the art of lawn tennis(网球的艺术)-第25章
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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 of the game；
having retired from active competition last year。 The English team was
made up of Gordon Lowe； Max Woosnam； J。 C。 Gilbert and O。 E。 H。
Turnbull。 They were accompanied by that delightful author and critic A。
Wallis Meyers。
The English met the Australians at Pittsburgh in July。 The latter won
three matches to two with J。 O。 Anderson； the outstanding figure of a well
played meeting。 The tall Australian defeated both Lowe and Woosnam in
the singles and aided in the doubles victory； thus scoring all the points for
his team。
Meanwhile the Indian team had arrived in America and proceeded to
Chicago； where they met the Japanese team of Kumagae and Shimidzu。
The battle of the Orient resulted in a victory for the Nipponese。
The final round found Australia playing Japan in the famous old tennis
center of Newport； R。 I。； where the National Singles so long held sway。 It
was a bitter struggle； with the Australians within two little points of
victory in two matches they afterwards lost。 Shimidzu and Kumagae took
all the singles； but Kumagae was two sets down to Hawkes and one to two
down to Anderson。 Thus Japan in its first year in Davis Cup competition
earned the right to challenge America for the treasured trophy。
It was a marvellous meeting of these two teams。 Over 40；000 people
watched the players in three days。 Although America won all five matches；
Shimidzu came within two points of defeating me in straight sets and
carried Johnston to a bitter four set struggle。
The Cup is safe for another year but the new blood infused into the
competition by such men as Shimidzu； Alonzo； Woosnam； Anderson and
Hawkes shows clearly that America must keep working or we will fall
from our present position。 It is a healthy thing f
