the art of lawn tennis(网球的艺术)-第32节
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Gobert is probably the finest indoor player in the world； while he is
very great on hard courts； but his grass play is not the equal of many
others。 I heartily recommend Gobert's style to all students of the game；
and endorse him as a model for strokes。
W。 LAURENTZ
Another brilliant； erratic and intensely interesting figure that France
has given the tennis world is Laurentz； the wonderful young player； who；
at the age of seventeen defeated A。 F。 Wilding。
Laurentz is a cyclonic hitter of remarkable speed and brilliance； but
prone to very severe lapses。 His service is of several varieties； all well
played。 He uses an American twist as his regular delivery； but varies it
with a sharp slice； a reverse twist of great spin； and a fast cannon…ball
smash。 Laurentz is very versatile。 He has excellent orthodox drives； fore…
and backhand； and a competent forehand chop。
His volleying is brilliant almost beyond description； but very erratic。
He is very fast on his feet； and anticipates remarkably well。 He will make
the most hair…raising volleys； only to fall down inexplicably the next
moment on an easy shot。 His overhead is like his volley； severe； brilliant；
but uncertain。
Laurentz is a very hard worker； and； unlike Gobert； is always at his
best when behind。 He is a fair fighter and a great match player。 His defeats
are due more to over…anxiety than to lack of fight。 He is temperamental；
sensational； and brilliant； a sportsman of the highest type； quick to
recognize his opponent's good work and to give full credit for it。 He is one
of the most interesting players now before the public。
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He is a clever court general but not a great tennis thinker； playing more
by instinct than by a really deep…laid plan of campaign。 Laurentz might
beat anyone in the world on his day or lose to the veriest dub when at his
worst。＇1＇
＇1＇ It was with deepest regret the news of his death reached us； as this
edition went to press。
J。 SAMAZIEUHL
The New French Champion of 1921 who defeated Andre Gobert most
unexpectedly in the challenge round； is an interesting player of the mental
type。 He is anything but French in his game。 His style is rather that of the
crafty American or English player than the hard…hitting Frenchman。
Samazieuhl is an exponent of crafty patball。 His service is a medium
pace slice； well placed but not decisive。 His ground strokes are a peculiar
stiff arm chop varied at times with an equally cramped drive； yet his
extreme mobility allows him to cover a tremendous amount of court； while
his return； which is well disguised； is capable of great angles。 His
volleying is reliable but lacks severity and punch。 He makes excellent low
volleys； but cannot put away shoulder high balls while his overhead is not
deadly。
It is Samazieuhl's clever generalship and his ability to recover
seemingly impossible shots that win matches for him。 He is a
comparatively new tournament player； and should improve greatly as he
gains confidence and experience。
R。 DANET
One of the most interesting young players in France is R。 Danet； who
has come to the fore in the past few years。 This boy； for he is little more；
has a hard hitting brilliant game of great promise。
His service is a speedy slice。 He drives with great speed； if as yet with
none too much accuracy； off both fore and backhand。 His net attack is very
severe while overhead he is deadly。 His speed of foot is remarkable； and
he is a very hard worker。 His limitations are in his lack of a set plan of
attack and the steady adherence to any given method of play。 He throws
away too many easy chances； but this will correct itself as time goes on
and Danet has fought through more tournaments。 I consider him a player
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of great promise。
Max Decugis and Brugnon； the two remaining members of the 1920
Davis Cup team of France； present totally different types。 Decugis； crafty；
cool； and experienced； is the veteran of many long seasons of match play。
He is a master tactician； and wins most of his matches by outgeneralling
the other player。 Burgnon is brilliant； flashy； hard hitting； erratic； and
inexperienced。 He is very young； hardly twenty years of age。 He has a fine
fore…hitting style and excellent net attack； but lacks confidence and a
certain knowledge of tennis fundamentals。 A few years' experience will do
wonders for him。
The French style of play commends itself to me very highly。 I enjoy
watching the well…executed strokes； beautiful mobile footwork of these
dashing players。 It is more a lack of dogged determination to win； than in
any stroke fault that one finds the reason for French defeats。 The
temperamental genius of this great people carries with it a lack of stability
that can be the only explanation for the sudden crushing and unexpected
defeats their representatives receive on the tennis courts。
I was particularly impressed during my visit to France by the large
numbers of children playing tennis and the style of game displayed。 The
sport shows a healthy increase and should produce some fine players
within the next ten years。
Keen competition is the corrective measure for temperamental
instability and with the advent of many new players in French tennis I
would not be surprised to see a marked decrease of unexpected defeats of
their leading players。
Japan
A new element has entered the tennis world in the last decade。 The
Orient has thrust its shadow over the courts in the persons of a small group
of remarkable tennis players； particularly Ichija Kumagae and Zenzo
Shimidzu； the famous Japanese stars。
Kumagae； who for some years reigned supreme in Japan and Honolulu；
has lived in America for the past three years。 Shimidzu is a product of
Calcutta； where he has lived for some years。
No player has caused more discussion than Kumagae； unless it is
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Shimidzu； while surely no man received more critical comment than
Shimidzu； except Kumagae。 The press of America and England have vied
with each other in exploiting these two men。 There was unanimity of
opinion concerning these two men in one respect。 No finer sportsmen nor
more delightful opponents can be found than these Japanese。 They have
won the respect and friendship of all who have met them。
Kumagae is the speedier tennis player。 He came to America in 1916；
the possessor of a wonderful forehand drive and nothing else。 Kumagae is
left… handed； which made his peculiar shots all the harder to handle。 He
met with fair success during the year； his crowning triumph was his defeat
of W。 M。 Johnston at Newport in five sets。 He lost to J。 J。 Armstrong；
Watson M。 Washburn； and George M。 Church。 He learned much during his
year in America； and returned to Japan a wiser man； with a firm
determination to add to his tennis equipment。
In 1917 Kumagae returned to America to enter business in New York。
Once established there he began developing his game。 First he learned an
American twist service and then strengthened his backhand。 That year he
suffered defeat at the hands of Walter T。 Hayes and myself。 He was
steadily improving。 He now started coming to the net and learning to
volley。 He is not yet a good low volleyer； and never will be while he uses
the peculiar grip common to his people； but his high volleying and
overhead are now excellent。 Last year Kumagae reached his top form and
was ranked third in America。 His defeats were by Jo
