the art of lawn tennis(网球的艺术)-第28节
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great player； individualizes his game so that it bears a mark peculiar to
himself。 I hope to be able to call to mind the outstanding qualities of some
of the leading tennis players of the world。
Where to start； in a field so great； representing as it does America； the
British Isles； Australia； France； Japan； South Africa； Rumania； Holland；
and Greece； is not an easy task； but it is with a sense of pride and a
knowledge that there is no game better fitted to end this section of my
book； and no man more worthy to lead the great players of the world； that
I turn to William M。 Johnston； the champion of the United States of
America； and my team…mate in the Davis Cup team of 1920。
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CHAPTER XII。 AMERICA
WILLIAM M。 JOHNSTON
The American champion is one of the really great orthodox players in
the world。 There is nothing eccentric； nothing freakish about his game。
Johnston is a small man； short and light； but by perfect weight…control；
footwork； and timing he hits with terrific speed。
His service is a slice。 Hit from the top of his reach Johnston gets power
and twist on the ball with little effort。 He has a wonderful forehand drive；
of a top…spin variety。 This shot is world famous； for never in the history of
the game has so small a man hit with such terrific speed and accuracy。 The
racquet travels flat and then over the ball； with a peculiar wrist…snap just as
the ball meets the racquet face。 The shot travels deep and fast to the
baseline。
Johnston's backhand is a decided 〃drag〃 or chop。 He hits it with the
same face of the racquet as his forehand； and with very little change in
grip。 It is remarkably steady and accurate； and allows Johnston to follow
to the net behind it。
Johnston's volleying is hard； deep； and usually very reliable。 He
crouches behind his racquet and volleys directly in to the flight of the ball；
hitting down。 His low volleys are made with a peculiar wrist…flick that
gives the rise and speed。 His overhead is accurate； reliable； but not
startling in its power。 Johnston's game has no real weakness； while his
forehand and volleying are superlative。
Johnston is a remarkable match player。 He reaches his greatest game
when behind。 He is one of the hardest men to beat in the game owing to
his utter lack of fear and the dogged determination with which he hangs on
when seemingly beaten。 He is quiet； modest； and a sterling sportsman。 He
gets a maximum result with a minimum effort。
R。 N。 WILLIAMS
R。 N。 Williams； American Champion 1914 and 1916； another of my
Davis Cup team…mates； is a unique personality in the tennis world。
Personally； I believe that Williams at his best is the greatest tennis player
in the world； past or present。 Unfortunately； that best is seldom seen； and
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then not for a consistent performance。 He is always dangerous； and his
range of variation is the greatest among any of the leading players。
Williams' service is generally a fast slice； although he at times uses an
American twist。 He is erratic in his delivery； scoring many aces； but piling
up enormous numbers of double…faults。 His ground strokes are made off
the rising bound of the ball。 They are flat or slightly sliced。 Never topped；
But sometimes pulled。 Williams' margin of safety is so small that unless
his shot is perfectly hit it is useless。 He hits hard at all times and makes
tremendous numbers of earned points； yet his errors always exceed them；
except when he strikes one of his 〃super〃 days。
His volleying is very hard； crisp； and decisive； coupled with an
occasional stop volley。 His use of the half volley is unequalled in modern
tennis。 His overhead is severe and ordinarily reliable； although he will take
serious slumps overhead。 He is a past master of his own style strokes； but
it is an unorthodox game that should not be copied by the average player。
He is never willing to alter his game for safety's sake； and defeats
himself in sheer defiance by hitting throughout a match when his strokes
are not working。 He is greatly praised for this unwillingness to alter his
game in defeat。 Personally； I think he deserves condemnation rather than
praise； for it seems recklessness rather than bravery to thus seek defeat
that could easily be avoided。
Williams takes tennis almost too lightly。 Cheery； modest； and easy…
going； he is very popular with all galleries； as his personality deserves。 He
is a brilliant ever…interesting light in any tennis gathering； and his game
will always show sheer genius of execution even while rousing irritation
by his refusal to play safe。 He would rather have one super…great day and
bad defeats； than no bad defeats without his day of greatness。 Who shall
say he is not right？ We may not now agree； but Williams may yet prove to
us he is right and we are wrong。
CHARLES S。 GARLAND
The last member of the Davis Cup team and youngest player of the
Americans is Charles S。 Garland； the Yale star。
Garland is the perfect stylist； the orthodox model for ground strokes。
He is an example of what stroke perfection can do。
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He uses a soft slice service； of no particular peculiarity； yet places it so
well that he turns it into an attack。 His forehand is hit with a full swing；
flat racquet face； and a slight top spin。 It is deadly accurate and of
moderate speed。 He can put the ball at will anywhere in the court off his
forehand。 His backhand is slightly sliced down the line and pulled flat
across the court。 It is not a point winner but is an excellent defence。 His
overhead is steady； reliable； and accurate； but lacks aggressiveness。 His
high volleying is fine； deep； and fast。 His low volleying is weak and
uncertain。 He anticipates wonderfully； and covers a tremendous amount of
court。 His attack is rather obvious in that he seldom plays the unusual shot；
yet his accuracy is so great that he frequently beats a man who guesses his
shot yet can't reach it。
N。 E。 Brookes stated he considered Garland one of the greatest
ground…stroke players in the world。 This is true of his forehand； but his
backhand lacks punch。 His whole game needs speed and aggressiveness。
He is quiet； modest； and extremely popular。 His perfect court manner
and pleasant smile have made Garland a universal favourite in America
and England。 His game is the result of hard； conscientious work。 There is
no genius about it； and little natural talent。 It is not an interesting game as
it lacks brilliancy； yet it is very sound； and much better than it looks。
VINCENT RICHARDS
Vincent Richards； National junior Champion of America and the most
remarkable boy playing tennis； is a distinct personality。 Richards； who is
now only seventeen； won the Men's Doubles Championship of America at
the age of fifteen。 Richards is a born tennis player and a great tennis
genius。
Richards' service is a fast slice that he follows to the net。 It is speedy
and very accurate。 His ground strokes are both slice and drive； although
the basis of his game is slice。 He meets the ball on the rise and 〃spoons〃 it
off his forehand。 It is low； fast； but none too sure。 His backhand shot is a
fast twisting slice that is remarkably effective and very excellent as a
defence。 He is learning a flat drive。
His volleying is the great feature of his game。 He is the greatest natural
volleyer I have ever seen。 Low and high volleying； fore… and backhand is
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perfect in
