Evening star., 1924-06-29

NOT one OF these four players, with
me me exception OF Shimizu, has meas
Matched against American players.
with their speed of stroke and mas
terry of net play, the Japanese net
men nave been at a big DISADVANTAGE
" VIII tneir Dack court game, nearned
IN tnelr native land. where they had no
opportunity to meet players, who could
furnish them with opposition necessary
to develop their play
Snlmlzu, after starting off badly
IN IN Isl and losing two matches to
oped INTO a star of the first magni-
tude; His match with Tilden in the
challenge round at Forest Hills. in
Wnlch he was within two points of
aeieatlns the American champion.
VIII be remembered as one of the
most sensational in'the history of the
cassie The outstanding character
istics OF the Japanese's play were his
uncanny steadiness and his ability to
see oack the most Impossible shots.
since that match Shimizu has de-
Veloped something of net attack.
put ne has never since played as we'll
ana his work during the last two sea
sons has been distinctly inferior. ow-
ing partly to enforced absence from
the court for long periods for various
reasons. There are a number of pIav-
ers not ranked in the first ten who
have beaten Shimizu.
knshio Has Improved,
Kashio never has played tennis of a
callber to compare with the game of
the ranking stars of this country
with the exception of his showing
against Richards at Southampton in
Iszz In that match he pressed the
present national indoor champion
closely, playing beautiful tennis
kashio has been playing improved
tennis this year over what he showed
IN 1928, and has developed a net at
tack that compares favorably with
leading players of the country. He
seems to have modelled his game
closer upon the American style than
mas any of the other three. al
though Fukuda surprised on his ar
rival here with his ability in holding
the short-court position. Kashio's de-
1eat by Jerry Lang in the Brooklyn
championship is indicative of his no
sitlon in American tennis.
soEus, Euguda, hailed lassf year as player
style of play, showed a well rounded
game, but has never made any head
way against the high-ranking pIay-
ers. Harada was beaten by Allen
6ehr, player without ranking. in
one of his first appearances in the
east 1t is too early to pass iudge
ment upon him, but from what he has
shown IL is not likely that he will
succeed Okamoto is another Jap
aheSe player who is to come to this
matches to play for Japan in the
Davis cup ties. The reports have |
been highly enthusiastic of Okamoto's |
play in India, where he has gained !
se'eral important titles. 1t remains
to be seen whether Okamoto will do
as well against European competi-
tion. u
Who will be the next Japanese
prayer TO enter the spotlight? viii
ne De sent here from Japan or will he
players now in this countryo In viau,
OF the fact that those from the home
lana nave failed to measure up to the
standard of play in this country. il
may De that Capt. Shimizu will look
Tor new talent among the playere nov
living in the United States. II is nos.
slDle that a player learning the game
IN THIS country, with the opportnnity
TO gain sound training in the Amer
lcan style and unlimited competition.
wIuIo go further than would one de- |
Veloped in Japan, where the back |
court game is the prevailing one and
there are few players of ability TO /
practice with.
Onda May Be Star.
Ihe showing of S. Onda, a Japanese |
who is well known to New YORK |
courts. against Jerry Lang. in the |
metropolitan clay court championship |
as compared with that of Kashio |
a against Lang in the Brooklyn cham |
pionship, makes pertinent the inquiry /
OF where Japan's next Davis Gun |
prayer is TO come from. Onda gave |
Lang more of a battle than did Ka- |
,hio, member OF the Davis cup team. |
he took the first set from the CO. |
lumbian and was always a dangerous
opponent. Lang took the first two |
sets from kashio, and had rain NOT |
ntervened, might have won the match |
IN three straight sets. AS it was, he
won In three out of four, and at no |
time was in any danger
IL is to be admitted that Lang was
not in as good form and condition /
against Onda as he was against Ka-
shlo; nevertheless the playing of |
onda was impressive. At present the
japanese player is entirely a back
'ourt performer. but he has developed
lis game to a point where he is as
steady as a rock. and, like Shimizu
md kashio, makes gets that defy
Against Lang the Jap
lnese got back so many shots that
Utmost any other player would have