Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1920-10-29

IN tennis. lie 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 on the courts, beat
ing the best of all nations in the allcomers tour
nament at Wimbledon after Johnston, our then ma
tional champion, had been put out and carrying
on 20 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 an even greater battle than the one
on the courts by controlling his nerves. which
year ago imposed handicap 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 pres
eat seems dominant, as it did 40 years ago when
pioneer volleyers were the cocks of the courts
the Renshaws in England and Sears and Dwight
In America; as 1t did in 1900 when Whitman
and Ward and Davis champions and
their new-fanglei service was too much for visit
ing English ground-sroke experts; in 1914
when McLoughlns superb attack hared up into
a glorious moment of supremacy taking the meas
ures of Brookes and Wildine-and then left him
This man Tilden is attack personifed. through
his service. He is a Iona anky. abe-boded
specimen with strong arm brains, concentra-
ton and plenty of time for ractice-all of which
has enabled him to develop more kinds of delivery
than Christy MathewsOn showed. including
one that-for the present, at least-is his own.
Gown your own service is apparently his motto.
When Tiden wants to follow his service in, he
generally does what other experts generally do
delivers a hgh-kcking ball that drags in the air
and yet gives the striker-out plenty of pace to
contend with. But when he feels special need
of a point he Unexpectedly shoots over nearly
straight under-spin ball that travels like shell
lat4 E,.rltdt o .,tnt.f fT,.
straight line is the shortest distance from
point to another Moreover. the ball doesn't rise
He doesn't run in behind that ball; why should
he? If it's good. the other man Is In luck to get
his racket on 1t, luckier to block II somehow
across the net-and If 1t does come back TiIden
with his fine. sharply -angled driving has a pot
shot at either side of the court.
This "unholy speciality" of Tilden his wckedest
service, undoubtedly rules the roOst at present.
1t puts attack ahead of defense at this writing
In fact 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
II the rules should be changed to curb the server
II would not be the first time. But heretofore the
fhanges have been comparatively mild. and sue
cessive brgades of ingenious 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 .1rhe
brilliant services which being developed year
w." says lie Roy add to the interest of the game
and the delight of the spectators. II is up to the
players to develop equally brilliant defenses to of.
set the services"
Those who have only seen the great tennis play
err In action would probably not recognize him In
work-aday habiiments. writes william Chenery
in the New York Times The TALL somewhat
STOPPING boyish-looking young man walking slow.