the art of lawn tennis(网球的艺术)-第29节
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perfect in execution。 His half volleying is phenomenal。 His overhead is
very severe for a boy； and carries great speed for so small a person； but it
is inclined to be slightly erratic。 He is tremendously fast on his feet； but it
inclined to be lazy。
Vincent Richards has the greatest natural aptitude and equipment of
any tennis player I have ever seen。 Against it he has a temperament that is
inclined to carelessness and laziness。 He tends to sulkiness； which he is
rapidly outgrowing。 He is a delightful personality on the court； with his
slight figure； tremendous speed； and merry smile。 He is a second 〃Gus〃
Touchard in looks and style。 I hope to see him develop to be the greatest
player the world has ever seen。 He gives that promise。 The matter rests in
Richards' hands； as his worst enemy is his temperament。
At his best he is to…day the equal of the top flight in the world。 At his
worst he is a child。 His average is fine but not great。 Travel； work； sincere
effort； and a few years； should turn this astonishing boy into a marvellous
player。
R。 L。 MURRAY
The new 〃California Comet；〃 successor to M。 E。 M'Loughlin； is the
usual sobriquet for R。 L。 Murray； now of Buffalo。 Murray won the
National Crown in 1917…1918。
His service is of the same cyclonic character as M'Loughlin。 Murray is
left…handed。 He hits a fast cannon…ball delivery of great speed and an
American twist of extreme twist。 His ground strokes are not good； and he
rushes the net at every opportunity。 His forehand drive is very fast；
excessively topped； and exceedingly erratic。 His backhand is a 〃poke。〃 His
footwork is very poor on both shots。 He volleys very well； shooting deep
to the baseline and very accurately。 His shoulder…high volleys are
marvellous。 His overhead is remarkable for its severity and accuracy。 He
seldom misses an overhead ball。
Murray is a terrifically hard worker； and tires himself out very rapidly
by prodigious effort。 He is a hard fighter and a hard man to beat。 He works
at an enormous pace throughout the match。
He is large； spare； rangy； with dynamic energy； and a wonderful
personality that holds the gallery。 His smile is famous； while his sense of
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humour never deserts him。 A sportsman to his finger…tips； there is no more
popular figure in American tennis than Murray。 His is not a great game。 It
is a case of a great athlete making a second…class game first class； by sheer
power of personality and fighting ability。 He is really a second M'Loughlin
in his game； his speed； and his personal charm。
WATSON WASHBURN
In contrast to Murray； Watson Washburn plays a cool； never…hurried；
never…flurried game that is unique in American tennis。
There is little that is noteworthy of Washburn's game。 His service is a
well…placed slice。 His ground strokes are a peculiar 〃wrist…slap；〃 almost a
slice。 His volleying fair； his overhead steady but not remarkable。 Just a
good game； well rounded but not unique。 Why is。 Washburn great？
Because； behind the big round glasses that are the main feature of
Washburn on the tennis court； is a brain of the first water； directing and
developing that all…round game。 There is no more brilliant student of men
in games than Washburn； and his persistence of attack is second only to
Brookes'。
Washburn； too； is a popular player； but not in the same sense as
Murray。 Murray appeals to the imagination of the crowd； Washburn to its
academic instincts。 Washburn is a strategist； working out his match with
mathematical exactness； and always checking up his men as he goes
along。
There is no tennis player whose psychology I admire more than
Washburn's。 He is never beaten until the last point is played； and he is
always dangerous； no matter how great a lead you hold over him。
Another case of the second…class game being made first class； but this
time it is done by mental brilliancy。
WALLACE F。 JOHNSON
Here is another case of a second…class game being used in a first…class
manner； getting first…class results through the direction of a first…class
tennis brain。 Johnson is not the brilliant； analytical mind of Washburn； but
for pure tennis genius Johnson ranks nearly the equal of Brookes。
Johnson is a one…stroke player。 He uses a peculiar slice shot hit from
the wrist。 He uses it in service； ground strokes； volleying； and lobbing。 It is
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a true one…stroke game； yet by sheer audacity of enterprise and wonderful
speed of foot Wallace Johnson has for years been one of the leading
players of America。
SAMUEL HARDY
The overwhelming success of the American Davis Cup team in 1920；
when we brought back the cup from Australia was due in no small
measure to the wonderful generalship displayed by one man； our Captain
Samuel Hardy。
The hardest part of any such trip is the attention to training； relaxation
and accommodations for the team and only perfect judgment can give the
comfort so needed by a team。 It is to Captain Hardy that the team owes its
perfect condition throughout the entire 3；000 miles we journeyed after the
cup。 Yet Captain Hardy's success was far bigger than that； for by his tact；
charming personality and splendid sportsmanship at all times he won a
place for us in the hearts of every country we visited。 Hardy； although a
non…playing member of the team； is a great tennis player。 He is one of the
best doubles players America has produced。 His clever generalship and
wonderful knowledge of the game proved of inestimable value to the team
in laying out our plan of attack in the Davis Cup matches themselves。
Clever； charming； just and always full of the most delightful humour；
Hardy was an ideal Captain who kept his team in the best of spirits no
matter how badly we might have been playing or how depressing appeared
our outlook。
CARL FISCHER
I am including in my analysis of players a boy who is just gaining
recognition but who I believe is to be one of the great stars of the future；
Carl Fischer of Philadelphia。
Young Fischer； who is only 19； is a brilliant； hard hitting left…hander。
He has already won the Eastern Pennsylvania Championship； been runner…
up to Wallace Johnson in the Pennsylvania State； Philadelphia
Championship and Middle States event； besides holding the junior
Championship of Pennsylvania for two years。 He won the University of
Pennsylvania Championship in his freshman year。
His service is a flat delivery of good speed； at times； verging on the
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American twist。 His ground game carries top spin drives forehand and
backhand。 His volleying and overhead are severe and powerful but prone
to be erratic。 Fischer is an all court player of the most modern type。 He is
aggressive； almost too much so at times as he wastes a great deal of
energy by useless rushing。 He needs steadiness and a willingness to await
his opening but gives promise of rounding into a first class player； as his
stroke equipment is second to none。
MARSHALL ALLEN
Far out in the Pacific Northwest in Seattle； Washington； is a young
player who bids fair to some day be world famous。 It is quite possible he
may never arrive at all。
Marshall Allen is a typical Western player。 Allen has a hurricane
service that is none too reliable。 His forehand drive is reminiscent of
McLoughlin。 It is a furious murderous attack when it goes in and
