Evening star., 1923-05-06


year.
and tried conscientiously to improve
1t is probable that had Richards
not sprung into prominence at such
an early age. his training would
nave been more thorough. With the
winning of his first championship
came natural feeling OF confidence
| in his own game. and a desire to live
up 10 his reputation made him unwil-
ling to endure the defeats that were
sure to be his portion II he practiced
ne" strokes. In spite Of his iimita-
tlons, his unusual natural ability car
rted him through victory after vic
tory. but 1t was realized by close
observers about two years ago thae
ne had reached a stage where hfs
game was standing still and wherA
ms defciencies were becoming more
apparent
! Richards never has acquired
| sound base-line driving game. with
out which no player can ever hope to
! be great. 1t might be said that Rich
now famous for his forehand and
| Dackhand driving, but fve years ago.
| when Tilden coached Richards. he
himself lacked these. essential
acquired them and abandoned his
! undercut shots that he has become
the worlds finest player.
Gains Much Prominence.
| When, in 1921. Richards defeated
Tilden in A number OF minor tourna-
! ments and exhibition matches and
! also played Johnston fve-set match
| in the championship. the press were
unanimous in demanding that he be
recognized as peer of these two
! players and criticized the Davis cLp
committee for leaving Richards cd/
+, the team.
! The Davis cup committee is only
| too avail itSeIf nP Tho
/ try's best possible material, and its
| policy has always been one OF en-
couragement toward young players.
Mclaughlin and Long were sent by
expectation of their winning. They
! lost every match. in fact but the
committee was satisfied because they
! felt that these young players would
make the most of such wonderful
opportunity to develop their strokes.
Garland, too, was sent to England
with the same idea In view, and he
! justified his selection by defeating.
with Williams as partner. both Tilden
and Johnston and Parke and Kings
cote, winning the British champion
| ship.
The omission of Richards from the
1921 Davis Cup team was, therefore.
matter of regret to the committee,
who felt that until he applied him
self more seriously to overcoming
the defects in his game 1t was wiser D
select some other young player WHO
showed a more earnest desire towatd
betterment.
Future In His Own Hands.
Last year, for the first time. Rich
ards began to cultivate a forehand
drive. and while he did not make
great headway with it. it was recog-
nized as a step in the right direction.
He was selected to partner Tilden In
the Davis Cup doubles. in order ID
himself. That he failed was due.
perhaps. to the remarkable game
played by the Australians. but fail
he did as he always does when or
Richards victories against Tflden
and his five-set match with Johnston
undoubtedly were due to the fact that
his opponents were not playing IN
their best form. AS every one knows.
Tilden only plays his finest game
when something big Is at stake; and
Johnston was known to be i'll at the
time of his match with Richards.
Time and time again these. two meN
have beaten Richards love sets and
demonstrated beyond all doubt that
they are in class above him.
After watching Richards play sew
eral times recently, [ have come to
the conclusion that he at last recog-
driving game and improving his serv
ice. For the first time since I have
known him, have seen him alone oS
the court practicing these strokes
Richards is not strong physically.
but neither were Johnston and Tilden
a few years ago. i
If Richards will build up his stam-
ina, as these two men have done, and
apply himself 'conscientiously to de-
veloping his ground strokes and sery-
ice. he would then be the logical sue
cessor of Tilden and Johnston II he
fails to do this. ] believe that some
other young player OF promise, such
as Arnold Jones, the American junior
champion. will soon outrank him.
believe that Vincent Richards has IL
in him to become one OF the worlds
great players, If he will only develop
his game. His future Is in his oNh
hands.
Copyright, 1923, The Metzger Newspaper
Servicel