the art of lawn tennis(网球的艺术)-第33节
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was ranked third in America。 His defeats were by Johnston； Vincent
Richards； and myself； while he defeated Murray； S。 H。 Voshell； Vincent
Richards； and me； as well as countless players of less note。
The season of 1920 found Kumagae sweeping all before him； since
Johnston； Williams； Garland； and I were away on the Davis Cup trip。
Williams barely defeated him in a bitter match； just previously to sailing。
Kumagae left America in the middle of the summer to compete in the
Olympic games； representing Japan。
Kumagae is still essentially a baseline player of marvellous accuracy
of shot and speed of foot。 His drive is a lethal weapon that spreads
destruction among his opponents。 His backhand is a severe 〃poke；〃 none
too accurate； but very deadly when it goes in。 His service overhead and
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high volley are all severe and reliable。 His low volley is the weak spot in
an otherwise great game。 Kumagae cannot handle a chop； and dislikes
grass…court play； as the ball bounds too low for his peculiar 〃loop〃 drive。
He is one of the greatest hard…court players in the world； and one of the
most dangerous opponents at any time on any surface。
Shimidzu is to…day as dangerous as Kumagae。 He； too； is a baseline
player； but lacks Kumagae's terrific forehand drive。 Shimidzu has a
superior backhand to Kumagae； but his weak service rather offsets this。
His low volleying is far superior to Kumagae； while his high volleying and
overhead are quite his equal。 He has all the fighting qualities in his game
that make Kumagae so dangerous； but he has not had the experience。
Shimidzu learns very quickly； and I look to see him a great factor in the
game in future years。
Both Shimidzu and Kumagae are marvellous court coverers； and seem
absolutely untiring。 They are 〃getters〃 of almost unbelievable activity； and
accurate to a point that seems uncanny。 Both men hit to the lines with a
certainty that makes it very dangerous to attempt to take the net on
anything except a deep forcing shot that hurries them。
With such players as Kumagae and Shimidzu； followed by S。 Kashio
and K。 Yamasaki； and the late H。 Mikami； Japan is a big factor in future
tennis。 1922 will again see Japan challenging for the Davis Cup； and none
but a first…class team can stop them。 The advent of a Japanese team with
such players will mean that this year we must call out our best to repel the
Oriental invasion： so competition receives another stimulus that should
raise our standard of play。
The probability of journeying to Japan to challenge for the Davis Cup
is not so remote but that we must consider it as a future possibility。
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CHAPTER XV。 SPAIN AND THE CONTINENT
Spain
A new factor entered the arena of world tennis in 1921 in the
appearance of a Spanish Davis Cup team。 Among their number is a star
who bids fair to become one of the greatest players the world has ever
seen。 A scintillating personality； brilliant versatile game； and fighting
temperament placed this young unknown in the first rank in one year of
competition。
MANUEL ALONZO
Seldom have I seen such wonderful natural abilities as are found in
this young Spaniard。 Here is a player par excellence if he develops as he
gives promise。 Alonzo is young； about 25； slight； attractive in personality
and court manners； quick to the point of almost miraculous court covering。
He is a great attraction at any tournament。
His service is a fairly fast American twist。 It is not remarkable but is at
least more severe than the average continental delivery。
Alonzo has a terrific forehand drive that is the closest rival to W。 M。
Johnston's of any shot I have seen。 He is reliable on this stroke； either
straight or cross…court from the deep court but if drawn in to mid…court is
apt to miss it。 His backhand is a flat drive； accurate and low but rather
slow and in the main defensive。
His volleying is at once a joy and a disappointment。 Such marvellous
angles and stop volleys off difficult drives！ Yet immediately on top of a
dazzling display Alonzo will throw away the easiest sort of a high volley
by a pitiable fluke。
His overhead is at once severe； deadly and reliable。 He smashes with
speed and direction。 It is not only in his varied stroke equipment that
Alonzo is great but in his marvellous footwork。 Such speed of foot and
lightning turning I have never before seen on a tennis court。 He is a
quicker man than Norman E。 Brookes and higher praise I cannot give。 I
look to see Alonzo； who today loses matches through lack of resource；
become by virtue of experience and tournament play the greatest player on
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the continent。
His brother； J。 M。 Alonzo； although nowhere in Manuel's class； is a
fine all court player as are Count de Gomar and Flaquer； the remaining
members of the Cup team。 If Alonzo and his teammates are an indication
of the type of players Spain is developing a new and powerful factor in the
tennis world is entering the field to stay。
Some Other Champions
There are some individual players of interest from the countries where
tennis as a game has not reached a place worthy of national analysation
but who deserve mention among the great players of the world。
First among them comes Nicholas Mishu of Rumania。
N。 MISHU
What can I say of Mishu？ As a tennis player he defies analysis。 His
game is a freak。 He adores to do the unusual and his game abounds in
freak shots that Mishu executes with remarkable skill。 He has many and
varied services； underhand cuts； fore and backhand； a 〃push〃 off his nose；
and even one serve where he turns his back on the court and serves the
ball back over his head。
His drives are cramped in swing and hit with excessive top spin。 His
footwork is a defiance of all rules。 His volleying game looks like an
accident； yet Mishu produces results。 In 1921 he beat A。 H。 Gobert in the
World's Hard Court Championship at St。 Cloud。 Mishu is a winner。 I don't
know how he does it but he does。 He is above all a unique personality。
Cheery； individual； at times eccentric； Mishu is a popular figure in
tournaments abroad。 He plays with a verve and abandon that appeals to the
European galleries while his droll humour and good nature make him a
delightful opponent。
J。 WASHER
Belgium is represented by J。 Washer； my opponent in the final round
of the Hard Court Championship of the World in 1921。 Washer is a fine
orthodox tennis player。 His service is a well placed twist delivery of
medium pace。 He has a terrific forehand drive that gains in effectiveness
owing to the fact he is a left…hander。 Like so many players with a
pronounced strength； he covers up an equally pronounced weakness by
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using the strength。 Washer has a very feeble backhand for so fine a player。
He pokes his backhand when he is unable to run around it。
His overhead is strong； speedy and reliable。 His volleying lacks punch
and steadiness。 He has had little tournament experience and shows
promise of great improvement if given the opportunity。
E。 TEGNER
Denmark is represented by a player of promise and skill in the person
of E。 Tegner。 This young star defeated W。 H。 Laurentz at St。 Cloud in the
Hard Court Championship of the World in 1921 when the latter was holder
of the ti
