the art of lawn tennis(网球的艺术)-第11节
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Sensational and unexpected shots at crucial moments have won many
a match。 If your opponent makes a marvellous recovery and wins by it；
give him full credit for it； and then forget it； for by worrying over it you
not only lose that point but several others as； well； while your mind is still
wandering。 Never lose your temper over your opponent's good shots。 It is
bad enough to lose it at your own bad ones。 Remember that usually the
loser of a match plays just as well as the winner allows him。 Never lose
your temper at a bad decision。 It never pays； and has cost many a match。
I remember a famous match in Philadelphia； between Wallace F。
Johnson； the fifth ranking player in America； and Stanley W。 Pearson； a
local star； in the Interclub tennis league of that city。 Johnson； who had
enjoyed a commanding lead of a set and 4…1； had slumped； and Pearson
had pulled even at a set…all； and was leading at 5…1 and 40…15； point set
match。 He pulled Johnson far out to the forehand and came to the net。
Johnson chopped viciously down the side…line； but Pearson volleyed to
Johnson's deep backhand corner。 Johnson had started RUNNING in that
direction as he hit his return； and arrived almost as Pearson's volley
bounced。 Unfortunately Johnson slipped and went down on both knees；
but held his racquet。 He reached the ball and chopped it down the side…line
for an earned point before Pearson realized he had even offered at it。
Pearson was so surprised and angered that he double…faulted for deuce；
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and Johnson won the game。 Johnson pulled even at 5…all； before Pearson
recovered his equilibrium； and finally won the set at 17…15。 Truly
Pearson's lapse at Johnson's marvellous get was a costly mental break。
Tennis psychology is far more than the effect of certain shots； made or
missed； on the player。 One can sum up such things by saying that every
kill gives confidence； every error tends to destroy it。 These things are
obvious。 The branch of psychology that is interesting is the reaction on the
various players of different courts； different crowds； and other players。
There is a peculiar atmosphere about the centre court at Wimbledon
that is unique in my knowledge of the game。 Certain players revel in it。
The majority do not feel it； and since they do not sense it； they find only
the material disadvantages of rather bad light； and much noise from the
stand； and dislike the centre court。 Personally； I enjoy playing on the
centre court at Wimbledon more than any court I have ever stepped upon。
The traditions of the great players of the past； the notable personages
that make up the parties in the Royal Box and Committee Box； the honour
of a visit from their Majesties the King and Queen； and； above all； the
generous； non…partisan； sportsmanlike attitude of the British public； make
it a unique privilege to enter the centre court in championship competition。
These things inspire the mind to an almost abnormal keenness。 It is this
atmosphere that made N。 E。 Brookes； Anthony F。 Wilding； A。 W。 Gore； R。
F。 and H。 L。 Doherty more dangerous there than anywhere else。 It is this
factor that spurs on J。 C。 Parke and A。 R。 F。 Kingscote to their greatest
tennis to…day。
The great championship turf at Forest Hills； where the American
Championship is held； offers a unique contrast to Wimbledon。
The age of Wimbledon is its great attraction。 It is the spirit of youth； of
progress； of business…like mechanical perfection of management； and the
enormous crowds and attendant enthusiasm that is the chief attraction at
Forest Hills。 Fully 15；000 were present on the closing day of the event in
1919。 Orderly； courteous； enthusiastic； but partisan； the American tennis
public comes out to cheer on its favourite。 No people in the world
appreciate visiting players more whole…heartedly and none do more for
their comfort than the American people。 It is partisan； personal； sporting
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friendliness； warmer yet not so correct as the manner of the British public；
that the Americans give。 We have much to learn from our British friends。
Yet I hope we will never sacrifice the warmth of feeling that at times may
run away with us； yet in the main is the chief attraction of the American
people。 It is this enthusiasm that spurs on the men to their greatest efforts
in the National Championship。
The Australian team； Norman E。 Brookes； Gerald Patterson； Randolph
Lycett； and R。 V。 Thomas； who visited the United States； in 1919； scored a
unique personal triumph。 The whole gallery present at the notable match
in the Championship； when Patterson went down to defeat in a terrific 5…
set struggle with W。 M。 Johnston； rose and cheered Patterson as he walked
off the court。 It was a real ovation； a tribute to his sportsmanship； and an
outburst of personal admiration。 Brookes was the recipient of an equal
demonstration on his final appearance at Forest Hills。 The stimulus of the
surroundings produced the highest tennis of which these men were
capable。
Yet in all championships it is the personal element that is the moving
factor。 Personalities are the deciding force in popularity。 Patriotism is
partially submerged in personality。
The Davis Cup matches bring out the gamest struggles in the history
of tennis。 It is in these unique series of matches that the fame of Anthony F。
Wilding； Norman E。 Brookes； J。 C。 Parke； B。 C。 Wright； M。 E。 M'Loughlin；
and others reached its crest。 It was the unselfish giving of one's best； under
all conditions； for the honour of the country that called out the finest tennis
in each man。 Parke reached his crest in his memorable defeat of Brookes。
M'Loughlin has never quite equalled his marvellous game of 1914 against
Brookes and Wilding。
It is the psychology of patriotism that brings out this tennis。
Personality is submerged。 Unity of purpose as a team； replaces the
object of personal glory that is the keynote of championship。
It is the friendly rivalry of sport； between such men as form the
backbone of tennis in each country； that does more for international
understanding than all the notes ever written from the White House。
I could go on writing tennis psychology as explained by external
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conditions for hundreds of pages； but all I want to do is to bring to mind a
definite idea of the value of the mind in the game。 Stimulate it how you
will； a successful tennis player must admit the value of quick mind。 Do it
by a desire for personal glory； or team success； or by a love of competition
in matching your wits against the other man's； but do it some way。
Do； not think that tennis is merely a physical exercise。 It is a mental
cock…tail of a very high 〃kick。〃
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CHAPTER VII。 THE PSYCHOLOGY OF MATCH
PLAY
The first and most important point in match play is to know how to
lose。 Lose cheerfully； generously； and like a sportsman。 This is the first
great law of tennis； and the second is like unto itto win modestly；
cheerfully； generously； and like a sportsman。
The object of match play is to win； but no credit goes to a man who
does not win fairly and squarely。 A victory is a defeat if it is other than fair。
Yet again I say to win is the object； and to do so； one should play to the
last ounce of his strength； the last gasp of his breath； and the last scrap of
his nerve。 If you do so and lose； the better man won。 If you do not； you
have robbed your opponent of his right of beating your best。 Be fair to
both him and yourself。
〃The Play's the thing；〃 and in match play a good defeat is far more
creditable than a hollow victory。 Play tennis for the gam
