第 11 节
作者:雨霖铃      更新:2021-05-03 16:33      字数:9322
  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;
  41
  … Page 42…
  THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
  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
  42
  … Page 43…
  THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
  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
  43
  … Page 44…
  THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
  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。〃
  44
  … Page 45…
  THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
  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