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

nion opd its marks are left Deep circles under
the ewes and a habit of almost passionate cohceh-
traton are the unsought accompaniment OF 'ne
world championship Tden's nervous organiza-
finn is keyed TO tremendous pitch. And yet
when he was asked how be trained without hest
tancy he answered:
81 try to keep normal mental attitude try
to keen my mind right. The staleness of athletes,
| think is due to mental rather than to physical
causes. Ty Cobb told me that he trained hard for
six weeks and then broke training for day TO
prevent staleness. After the interruption he goes
back to strict system.
II don't break training. but l try in various
ways to keep my mental attitude balanced and
normal. stop playing for a day or two when it
seems to be necessary. aud look for some di-
version. A game Of bridge, music or the theater
afford relief to me.
81 have not got any system of training except
the system which attempts to keep things normal.
l go to bed early, but not too early. not much be-
fore eleven and sleep as late as can. l think
any drinking hurts the tennis game, and find that
for me very light smoking is best"
Il am not a born tennis player. / am what YOU
might call handmade tennis player. | have
worked TO learn tennis, and any other youngster
who wants to work as hard can learn to play as
good or a better game.
"AIl through my school and college days play
ed. Until | reached the university | played sue
ceSsfully Then I realized that the strokes ana
bows we're not good enough for the larger conpe-
tition So set about learning d better system
1t took me about two full years to get it. l was
eighteen and nineteen while this was going on
and in the university.
II practiced the system finally learned by a
process of elimination. Three things | watched
the stroke itself. the position of my feet and the
distribution of the weight of my body. Il my
feet were placed correctly and my weight was
properly distributed and still the ball did not re-
snond then | knew the stroke itself must be at
fault and so worked at that. That was the way
| learned the game.
II Dractice now as much seems to be neceS-
sarv If we're to make rule should say three
sets Of tennis day, four days in the week. would
he a good average. But when getting ready for
. match I train as much is needed. You can
not tell how much that involves. The thing to do
is to get your eye focused on the ball That may
come quickly or it may be slower. 1t may be de-
sirable to play Is sets in day and then to stop
sharply for a day. 1t depends on your CONDITION
and on how quickly you respond.
Tiyden is nervous wiry AS with many
who are successful in different ways he absorbs
energy from the crowd. His best game is played
when excitement runs highest.
Il will be perfectly frank and honest" he said
81 love a crowd In practice l am no good at all
Half of the kids l play with can beat me- mere
children whom 1 coach in practice. The excite
mont of a tournament inspires and makes my
game better.
William T. Tilden II, lives, moves and has his
beng in the realm Of tennis. Not only he thinks
about his own game, but also he is interested in
the national AID international recognition Of
tennis
"The future of tennis is bright" he said. "This
country ought to produce more good tennis play
ers than shy other nation. There are now nun
dreas and even thousands of boys between twelve
and eighteen years who play real tennis. Thanks
TO this Junior system and to the building of mu
nciral courts tennis is becoming truly national
game 1t is no longer class game-thank God
for that.