the art of lawn tennis(网球的艺术)-第32章
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are not working。 He is greatly praised for this unwillingness to alter his
game in defeat。 Personally； I think he deserves condemnation rather than
praise； for it seems recklessness rather than bravery to thus seek defeat
that could easily be avoided。
Williams takes tennis almost too lightly。 Cheery； modest； and easy…
going； he is very popular with all galleries； as his personality deserves。 He
is a brilliant ever…interesting light in any tennis gathering； and his game
will always show sheer genius of execution even while rousing irritation
by his refusal to play safe。 He would rather have one super…great day and
bad defeats； than no bad defeats without his day of greatness。 Who shall
say he is not right？ We may not now agree； but Williams may yet prove to
us he is right and we are wrong。
CHARLES S。 GARLAND
The last member of the Davis Cup team and youngest player of the
Americans is Charles S。 Garland； the Yale star。
Garland is the perfect stylist； the orthodox model for ground strokes。
He is an example of what stroke perfection can do。
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He uses a soft slice service； of no particular peculiarity； yet places it so
well that he turns it into an attack。 His forehand is hit with a full swing；
flat racquet face； and a slight top spin。 It is deadly accurate and of
moderate speed。 He can put the ball at will anywhere in the court off his
forehand。 His backhand is slightly sliced down the line and pulled flat
across the court。 It is not a point winner but is an excellent defence。 His
overhead is steady； reliable； and accurate； but lacks aggressiveness。 His
high volleying is fine； deep； and fast。 His low volleying is weak and
uncertain。 He anticipates wonderfully； and covers a tremendous amount of
court。 His attack is rather obvious in that he seldom plays the unusual shot；
yet his accuracy is so great that he frequently beats a man who guesses his
shot yet can't reach it。
N。 E。 Brookes stated he considered Garland one of the greatest
ground…stroke players in the world。 This is true of his forehand； but his
backhand lacks punch。 His whole game needs speed and aggressiveness。
He is quiet； modest； and extremely popular。 His perfect court manner
and pleasant smile have made Garland a universal favourite in America
and England。 His game is the result of hard； conscientious work。 There is
no genius about it； and little natural talent。 It is not an interesting game as
it lacks brilliancy； yet it is very sound； and much better than it looks。
VINCENT RICHARDS
Vincent Richards； National junior Champion of America and the most
remarkable boy playing tennis； is a distinct personality。 Richards； who is
now only seventeen； won the Men's Doubles Championship of America at
the age of fifteen。 Richards is a born tennis player and a great tennis
genius。
Richards' service is a fast slice that he follows to the net。 It is speedy
and very accurate。 His ground strokes are both slice and drive； although
the basis of his game is slice。 He meets the ball on the rise and 〃spoons〃 it
off his forehand。 It is low； fast； but none too sure。 His backhand shot is a
fast twisting slice that is remarkably effective and very excellent as a
defence。 He is learning a flat drive。
His volleying is the great feature of his game。 He is the greatest natural
volleyer I have ever seen。 Low and high volleying； fore… and backhand is
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perfect in execution。 His half volleying is phenomenal。 His overhead is
very severe for a boy； and carries great speed for so small a person； but it
is inclined to be slightly erratic。 He is tremendously fast on his feet； but it
inclined to be lazy。
Vincent Richards has the greatest natural aptitude and equipment of
any tennis player I have ever seen。 Against it he has a temperament that is
inclined to carelessness and laziness。 He tends to sulkiness； which he is
rapidly outgrowing。 He is a delightful personality on the court； with his
slight figure； tremendous speed； and merry smile。 He is a second 〃Gus〃
Touchard in looks and style。 I hope to see him develop to be the greatest
player the world has ever seen。 He gives that promise。 The matter rests in
Richards' hands； as his worst enemy is his temperament。
At his best he is to…day the equal of the top flight in the world。 At his
worst he is a child。 His average is fine but not great。 Travel； work； sincere
effort； and a few years； should turn this astonishing boy into a marvellous
player。
R。 L。 MURRAY
The new 〃California Comet；〃 successor to M。 E。 M'Loughlin； is the
usual sobriquet for R。 L。 Murray； now of Buffalo。 Murray won the
National Crown in 1917…1918。
His service is of the same cyclonic character as M'Loughlin。 Murray is
left…handed。 He hits a fast cannon…ball delivery of great speed and an
American twist of extreme twist。 His ground strokes are not good； and he
rushes the net at every opportunity。 His forehand drive is very fast；
excessively topped； and exceedingly erratic。 His backhand is a 〃poke。〃 His
footwork is very poor on both shots。 He volleys very well； shooting deep
to the baseline and very accurately。 His shoulder…high volleys are
marvellous。 His overhead is remarkable for its severity and accuracy。 He
seldom misses an overhead ball。
Murray is a terrifically hard worker； and tires himself out very rapidly
by prodigious effort。 He is a hard fighter and a hard man to beat。 He works
at an enormous pace throughout the match。
He is large； spare； rangy； with dynamic energy； and a wonderful
personality that holds the gallery。 His smile is famous； while his sense of
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humour never deserts him。 A sportsman to his finger…tips； there is no more
popular figure in American tennis than Murray。 His is not a great game。 It
is a case of a great athlete making a second…class game first class； by sheer
power of personality and fighting ability。 He is really a second M'Loughlin
in his game； his speed； and his personal charm。
WATSON WASHBURN
In contrast to Murray； Watson Washburn plays a cool； never…hurried；
never…flurried game that is unique in American tennis。
There is little that is noteworthy of Washburn's game。 His service is a
well…placed slice。 His ground strokes are a peculiar 〃wrist…slap；〃 almost a
slice。 His volleying fair； his overhead steady but not remarkable。 Just a
good game； well rounded but not unique。 Why is。 Washburn great？
Because； behind the big round glasses that are the main feature of
Washburn on the tennis court； is a brain of the first water； directing and
developing that all…round game。 There is no more brilliant student of men
in games than Washburn； and his persistence of attack is second only to
Brookes'。
Washburn； too； is a popular player；
