the art of lawn tennis(网球的艺术)-第14节
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important。 Eat well； but do not over…eat； particularly immediately before
playing。 I believe in a large hearty breakfast on the day of a big match。
This should be taken by nine…thirty。 A moderate lunch at about one o'clock
if playing at three。 Do not eat very rich food at luncheon as it tends to slow
you up on the court。 Do not run the risk of indigestion； which is the worst
enemy to dear eyesight。 Rich； heavy food immediately before retiring is
bad； as it is apt to make you 〃loggy〃 on the court the next day。
It is certain injury to touch alcoholic drink in any form during
tournament play。 Alcohol is a poison that affects the eye； the mind； and the
windthree essentials in tennis。 Tobacco in moderation does little harm；
although it； too； hits eye and wind。 A man who is facing a long season of
tournament play should refrain from either alcohol or tobacco in any form。
Excesses of any kind are bad for physical condition； and should not be
chanced。
Late hours cause sluggishness of mind and body the next day。 It is
very dangerous to risk them before a hard match。 The moving pictures
immediately before playing tennis are bad； owing to the eye strain caused
by the flicker of the film and the strong light of the camera。 Lead a normal；
healthy life； and conserve your nervous force wherever possible； as you
will need it in the hard matches。
〃Staleness〃 is the great enemy of players who play long seasons。 It is a
case of too much tennis。 Staleness is seldom physical weariness。 A player
can always recover his strength by rest。 Staleness is a mental fatigue due
often to worry or too close attention to tennis； and not enough variety of
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thought。 Its symptoms are a dislike for the tennis game and its
surroundings； and a lack of interest in the match when you are on the court。
I advocate a break in training at such a time。 Go to the theatre or a concert；
and get your mind completely off tennis。 Do your worrying about tennis
while you are playing it； and forget the unpleasantness of bad play once
you are off the court。 Always have some outside interest you can turn to
for relaxation during a tournament； but never allow it to interfere with
your tennis when you should be intent on your game。 A nice balance is
hard to achieve； but； once attained is a great aid to a tournament player。 I
find my relaxation in auction bridge。 I know many other players who do
likewise。 Among them are Mrs。 Franklin Mallory； Wallace F。 Johnson； W。
M。 Johnston and Samuel Hardy。
The laws of training should be closely followed before and after a
match。 Do not get chilled before a match； as it makes you stiff and slow。
Above all else do not stand around without a wrap after a match when you
are hot or you will catch cold。
Many a player has acquired a touch of rheumatism from wasting time
at the close of his match instead of getting his shower while still warm。
That slight stiffness the next day may mean defeat。 A serious chill may
mean severe illness。 Do not take chances。
Change your wet clothes to dry ones between matches if you are to
play twice in a day。 It will make you feel better； and also avoid the risk of
cold。
Tournament players must sacrifice some pleasures for the sake of
success。 Training will win many a match for a man if he sticks to it。
Spasmodic training is useless； and should never be attempted。
The condition a player is； in is apt to decide his mental viewpoint； and
aid him in accustoming himself to the external conditions of play。
All match players should know a little about the phenomenon of
crowd…psychology since； as in the case of the Church…Murray match I
related some time back； the crowd may play an important part in the
result。
It seldom pays to get a crowd down on you。 It always pays to win its
sympathy。 I do not mean play to the gallery； for that will have the opposite
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effect than the one desired。
The gallery is always for the weaker player。 It is a case of helping the
〃under…dog。〃 If you are a consistent winner you must accustom yourself to
having the gallery show partiality for your opponent。 It is no personal
dislike of you。 It is merely a natural reaction in favour of the loser。
Sometimes a bad decision to one play will win the crowd's sympathy for
him。 Galleries are eminently just in their desires； even though at times
their emotions run away with them。
Quite aside from the effect on the gallery； I wish to state here that
when you are the favoured one in a decision that you know is wrong；
strive to equalize it if possible by unostentatiously losing the next point。
Do not hit the ball over the back stop or into the bottom of the net with a
jaunty air of 〃Here you are。〃 Just hit it slightly out or in the net； and go on
about your business in the regular way。 Your opponent always knows
when you extend him this justice； and he appreciates it； even though he
does not expect it。 Never do it for effect。 It is extremely bad taste。 Only do
it when your sense of justice tells you you should。
The crowd objects； and justly so； to a display of real temper on the
court。 A player who loses his head must expect a poor reception from the
gallery。 Questioned decisions by a player only put him in a bad light with
the crowd and cannot alter the point。 You may know the call was wrong；
but grin at it； and the crowd will join you。 These things are the essence of
good sportsmanship； and good sportsmanship will win any gallery。 The
most unattractive player in the world will win the respect and admiration
of a crowd by a display of real sportsmanship at the time of test。
Any player who really enjoys a match for the game's sake will always
be a fine sportsman； for there is no amusement to a match that does not
give your opponent his every right。 A player who plays for the joy of the
game wins the crowd the first time he steps on the court。 All the world
loves an optimist。
The more tennis I play； the more I appreciate my sense of humour。 I
seldom play a match when I do not get a smile out of some remark from
the gallery； while I know that the gallery always enjoys at least one hearty
laugh at my expense。 I do not begrudge it them； for I know how very
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peculiar tennis players in general； and myself in particular； appear when
struggling vainly to reach a shot hopelessly out of reach。
Two delightful elderly ladies were witnessing Charles S。 Garland and
myself struggle against Mavrogordato； and Riseley at the Edgbaston
tournament in England in 1920。 One turned to the other and said： 〃Those
are the Americans！〃
〃Oh；〃 said the second lady resignedly； 〃I thought so。 The tall one
＇meaning me＇ looks rather queer。〃
During the Davis Cup match against the French at Eastbourne； I went
on the court against Laurentz in my blue 〃woolly〃 sweater。 The day was
cold； and I played the match 4…1 in Laurentz' favour； still wearing it。 I
started to remove it at the beginning of the sixth game； when the gallery
burst into loud applause； out of which floated a sweet feminine voice：
〃Good！ Now maybe the poor boy will be able to play！〃
For the first time I realized just what the gallery thought of my efforts
to play tennis； and also of the handicap of the famous 〃blue…bearskin〃 as
they termed it。
My favourite expression during my Davis Cup trip happened to be
〃Peach〃 for any particularly good shot by my opponent。 The gallery at the
Championship； quick to appreciate any mannerism of a player； and to；
know him by it； enjoyed the remark on many occasions as the ball went
floating by me。 In my match with Kingscote in the final set； the court was
very slippery owing to the heavy drizzle that had been falling th
