the art of lawn tennis(网球的艺术)-第33章
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Brookes'。
Washburn； too； is a popular player； but not in the same sense as
Murray。 Murray appeals to the imagination of the crowd； Washburn to its
academic instincts。 Washburn is a strategist； working out his match with
mathematical exactness； and always checking up his men as he goes
along。
There is no tennis player whose psychology I admire more than
Washburn's。 He is never beaten until the last point is played； and he is
always dangerous； no matter how great a lead you hold over him。
Another case of the second…class game being made first class； but this
time it is done by mental brilliancy。
WALLACE F。 JOHNSON
Here is another case of a second…class game being used in a first…class
manner； getting first…class results through the direction of a first…class
tennis brain。 Johnson is not the brilliant； analytical mind of Washburn； but
for pure tennis genius Johnson ranks nearly the equal of Brookes。
Johnson is a one…stroke player。 He uses a peculiar slice shot hit from
the wrist。 He uses it in service； ground strokes； volleying； and lobbing。 It is
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a true one…stroke game； yet by sheer audacity of enterprise and wonderful
speed of foot Wallace Johnson has for years been one of the leading
players of America。
SAMUEL HARDY
The overwhelming success of the American Davis Cup team in 1920；
when we brought back the cup from Australia was due in no small
measure to the wonderful generalship displayed by one man； our Captain
Samuel Hardy。
The hardest part of any such trip is the attention to training； relaxation
and accommodations for the team and only perfect judgment can give the
comfort so needed by a team。 It is to Captain Hardy that the team owes its
perfect condition throughout the entire 3；000 miles we journeyed after the
cup。 Yet Captain Hardy's success was far bigger than that； for by his tact；
charming personality and splendid sportsmanship at all times he won a
place for us in the hearts of every country we visited。 Hardy； although a
non…playing member of the team； is a great tennis player。 He is one of the
best doubles players America has produced。 His clever generalship and
wonderful knowledge of the game proved of inestimable value to the team
in laying out our plan of attack in the Davis Cup matches themselves。
Clever； charming； just and always full of the most delightful humour；
Hardy was an ideal Captain who kept his team in the best of spirits no
matter how badly we might have been playing or how depressing appeared
our outlook。
CARL FISCHER
I am including in my analysis of players a boy who is just gaining
recognition but who I believe is to be one of the great stars of the future；
Carl Fischer of Philadelphia。
Young Fischer； who is only 19； is a brilliant； hard hitting left…hander。
He has already won the Eastern Pennsylvania Championship； been runner…
up to Wallace Johnson in the Pennsylvania State； Philadelphia
Championship and Middle States event； besides holding the junior
Championship of Pennsylvania for two years。 He won the University of
Pennsylvania Championship in his freshman year。
His service is a flat delivery of good speed； at times； verging on the
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American twist。 His ground game carries top spin drives forehand and
backhand。 His volleying and overhead are severe and powerful but prone
to be erratic。 Fischer is an all court player of the most modern type。 He is
aggressive； almost too much so at times as he wastes a great deal of
energy by useless rushing。 He needs steadiness and a willingness to await
his opening but gives promise of rounding into a first class player； as his
stroke equipment is second to none。
MARSHALL ALLEN
Far out in the Pacific Northwest in Seattle； Washington； is a young
player who bids fair to some day be world famous。 It is quite possible he
may never arrive at all。
Marshall Allen is a typical Western player。 Allen has a hurricane
service that is none too reliable。 His forehand drive is reminiscent of
McLoughlin。 It is a furious murderous attack when it goes in and quite
useless when it is off。 Allen's backhand is a flat drive played to either side
with equal ease。 At present it is erratic but shows great promise。 Allen
volleys at times brilliantly； but is uncertain and at times misses
unaccountably。 His overhead is remarkably brilliant and severe； but also
erratic。 He reaches great heights and sinks to awful depths。 If Marshall
Allen consolidates his game and refines the material he has at hand he
should be a marvellous player。 If he allows his love of speed to run away
with his judgment at the expense of accuracy and steadiness he will never
rise above the second class。 Time will tell the story。 I look to see him
world famous。
OUR RISING JUNIORS
For a moment I am going to pay tribute to some boys who I look to see
among the stars of the future。 They are all juniors less than eighteen at the
time of writing。
First in importance comes Arnold W。 Jones； of Providence； R。 I。； who
accompanied me to France and England in 1921； where he made a fine
record。 Young Jones has a splendid all…court game； with a remarkable
forehand drive but a tendency to weariness in his backhand and service。
His volleying is excellent。 His overhead erratic。
Second to Jones I place Charles Watson III of Philadelphia。 Here is a
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boy with a most remarkable resemblance to Chuck Garland in style of his
game。 Watson has a fine service； beautiful ground strokes fore and
backhand and a more aggressive volley than Garland。 His overhead lacks
punch。 He is the cleverest court general among the juniors。
Phillip Bettens of San Francisco is a possible successor to Billy
Johnston。 Bettens has a terrific forehand drive and a rushing net attack。 He
needs to steady up his game； but he is a player of great promise。
Armand Marion of Seattle； Washington； is another boy with a finely
rounded game who； given experience and seasoning； bids fair to become a
great star。 Marion does not have enough punch yet and； needs to gain
decisiveness of attack。
Charles Wood of New York； W。 W。 Ingraham of Providence； Milo
Miller and Eric Wood of Philadelphia； John Howard of Baltimore； and
others are of equal class and of nearly equal promise to the boys I have
mentioned。
In the younger class of boys those under 15； one finds many
youngsters already forming real style。 The boy who shows the greatest
promise and today the best all…round game； equalling in potential power
even Vincent
