the art of lawn tennis(网球的艺术)-第17章
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of public courts in the parks and the municipal play grounds in America
has been a big factor in the spread of the game's popularity。 Formerly a
man or boy had to belong to a club in order to have an opportunity to play
tennis。 Now all he needs is a racquet and balls； and he may play on a
public court in his own city。 This movement will spread； not only in
America but throughout the world。 England and France have some public
courts； but their systems are not quite as well organized as the American。
The branch of tennis which England and France foster； and in which
America is woefully lax； is the indoor game。 Unfortunately the majority of
the courts abroad have wood surfaces； true but lightning fast。 The perfect
indoor court should retain its true bound； but slow up the skid of the ball。
The most successful surface I have ever played upon is battleship
linoleumthe heavy covering used on men…of…war。 This gives a true；
slightly retarded bound； not unlike a very fast grass court。
Indoor play in America is sadly crippled by reason of no adequate
facilities for play。 The so…called National Indoor Championship is held at
the Seventh Regiment Armoury in New York City on a wood floor； with
such frightful lighting that it is impossible to play real tennis。 The two
covered courts at Longwood Club； Boston； are very fine； well lighted；
with plenty of space。 There is a magnificent court at Providence； and
another at Buffalo。 Utica boasts of another； while there are several fine
courts； privately owned； on Long Island。 New York City uses the big
armouries for indoor play； but the surface and light in these are not fit for
real tennis。 The Brooklyn Heights Casino has the only adequate court in
the Metropolitan district。
Philadelphia and Chicago； cities of enormous populations and great
tennis interest； have no courts or facilities for indoor play。 This condition
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must be rectified in America if we wish to keep our supremacy in the
tennis world。 The French players are remarkable on wood。 Gobert is said
to be the superior of any player in the world； when playing under good
conditions indoors。 The game of tennis is worthy of having all types of
play within reach of its devotees。 Why should a player drop his sport in
October because the weather is cold？ Indoor play during the winter means
an improvement from season to season。 Lack of it is practically stagnation
or retrogression。
The future will see a growth of hard…court play the world over。 Grass
must fight to hold its position。 Indoor play will come more and more into
vogue。
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CHAPTER XI。 THE PROBABLE FUTURE OF
THE GAME
What will be the outcome of the world…wide boom in tennis？ Will the
game change materially in the coming years？ Time； alone； can answer； but
with that rashness that seizes one when the opportunity to prophesy arrives
and no one is at hand to cry 〃Hold； hold；〃 I dare to submit my views on
the coming years in international tennis。
I do not look to see a material change in the playing rules。 A revival of
the footfault fiend； who desires to handicap the server； is international in
character and； like the poor； 〃always with us。〃 The International
Federation has practically adopted a footfault rule for 1921 that prohibits
the server lifting one foot unless replaced behind the baseline。 It is
believed this will do away with the terrific services。 The only effect I can
see from it is to move the server back a few inches； or possibly a foot；
while he delivers the same service and follows in with a little more speed
of foot。 It will not change the game at all。 Sir Oliver Lodge； the eminent
scientist； has joined the advocates of but one service per point。 This seems
so radical and in all so useless； since it entirely kills service as other than a
mere formality； and puts it back where it was twenty…five years ago； that I
doubt if even the weight of Sir Oliver Lodge's eminent opinion can put it
over。 To allow one service is to hand the game more fully into the
receiver's hands than it now rests in the server's。
The playing rules are adequate in every way； and the perfect accord
with which representatives of the various countries meet and play； happily；
successfully； and what is more important； annually； is sufficient
endorsement of the fundamental principles。 The few slight variations of
the different countries are easily learned and work no hardships on visiting
players。 Why change a known successful quantity for an unknown？ It
seldom pays。
The style of play is now approaching a type which I believe will prove
to have a long life。 To…day we are beginning to combine the various styles
in one man。 The champion of the future will necessarily need more
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equipment than the champion of to…day。 The present shows us the
forehand driving of Johnston； the service of Murray； the volleying of
Richards； the chop of Wallace F。 Johnson； the smash of Patterson； the half
volley of Williams； and the back hand of Pell。 The future will find the
greatest players combining much of these games。 It can be done if the
player will study。 I believe that every leading player in the world in 1950
will have a drive and a chop； fore… and backhand from the baseline。 He
will use at least two styles of service； since one will not suffice against the
stroke of that period。 He will be a volleyer who can safely advance to the
net； yet his attack will be based on a ground game。 He must smash well。 In
short； I believe that the key to future tennis success lies in variety of stroke。
The day of the one…stroke player is passing。 Each year sees the versatile
game striding forward by leaps and bounds。
The future champion of the world must be a man of keen intellect；
since psychology is assuming the importance that is its due。 He must train
earnestly； carefully； and consistently。 The day of playing successful tennis
and staying up till daybreak is over。 The game is too fast and too severe
for that。 As competition increases the price of success goes up； but its
worth increases in a greater ratio； for the man who triumphs in the World's
Championship in 1950 will survive a field of stars beyond our wildest
dreams in 1920。
What of the various countries？ America should retain her place at or
near the top； for the boys we are now developing should not only make
great players themselves； but should carry on the work of training the
coming generations。
England has but to interest her youth in the game to hold her place
with the leaders。 I believe it will be done。 I look to see great advances
made in tennis among the boys in England in the next few years。 I believe
the game will change to conform more to the modern net attack。 England
will never be the advanced tennis…playing country that her colonies are； for
her whole atmosphere is one of conservatism in sport。 Still her game will
change。 Already a slight modification is at work。 The next decade will see
a big change coming over the style of English tennis。 The wonderful
sporting abilities of the Englishman； his ability to produce his best when
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seemingly down and out mean that； no matter how low the ebb to which
tennis might fall； the inherent abilities of the English athlete would always
bring it up。 I sound pessimistic about the immediate future。 I am not；
provided English boyhood is interested in the game。
Japan is the country of the future。 There is no more remarkable race of
students on the globe than the Japanese。 They like tennis； and are coming
with increasing numbers to our tournaments。 They prove themselves
sterling sportsmen and remarkable players。 I look to see Japan a power in
tennis in the next twenty…five years。
France； with her brilliant temperamental unstable people； will always
provide interesting players and charming opponents。 I do not look to see
France materially change her present positionwhich is one of extreme
honour； of great friendliness； and keen competition。 Her game will not
greatly rise； nor will she lose in any way the prestige that is hers。
It will be many long years before the players of those enemy countries；
who plunged the world into the horrible baptism of blood from which we
have only just emerged； will ever be met by the players of the Allies。
Personally； I trust I may not see their re…entry into the game。 Not from the
question of the individuals； but from the feeling which will not down。
There is no need to deal at this time with the future of Germany and
Austria。
Australasia and South Africa； the great colonies of the British Empire；
should be on the edge of a great tennis wave。 I look to see great players
rise in Australasia to refill the gaps left by the passing of Wilding and the
retirement of Brookes。 It takes great players to fill such gaps； but great
players are bred from the traditions of the former masters。
The early season of 1921 saw a significant and to my way of looking
at it； wise move on the part of New Zealand when the New Zealand tennis
association withdrew from the Australasian tennis association and decided
to compete for the Davis Cup in future years as a separate nation。
No one can deny the great help Australia has been to New Zealand in
tennis dev
