the art of lawn tennis(网球的艺术)-第18章
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No one can deny the great help Australia has been to New Zealand in
tennis development； but the time has come now for New Zealand to stand
on her own。 Since the regrettable death of Anthony F。 Wilding； in whose
memory New Zealand has a tennis asset and standard that will always hold
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a place in world sport； the New Zealand tennis players have been unable to
produce a player of skill enough to make the Davis Cup team of
Australasia。 It has fallen to Australia with Norman E。 Brookes； to whose
unfailing support and interest Australasian tennis owes its progress since
the war； G。 L。 Patterson； W。 H。 Anderson； R。 L。 Heath； and Pat O'Hara
Wood to uphold the traditions of the game。
The Davis Cup challenge round of 1921 was staged in New Zealand in
accord with the agreement between Australia and New Zealand and also in
memory of A。 F。 Wilding。 The tremendous interest in the play throughout
the entire country showed the time was ripe for a drastic step forward if
the step was ever to be taken。 So after careful consideration the split of
Australia and New Zealand has taken place。 What will this mean to New
Zealand？ First it means that it will be years before another Davis Cup
match will be staged on her shores； for it takes time and plenty of it to
produce a winning team； but at the time； the fact is borne in on the tennis
playing faction in New Zealand that as soon as they desire to challenge；
their players will gain the opportunity of International competition。
Experience matures players faster than anything else and I am sure that
the move that will place a team of New Zealand players in the field in the
Davis Cup will be the first and biggest step forward to real world power in
tennis。 New Zealand produced one Wilding； why should not another
appear？
I was tremendously impressed by the interest existing among the New
Zealand boys in tennis。 I met a great number during my few weeks in
Auckland and seldom have seen such a magnificent physical type coupled
with mental keenness。 These boys； given the opportunity to play under
adequate supervision and coaching； should produce tennis players of the
highest class。
The New Zealand association has made a drastic move。 I hope they
have the wisdom to see far enough ahead to provide plenty of play for
their young players and if possible to obtain adequate coaches in the clubs
and schools。
Frankly I see no players of Davis Cup calibre now in New Zealand。 I
did see many boys whom I felt if given the chance would become Davis
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Cup material。
The break with New Zealand will have no effect on Australia； except
to relieve a slight friction that has existed。 Australia has plenty of material
coming to insure a succession of fine teams for the Davis Cup in the
future。
Both Australia and New Zealand handle their tennis in the country in a
most efficient manner and the game seems to me to be progressing in a
natural and healthy manner。 The next ten years will decide the fate of New
Zealand tennis。 If they organise a systematic development of their boys I
feel convinced they will gain a place of equality with Australia。 If they do
not seize their opening now； tennis will not revive until some genius of the
game such as Norman E。 Brookes arises in their midst from only the Lord
knows where。
The future should see America and Australia fighting for supremacy in
the tennis world； with England and France close on their heels； to jump in
the lead at the first faltering。
It is only a matter of time before the last differences between the
International Federation and the America Association are patched up。 The
fundamental desires of each； to spread the growth of tennis； are the same。
Sooner or later the bar will fall； and a truly International Federation；
worldwide in scope； will follow。
I look to see the Davis Cup matches gain in importance and public
interest as each year goes by。 The growth of the public interest in the game
is seen at every hand。 Wimbledon must seek new quarters。 The new
grounds of the All England Club will provide accommodation for 20；000
to witness the championships。 This enormous stadium is the result of
public pressure； owing to the crowds that could not be accommodated at
the old grounds。
Westside Club； Forest Hills； where the American Championship was
held； is planning accommodation for 25；000； provided that they are
awarded the championship for a long term of years。 Davis Cup matches
are now drawing from 10；000 to 15；000 where the accommodation is
available。 What will the future hold？
I believe that 1950 will find the game of tennis on a plane undreamed
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of to…day。 Tennis is still in its infancy。 May I have the pleasure to help in
rocking the cradle。
My task is completed。 I have delved into the past； analysed the present；
and prophesied the future； with a complete disregard of conventions and
traditions。
The old order changeth； and I trust that my book may aid slightly in
turning the tennis thought in the direction of organized developments。 The
day of self is past。 The day of co…operation is dawning。 It is seen in the
junior tennis； the municipal tennis； and the spirit of international
brotherhood in the game。
Assistance is necessary to success in any venture。 My book has been
made possible only by the aid afforded me by several of my companions
on the Davis Cup team trip。 The task of arranging the material in coherent
order and proper style is one of the most important points。 I owe a debt of
gratitude to Mrs。 Samuel Hardy； wife of our captain； for her never…failing
interest and keen judgment in the matter of style。
Mr。 Hardy； with his great knowledge of the game of tennis； as player；
official； and organizer； freely gave of his store of experience； and to him I
owe much that is interesting in the tactics of the game。
R。 N。 Williams； my team…mate； was always a willing critic and
generous listener； and his playing abilities and decided ideas on the game
gave much material that found its way into these pages。 I wish to express
my gratitude for his able assistance。
Charles S。 Garland； my doubles partner and close friend； gave never…
wavering faith and a willing ear to my ravings over strokes； tactics； and
theories； while his orthodox views on tennis acted as a stop on my rather
Bolshevik ideas。
To all these people I express my thanks for their part in any success I
may attain with this book。 I have a firm belief in the future of tennis。 I
recommend it to all。 It gives firm friends； a healthy body； a keen mind； and
a clean sport。 It calls forth the best that is in you； and repays you in its own
coin。
THE 1921 SEASON
The season of 1921 was the most remarkable year in tennis history
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throughout the whole world。 More tennis was played and more people
viewed it than ever before。
The climax of famous Davis Cup competition was reached when
England； France； Japan； Australia； the Philippines； Denmark； Belgium；
Argentine； Spain； India； Canada and Czecho…Slovakia challenged for the
right to play America； the holding nation。 This wonderful representation
naturally produced not only many new stars； but also thousands of new
enthusiasts in the various countries where the matches were played。
The early rounds saw several brilliant matches and naturally some
defaults。 Argentine and the Philippines could not put a team in the field at
the last moment。 Belgium； after defeating Czecho…Slovakia； was unable to
finance her team to America to meet the winner of England and
Australasia。
England scored a fine victory over Spain when Randolph Lycett； F。
Gordon Lowe and Max E。 Woosnam defeated Manuel Alonzo and Count
de Gomar in a close meeting。 Notwithstanding his defeat by Lycett；
Manuel Alonzo proved himself one of the great players of the world and
one of the most attractive personalities in tennis。
India sprang a sensation by defeating France in their match in Paris。
Sleen； Jacob and Deane showed great promise for the future。 France was
crippled owing to the loss of A。 H。 Gobert and William Laurentz； the
former through a seriously sprained ankle sustained in the World's
Championship at Wimbledon； and the latter through illness。 Samazieuhl；
the new French champion； and Brugnon could not cope with the steadiness
of the Indian stars and the team from the Orient won 3 matches to 2。
Meanwhile the Australian team of J。 O。 Anderson； J。 B。 Hawkes； C。 V。
Todd and Norman Peach had arrived in America and journeyed to Canada；
where they swamped their Colonial cousins easily。 Norman E。 Brookes；
Gerald L。 Patterson and Pat O'Hara Wood were unable to accompany the
team； so the greatest contender for the title was weakened appreciably。
The Australians decisively defeated the Danish team of Tegner and
Van Ingersley at Cleveland； winning with ease。 They proceeded to
Pittsburgh to await the arrival of the English players。 England sent her
invading team； unfortunately without the services of Col。 A。 R。 F。
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Kingscote and Randolph Lycett； who were unable to go owing to business
affairs。 J。 C。 Parke； her famous international star； was also out
