The Washington times., 1922-07-23

pOTJuUlLleS OF pldylHR anu uCNStob
AS an example of her thorough
ness in this respect, ! cannot hep
quoting the case of certain news
paper boy whose play in the pubic
courts attracted attention. He was
Immediately given access to one of
the best universities and is now one
of the most promising American
players.
Such a thing could hardly happen
in either France or England, where
tennis is beyond the reach of the
poor, and where public courts
which would do such wonders in the
development of the game-have not
as yet come into existence.
| am far from decrying this ten
dency on the part of America to de-
velop her lawn tennis talent by every
means in her power, but such meth
DDS as she employs in this direction
undoubtedly have the effect of rem.
dering her game stereotyped.
Physique Helps Tilden.
With such cosmopolitan popula
ton as hers, II is next to impossible
TO define her temperament as
whole.
To take Tilden. who. during the
last two years, has proved hims2lf
the best match winner, 1t seems to
me that he owes this ability to ms
physical advantage rather than mis-
strokes. Great height and reach are
tremendous assets in lawn tennis.
Both Wilding and Colbert have
demonstrated this. but they Were
slow and heavy on the court in COM
parison with Tilden, who. in addi.
ton, has great speed.
Yet / am convinced that Tilden'S 5
is not the game of the future, for
the reason that a man OF normal pro-
portions would invite disaster by
copying his methods, which do not
so much rely upon stroke production
as upon an excessive rotation or the
ball and unexpected shots-imposSi.
BILE to one of normal physique-
which have the effect of breaking
up his opponents game.
The same tictics, but an entirely
different style, are employed by the
Russian champion, Count Soumarak'
hoff.
To my mind, the ideal player of
the future will combine Patterson's s
service and overhead play, Alfonso \
and Gobert's perfect execution Of
stroke, together with the former 8
bpeed OF foot, Brookes' genius, and
Decugis' fighting ability.
Such a player would be unbeatable,
and who shall say that in these days
of rapid progress toward efficiency,
IL not perfection, in almost every
branch of sport. he will not duly ar
rive?
1t would be curious. to say the
least, to finish this article by a
woman player without further refer.
ence to women players.
The reason that | have so far
confined my remarks to mems play
: is that. in my opinion, their game
must be taken as the model for
women's. 1t was in this way, and
mainly by studying Wilding's game
and methods. that l developed my
own.
Having recently seen the stand
ard of women's play in America, it
would, perhaps. be as we'll II COM
pared IT with the English.
with the exception of Mrs. Nal.
lory. who learnt her game in Nor.
way. and has the temperament of
her Northern race. the average
American woman plays a more at
tacking game.
Yet. in spite OF this. the general
standard of play is higher in Eng.
land. and the reason for this is not
far to seek. If the American woman
player does not attain a. higher
standard by her more promising
methods, it is because to properly
employ them she must have the
speed of a man.
Miss Brown Excells.
In my opinion she would go down
hrforo tho CT tandinocc IF tho
base liners. For instance. she would
stand little chance against Mrs.
Lambert Chambers in her best
form.
Mrs. Mallory won the American
championship last year, but II must
not be forgotten that her two great e.
est rivals, Miss Mary Brown and
Mrs. May Sutton Bundy. had been
long out of tournament play and
are actually better exponCnts of the
game.
Miss Mary Brown. for instance,
Is better stylist, and is, moreover.
the only one of the three who can
hold her own at the net.
Mrs. Bundy plays a very strong,
driving game from the back line.
and in her prime was the best
woman player America has pro-
duCed. She was the only American
. woman to win championship honors
at Wimbledon. which Is the sevorest
test of players strength.
n In general, a woman's tempera.
ment does not urge her to play
such an audacious game as a man.
That Is why II is of even greater
Importance for her to begin young,
while mind and muscle are capa BILE
Of adapting themselves to the vol
leying game, without which she will
never reach high honors in modern
lawn tennis.
As a proof of how difficult. or.
~ather. impossible II is to adapt
-Aeself in later years. would In.
><Hnce the cases Of Mrs. Beamish
and Mrs. Satterthwaite. both Of
whom attempted last winter TO de.
vclop a volleving game, and failed.
At the risk Of repeating myself.
cannot point out too clearly that
~ the Fnolish woman player wishes
to reach front rank In modern lawn
tennis, she must learn the attack.
ing game. and learn II Young.
A man can play such game
until he is in the forties. hut II
is almost certain that the average