view The
brilliant services which are being developed year
w." says lie Roy, add TO the interest of the game
and the delight of the spectators. 1t is UP to the
players develop equally brilliant defenses to off
set the services
Those who have only seen the great tennis play
err in action would probably not recognize him in
work a-day habiliments. writes William Chenery
in the New York Times The tall, somewhat
STOPPING boyish-lookng young man walking slow