the art of lawn tennis(网球的艺术)-第10节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
and may fall into error。 You have thus taken some of your opponent's
confidence； and increased his chance of error； all by a miss。
If you had merely popped back that return； and it had been killed； your
opponent would have felt increasingly confident of your inability to get
the ball out of his reach； while you would merely have been winded
without result。
Let us suppose you made the shot down the sideline。 It was a
seemingly impossible get。 First it amounts to TWO points in that it took
one away from your opponent that should have been his and gave you one
you ought never to have had。 It also worries your opponent； as he feels he
has thrown away a big chance。
The psychology of a tennis match is very interesting； but easily
understandable。 Both men start with equal chances。 Once one man
establishes a real lead； his confidence goes up； while his opponent worries；
and his mental viewpoint becomes poor。 The sole object of the first man is
to hold his lead； thus holding his confidence。 If the second player pulls
even or draws ahead； the inevitable reaction occurs with even a greater
contrast in psychology。 There is the natural confidence of the leader now
with the second man as well as that great stimulus of having turned
seeming defeat into probable victory。 The reverse in the case of the first
player is apt to hopelessly destroy his game； and collapse follows。
It is this twist in tennis psychology that makes it possible to win so
many matches after they are seemingly lost。 This is also the reason that a
man who has lost a substantial lead seldom turns in the ultimate victory。
He cannot rise above the depression caused by his temporary slump。 The
value of an early lead cannot be overestimated。 It is the ability to control
your mental processes； and not worry unduly over early reverses； that
38
… Page 39…
THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
makes a great match player。
Playing to the score is the first requisite of a thinking match player。
The two crucial points in any game are the third and fourth。 If the first two
points are divided for 15…all； the third means an advantage gained。 If won
by you； you should strive to consolidate it by taking the next for 40…15 and
two chances for game； while if lost； you must draw even at 30…all to have
an even chance for game。
In order to do this； be sure to always put the ball in play safely； and do
not take unnecessary chances； at 15…all or 30…15。 Always make the server
work to hold his delivery。 It worries him to serve long games； and
increases the nervous strain of the match。
In the game score the sixth； seventh； and eighth games are the crux of
every close set。 These games may mean 4…2 or 3…all； 5…2 or 4…3； the most
vital advantage in the match； or 5…3 or 4…all； a matter of extreme moment
to a tiring player。 If ahead； you should strive to hold and increase your lead。
If behind； your one hope of victory rests in cutting down the advantage of
the other man BEFORE one slip means defeat。 5…2 is usually too late to
start a rally； but 4…3 is a real chance。
Never throw away a set because a player has a lead of 4…1； or even 5…1；
unless you already have two sets in a 5…set match； and do not wish to risk
tiring by trying to pull it out； and possibly failing at 6…4。 The great
advantage Of 3…1 on your own service is a stumbling…block for many
players； for they unconsciously let up at the fifth game； thinking they have
a 2…game lead。 However； by dropping that game； the score will go 2…3 and
3…all if your opponent holds service； instead of 1…4 and 4…2； thus retaining
a distinct advantage and discouraging your opponent in that set。
The first set is vital in a 2 out of 3 match。 Play for all of it。 The second
and third sets are the turning…point in a best of 5…set match。 Take the first
where possible； but play to the limit for the next two。 Never allow a 3 out
of 5…set match to go to； the fifth set if it is possible to win in less； but
never give up a match until the last point is played； even if you are two
sets and five games down。 Some occurrence may turn the tide in your
favour。
A notable example of such a match occurred at Newport； in 1916。
39
… Page 40…
THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
Wallace F。 Johnson and Joseph J。 Armstrong were playing Ichija Kumagae；
the famous Japanese star； and Harold A。 Throckmorton； then junior
Champion of America； in the second round of the doubles。
It was Kumagae's first year in America； and he did not understand
Americans and their customs well。 Kumagae and Throckmorton were
leading one set at 6…0； 5…1； and 40…15； Kumagae serving。 Throckmorton
turned and spoke to him； and the Japanese star did not understand what he
said。 He served without knowing； and Armstrong passed him down the
centre。 Johnson duplicated the feat in the next court； and Kumagae grew
flustered。 Throckmorton； not understanding； tried to steady him without
result； as Kumagae double…faulted to Armstrong； and he； too； grew
worried。 Both men began missing； and Johnson and Armstrong pulled out
the set and won the match in a runaway in the last stanza。 Johnson and
Armstrong met W。 M。 Johnston and C。 J。 Griffin； the National Champions；
in the final and defeated them in five sets； inflicting the only reverse the
title…holders suffered during their two…year reign as champions。
Another much more regrettable incident occurred in the famous match
between R。 L。 Murray of California and George M。 Church of New York
in the fourth round of the American National Championship in 1916。
George Church； then at the crest of his wonderful game； had won the first
two sets and was leading Murray in the third； when the famous Californian
started a sensational rally。 Murray； with his terrific speed； merry smile； and
genial personality； has always been a popular figure with the public； and
when he began his seemingly hopeless fight； the crowd cheered him
wildly。 He broke through Church's service and drew even amid a terrific
din。 Church； always a very high…strung； nervous player； showed that the
crowd's partiality was getting on his nerves。 The gallery noticed it； and
became more partisan than ever。 The spirit of mob rule took hold； and for
once they lost all sense of sportsmanship。 They clapped errors as they
rained from Church's racquet； the great game collapsed under the terrific
strain； and Church's last chance was gone。 Murray won largely as he
wanted； in the last two sets。 No one regretted the incident more than
Murray himself； for no finer sportsman steps upon the court than this
player； yet there was nothing that could be done。 It was a case of external
40
… Page 41…
THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
conditions influencing the psychology of one man so greatly that it cost
him a victory that was his in justice。
The primary object in match tennis is to break up the other man's game。
The first lesson to learn is to hold your nerve under all circumstances。 If
you can break a player's nerve by pounding at a weakness； do it。 I
remember winning a 5…set doubles match many years ago； against a team
far over the class of my partner and myself； by lobbing continually to one
man until he cracked under the strain and threw the match away。 He
became so afraid of a lob that he would not approach the net； and his
whole game broke up on account of his lack of confidence。 Our
psychology was good； for we had the confidence to continue our plan of
attack even while losing two of the first three sets。 His was bad； for he lost
his nerve； and let us know it。
Sensational and unexpected shots at crucial moments have won many
a match。 If your opponent makes a marvellous recovery and wins by it；
