the art of lawn tennis(网球的艺术)-第31章
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M'Loughlin and Wilding； have been。 Yet Brookes always held a gallery
enthralled； not only by the sheer wizardry of his play； but by the power of
his magnetic force。
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Maurice E。 M'Loughlin is the most remarkable example of a
wonderful dynamic personality； literally carrying a public off its feet。
America and England fell before the dazzling smile and vibrant force of
the red…haired Californian。 His whole game glittered in its radiance。 His
was a triumph of a popular hero。
Anthony F。 Wilding； quiet； charming； and magnetic； carried his public
away with him by his dynamic game。 It was not the whirlwind flash of the
Comet M'Loughlin that swept crowds off their feet； it was more the power
of repression that compelled。
I know no other tennis players that sweep their public away with them
to quite the same degree as these three men I have mentioned。 R。 L。
Murray has much of M'Loughlin's fire； but not the spontaneity that won
the hearts of the crowd。 Tennis needs big personalities to give the public
that glow of personal interest that helps to keep the game alive。 A great
personality is the property of the public。 It is the price he must pay for his
gift。
It is the personal equation； the star； who appeals to the public's
imagination。
I do not think it is the star who keeps the game alive。 It is that great
class of players who play at clubs the world over； who can never rise
above the dead level of mediocrity； the mass of tennis enthusiasts who
play with dead racquets and old balls； and who attend all big events to
witness the giants of the court； in short； 〃The Dubs〃 （with a capital D）；
who make tennis what it is； and to whom tennis owes its life； since they
are its support and out from them have come our champions。
Champions are not born。 They are made。 They emerge from a long；
hard school of defeat； dis… encouragement； and mediocrity； not because
they are born tennis players； but because they are endowed with a force
that transcends discouragement and cries 〃I will succeed。〃
There must be something that carries them up from the mass。 It is that
something which appeals in some form to the public。 The public may like
it； or they may dislike it； but they recognize it。 It may be personality；
dogged determination； or sheer genius of tennis； for all three succeed； but
be it what it may； it brings out a famous player。 The quality that turns out a
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great player； individualizes his game so that it bears a mark peculiar to
himself。 I hope to be able to call to mind the outstanding qualities of some
of the leading tennis players of the world。
Where to start； in a field so great； representing as it does America； the
British Isles； Australia； France； Japan； South Africa； Rumania； Holland；
and Greece； is not an easy task； but it is with a sense of pride and a
knowledge that there is no game better fitted to end this section of my
book； and no man more worthy to lead the great players of the world； that
I turn to William M。 Johnston； the champion of the United States of
America； and my team…mate in the Davis Cup team of 1920。
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CHAPTER XII。 AMERICA
WILLIAM M。 JOHNSTON
The American champion is one of the really great orthodox players in
the world。 There is nothing eccentric； nothing freakish about his game。
Johnston is a small man； short and light； but by perfect weight…control；
footwork； and timing he hits with terrific speed。
His service is a slice。 Hit from the top of his reach Johnston gets power
and twist on the ball with little effort。 He has a wonderful forehand drive；
of a top…spin variety。 This shot is world famous； for never in the history of
the game has so small a man hit with such terrific speed and accuracy。 The
racquet travels flat and then over the ball； with a peculiar wrist…snap just as
the ball meets the racquet face。 The shot travels deep and fast to the
baseline。
Johnston's backhand is a decided 〃drag〃 or chop。 He hits it with the
same face of the racquet as his forehand； and with very little change in
grip。 It is remarkably steady and accurate； and allows Johnston to follow
to the net behind it。
Johnston's volleying is hard； deep； and usually very reliable。 He
crouches behind his racquet and volleys directly in to the flight of the ball；
hitting down。 His low volleys are made with a peculiar wrist…flick that
gives the rise and speed。 His overhead is accurate； reliable； but not
startling in its power。 Johnston's game has no real weakness； while his
forehand and volleying are superlative。
Johnston is a remarkable match player。 He reaches his greatest game
when behind。 He is one of the hardest men to beat in the game owing to
his utter lack of fear and the dogged determination with which he hangs on
when seemingly beaten。 He is quiet； modest； and a sterling sportsman。 He
gets a maximum result with a minimum effort。
R。 N。 WILLIAMS
R。 N。 Williams； American Champion 1914 and 1916； another of my
Davis Cup team…mates； is a unique personality in the tennis world。
Personally； I believe that Williams at his best is the greatest tennis player
in the world； past or present。 Unfortunately； that best is seldom seen； and
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then not for a consistent performance。 He is always dangerous； and his
range of variation is the greatest among any of the leading players。
Williams' service is generally a fast slice； although he at times uses an
American twist。 He is erratic in his delivery； scoring many aces； but piling
up enormous numbers of double…faults。 His ground strokes are made off
the rising bound of the ball。 They are flat or slightly sliced。 Never topped；
But sometimes pulled。 Williams' margin of safety is so small that unless
his shot is perfectly hit it is useless。 He hits hard at all times and makes
tremendous numbers of earned points； yet his errors always exceed them；
except when he strikes one of his 〃super〃 days。
His volleying is very hard； crisp； and decisive； coupled with an
occasional stop volley。 His use of the half volley is unequalled in modern
tennis。 His overhead is severe and ordinarily reliable； although he will take
serious slumps overhead。 He is a past master of his own style strokes； but
it is an unorthodox game that should not be copied by the average player。
He is never willing to alter his game for safety's sake； and defeats
himself in sheer defiance by hitting throughout a match when his strokes
are not working。 He is greatly praised for this unwillingness to alter his
game in defeat。 Personally； I think he deserves condemnation rather t
