the art of lawn tennis(网球的艺术)-第21节
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the server lifting one foot unless replaced behind the baseline。 It is
believed this will do away with the terrific services。 The only effect I can
see from it is to move the server back a few inches； or possibly a foot；
while he delivers the same service and follows in with a little more speed
of foot。 It will not change the game at all。 Sir Oliver Lodge； the eminent
scientist； has joined the advocates of but one service per point。 This seems
so radical and in all so useless； since it entirely kills service as other than a
mere formality； and puts it back where it was twenty…five years ago； that I
doubt if even the weight of Sir Oliver Lodge's eminent opinion can put it
over。 To allow one service is to hand the game more fully into the
receiver's hands than it now rests in the server's。
The playing rules are adequate in every way； and the perfect accord
with which representatives of the various countries meet and play； happily；
successfully； and what is more important； annually； is sufficient
endorsement of the fundamental principles。 The few slight variations of
the different countries are easily learned and work no hardships on visiting
players。 Why change a known successful quantity for an unknown？ It
seldom pays。
The style of play is now approaching a type which I believe will prove
to have a long life。 To…day we are beginning to combine the various styles
in one man。 The champion of the future will necessarily need more
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equipment than the champion of to…day。 The present shows us the
forehand driving of Johnston； the service of Murray； the volleying of
Richards； the chop of Wallace F。 Johnson； the smash of Patterson； the half
volley of Williams； and the back hand of Pell。 The future will find the
greatest players combining much of these games。 It can be done if the
player will study。 I believe that every leading player in the world in 1950
will have a drive and a chop； fore… and backhand from the baseline。 He
will use at least two styles of service； since one will not suffice against the
stroke of that period。 He will be a volleyer who can safely advance to the
net； yet his attack will be based on a ground game。 He must smash well。 In
short； I believe that the key to future tennis success lies in variety of stroke。
The day of the one…stroke player is passing。 Each year sees the versatile
game striding forward by leaps and bounds。
The future champion of the world must be a man of keen intellect；
since psychology is assuming the importance that is its due。 He must train
earnestly； carefully； and consistently。 The day of playing successful tennis
and staying up till daybreak is over。 The game is too fast and too severe
for that。 As competition increases the price of success goes up； but its
worth increases in a greater ratio； for the man who triumphs in the World's
Championship in 1950 will survive a field of stars beyond our wildest
dreams in 1920。
What of the various countries？ America should retain her place at or
near the top； for the boys we are now developing should not only make
great players themselves； but should carry on the work of training the
coming generations。
England has but to interest her youth in the game to hold her place
with the leaders。 I believe it will be done。 I look to see great advances
made in tennis among the boys in England in the next few years。 I believe
the game will change to conform more to the modern net attack。 England
will never be the advanced tennis…playing country that her colonies are； for
her whole atmosphere is one of conservatism in sport。 Still her game will
change。 Already a slight modification is at work。 The next decade will see
a big change coming over the style of English tennis。 The wonderful
sporting abilities of the Englishman； his ability to produce his best when
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seemingly down and out mean that； no matter how low the ebb to which
tennis might fall； the inherent abilities of the English athlete would always
bring it up。 I sound pessimistic about the immediate future。 I am not；
provided English boyhood is interested in the game。
Japan is the country of the future。 There is no more remarkable race of
students on the globe than the Japanese。 They like tennis； and are coming
with increasing numbers to our tournaments。 They prove themselves
sterling sportsmen and remarkable players。 I look to see Japan a power in
tennis in the next twenty…five years。
France； with her brilliant temperamental unstable people； will always
provide interesting players and charming opponents。 I do not look to see
France materially change her present positionwhich is one of extreme
honour； of great friendliness； and keen competition。 Her game will not
greatly rise； nor will she lose in any way the prestige that is hers。
It will be many long years before the players of those enemy countries；
who plunged the world into the horrible baptism of blood from which we
have only just emerged； will ever be met by the players of the Allies。
Personally； I trust I may not see their re…entry into the game。 Not from the
question of the individuals； but from the feeling which will not down。
There is no need to deal at this time with the future of Germany and
Austria。
Australasia and South Africa； the great colonies of the British Empire；
should be on the edge of a great tennis wave。 I look to see great players
rise in Australasia to refill the gaps left by the passing of Wilding and the
retirement of Brookes。 It takes great players to fill such gaps； but great
players are bred from the traditions of the former masters。
The early season of 1921 saw a significant and to my way of looking
at it； wise move on the part of New Zealand when the New Zealand tennis
association withdrew from the Australasian tennis association and decided
to compete for the Davis Cup in future years as a separate nation。
No one can deny the great help Australia has been to New Zealand in
tennis development； but the time has come now for New Zealand to stand
on her own。 Since the regrettable death of Anthony F。 Wilding； in whose
memory New Zealand has a tennis asset and standard that will always hold
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a place in world sport； the New Zealand tennis players have been unable to
produce a player of skill enough to make the Davis Cup team of
Australasia。 It has fallen to Australia with Norman E。 Brookes； to whose
unfailing support and interest Australasian tennis owes its progress since
the war； G。 L。 Patterson； W。 H。 Anderson； R。 L。 Heath； and Pat O'Hara
Wood to uphold the traditions of the game。
The Davis Cup challenge round of 1921 was staged in New Zealand in
accord with the agreement between Australia and New Zealand and also in
memory of A。 F。 Wilding。 The tremendous interest in the play throughout
the entire country showed the time was ripe for a drastic step forward if
the step was ever to be taken。 So after careful consideration the split of
Australia and New Zealand has taken place。 What will this mean to New
Zealand？ First it means that it will be years before another Davis Cup
match will be staged on her shores； for it takes time and plenty of it to
produce a winning team； but at the time； the fact is borne in on the tennis
playing faction in New Zealand that as soon as they desire to challenge；
their players will gain the opportunity of International competition。
Experience matures players faster than anything else and I am sure that
the move that will place a team of New Zealand players in the field in the
Davis Cup will be the first and biggest step forward to real world power in
tennis。 New Zealand produced one Wilding； why should not another
