Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-19


cess it is that love it better than
However, there are many other
factors of success in tennis that
must not be overlooked There is, first OF all,
natural aptitude. 1t is obvious that you cannot
hope to become proficient in game without
this to start off with!
But another thing that is indispensable Is
practice, and practice moreover against as many
different opponents poSSible-and the more
there are the better. Practicing machines like
LacoSte's, or an Australian, one that I know OF
that sends you back your ball at every possible
angle are all very well in their way, but nothing
is as good as some one the other side Of the
net. It is also far more entertaining, which Is
important, as to get bored in practice Is fatal.
A MOTHER essential is to have plenty Of good
n racketS at your disposal, for it never does
to depend on one only. A good player must
be prepared to play with any racket and must
not be put of by the fact that for some reason
or other he cannot use his favorite one Last
year took over 26 rackets with me to Europe,
and don't consider that had one too many.
Further you must develop an all-round game;
that, in my opinion, is Of supreme Importance,
as any outstanding weakness exposes you to
attack in this quarter the moment it is dis
covered. And even if you are very brilliant.
say, at the net, and weak with backhands, just
concentrate on your backhands until they are
strong.
A good way to do that in addition to practice
is to use the Lenglen grip; that is, by using
the thumb as brace against the handle OF
the racket In any case, never quite see why
backhands should be any more difficult than
any other.
OF course some people hold that physical
culture is also necessary. but don't see why.
AS far as am concerned, get all the physical
culture 1 want playing the game!
Generally speaking, / consider that the
standard Of tennis is improving, though, OF
course I am hardly old enough to be able to
compare the modern game with that which was
played, for instance by the Dohertys and Cores
of the last generation, but rather think that
o man like Lacoste would beat any of them.
Since 1 have been playing find wonderful
improvement in the standard of the game,
especially among women who are now playing
a much faster game. However, I must &C
knowledge that where my sex Is concerned
Suzanne Lenglen is unique and still stands out
head and shoulders above any one else. ought
to know, for have played against her.
DUT in spite of the steady progress we are
- making we cannot hope to compete with men
on equal terms, and generally speaking, you
will find that the best man players will always
beat the best women. I play with men all the
time in California and sometimes beat them,
but just as often they beat me, and if do
succeed in beating Y1od man players they are
not first rankers-simply good club players or
the best in their own States.
OF course where men beat US is in their
stamina and also in the speed and strength Of
their game, and in these respects cannot see
that we can ever hope to rival them.
Where men are concerned Frenchmen hold
the field, and as long Cochet and Borotra
represent France and keep up their present
high standard of play, there is little hope of
any other country winning the laurels from
them. They are so desperately keen on the
game, and also particularly fitted for it by
reason of their sparkling quicknesS and alert
ness Of brain. They invariably think quicker
than our men and, in my opinion, quickness
Of thought is the first essential of the cham
pion.
However, we have any amount of promising
young players in America, and in this respect
I think we are perhaps better of than France,
though am afraid that Cochet and Borotra-
and Lacoste II he were stin on the field which
I understand Is not the case-win continue 10
beat our best for several years to come.
AS far as women are concerned, the position
is different, and though the French have IN
Mime. Matthew . very sound first-class player.