Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-05-20

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When people see Johnston for
prise that man with his physical
achieve such distinction in tennis.
arm that propels his famous speedy
boys.
Then, too, he has none of the cock
7ureness of proved champion. His
air off the court is almost timid.
utterly lacking in assertiveness. and
Eis quite unobtrusive manner in no
way suggests the qualities that one
.ooks for in a champion. This, how
ever, is the Johnston one sees off the
court. Once in his tennis toys, his
beloved racket in his hand, a meta
morphosis takes place.
When he steps on the court his
shyness and diftidence give way TO an
air Of quiet confidence. He Is alert,
Of his face and body have quickened.
Then, one sees that. small and slight
though he may be, every ounce of him
is hard, wiry muscle.
Always Eager for Battle.
always love to see Johnston come
on the court when he knows that he
has a fight on his hands. He is so
viously ready and eager for anything
that may come.
Johnston's early training was in a.
hard school. AS a boy, his remark
able talent for the game was observed
by the officials of the California Ten
mis- Association, and he was soon
given opportunity to compete against
the finest players on the Pacific coast.
Only a few years younger than Nc
Loughlin and Melville Long, the Ma
Australia, he had the benefit of fire.
quent matches with them, and with
other notable players such as Muir
ray. who later became American
champion.
From the first. Johnston was noted
for his backcourt game. This was
remarkable when one considers that
at this time in California, there was
an almost universal insistence upon
specializing in the Mclaughlin type
the voiley-at the expense of base
line strokes. This persistence In car
rying out his own idea of play. in
spite of the worldwide success of
determined spirit that has always
characterized Johnston's play.
l remember very well how much
discussion there was at that time in
California about Johnston's apparent
disregard of the new California game.
Mclaughlin was worshiped as the
exponent of a new and successful
school of play, and here was a young
ster and a Californian who dared to
cultivate ground strokes when all
net Even then, however. he was able
on a number OF occasions to force
Mclaughlin to five-set matches, and
though there was some grumbling
over his style, 1t was realized that he
was steadily forging ahead. and he
was looked upon as the logical sue
cessor to Mclaughlin and Long.
Backhand Once Was Weak.
During this period of Johnston's de-
velopment, his backhand was prin-
cipally a defensive stroke. 1t was
not until years later-four years ago.
to be exact-that he began to mold
this stroke into the potent. agrees
day. While Johnston continued to
strengthen his baseline game, 1t is
not to be imagined that he neglected
his net game. Volleying always came
work was invariably sound, though
never as brilliant as McLoughlin's.
But his short stature and limited
reach made Johnston fearful of play
ing close to the net, as he knew that
good lobbing would go over hiS head.
He. therefore, chose to volley just
little above the service line. q posi-
ton from which II is easier to reach
an attempted passing shot, but from
which kill is infinitely more difficult
ston makes his first volley from the
service line, only closing I'm TO the
net If his shot has made such an adj
vance advisable.
1 consider him the finest volleyer
in the world from this position. He
as is Vincent Richards, nor is his
agility at the net as remark
able. but he is far more decisive in
killing moderately high balls. both
forehand and backhand. His service
never has been powerful. but his sec
q a a
the first. Unlike Tilden, he has but
one type of service-a sliced ball
without the break of the American
twist service. This is delivered not
of his body. IT is struck fairly low
and consequently. always has good
length.
The chief reason why Johnston was
able to hold his own with McLough-
lin at the time McLoughlin"s service
was considered invincible was be-
cause he stood in and took the ball
on the rise, returning ii before Nc
Ioughlin had attained his usual VOL
leying position close to the net.
Times Rising Ball Best.
The remarkable speed of Johnston's
drive and the cause of its potency is
the wonderful thing of this shot. His
ability to meet the ball with full
force soon after it has risen from
the ground requires an almost I'M
canny sense of timing, and Johnston
has cultivated this natural ability by
years of practicing against CALI
fornia's best servers; and Californians
are; as class, the strongest servers
in the world.
Johnston's grip for the forehand
drive Is almost that of a reverse
service, a grip that is very popular
in California. He. however. finishes
the stroke with q complete follow
through motion that, naturally, i'm
parts great speed to the ball, while
most players who have this western
grip finish with the elbow crooked,
and this imparts so much top-spin.
which increases the margin of safety.
that speed is sacrificed. There is a
certain fearlessness about the man
ner in which Johnston makes his
drive that appeals to an audience. II
is not only the speed of his return
but the suddenness Of 1t, made posi-
Bile by his wonderful timing of ris-
ing ball.
Johnston today plays the most
popular and modern type of tennis
a combined baseline and net game
Now that he has so strengthened his
backhand. he has not single weak
out of position or on the wrong foot
his resourcefulness is almost equal
to that of Tilden. He is very good
ut handling difficult backhand half
volleys at his feet and keeping then,
low--an important point--and he can
lob high and deep from the corners
when pressed. His lack of height and
reach are a real disadvantage to him
except at certain times. In volley-
ing, IL the ball be we'll within reach
his low stature Is an advantage, since
1t enables him to look directly at the
ball instead of down on IL.
Usually Good Volieyers.
Short people usually are better