第 14 节
作者:雨霖铃      更新:2021-05-03 16:33      字数:9322
  important。 Eat well; but do not over…eat; particularly immediately before
  playing。 I   believe in   a large hearty breakfast   on the day of   a big   match。
  This should be taken by nine…thirty。 A moderate lunch at about one o'clock
  if playing at three。 Do not eat very rich food at luncheon as it tends to slow
  you up on the court。 Do not run the risk of indigestion; which is the worst
  enemy to dear eyesight。 Rich; heavy food immediately before retiring   is
  bad; as it is apt to make you 〃loggy〃 on the court the next day。
  It  is  certain   injury   to   touch   alcoholic    drink    in  any   form    during
  tournament play。 Alcohol is a poison that affects the eye; the mind; and the
  windthree   essentials in   tennis。 Tobacco   in   moderation does little   harm;
  although it; too; hits eye and wind。 A man who is facing a long season of
  tournament play should refrain from either alcohol or tobacco in any form。
  Excesses   of   any   kind   are   bad   for   physical   condition;   and   should   not   be
  chanced。
  Late   hours   cause   sluggishness   of   mind   and   body   the   next   day。   It   is
  very   dangerous   to   risk   them   before   a   hard   match。   The   moving   pictures
  immediately before playing tennis are bad; owing to the eye strain caused
  by the flicker of the film and the strong light of the camera。 Lead a normal;
  healthy  life;   and   conserve   your nervous   force   wherever   possible;   as   you
  will need it in the hard matches。
  〃Staleness〃 is the great enemy of players who play long seasons。 It is a
  case of too much tennis。 Staleness is seldom physical weariness。 A player
  can always recover his strength by rest。 Staleness is a mental fatigue due
  often to worry or too close attention to tennis; and not enough variety of
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  thought。      Its  symptoms       are   a   dislike   for   the   tennis    game     and   its
  surroundings; and a lack of interest in the match when you are on the court。
  I advocate a break in training at such a time。 Go to the theatre or a concert;
  and get your mind completely off tennis。 Do your worrying about tennis
  while you are playing it; and forget the unpleasantness of bad play once
  you are off the court。 Always have some outside interest you can turn to
  for   relaxation   during   a   tournament;   but   never   allow   it   to   interfere   with
  your   tennis   when   you should   be   intent   on   your   game。 A  nice  balance   is
  hard to achieve; but; once attained is a great aid to a tournament player。 I
  find my relaxation in auction bridge。 I know many other players who do
  likewise。 Among them are Mrs。 Franklin Mallory; Wallace F。 Johnson; W。
  M。 Johnston and Samuel Hardy。
  The   laws   of   training   should   be   closely   followed   before   and   after   a
  match。 Do not get chilled before a match; as it makes you stiff and slow。
  Above all else do not stand around without a wrap after a match when you
  are hot or you will catch cold。
  Many a player has acquired a touch of rheumatism from wasting time
  at the close of his match instead of getting his shower while still warm。
  That   slight   stiffness   the   next   day   may   mean   defeat。 A  serious   chill   may
  mean severe illness。 Do not take chances。
  Change   your   wet   clothes   to   dry  ones   between   matches   if   you   are   to
  play twice in a day。 It will make you feel better; and also avoid the risk of
  cold。
  Tournament       players    must    sacrifice   some    pleasures    for  the   sake   of
  success。   Training   will   win   many   a   match   for   a   man   if   he   sticks   to   it。
  Spasmodic training is useless; and should never be attempted。
  The condition a player is; in is apt to decide his mental viewpoint; and
  aid him in accustoming himself to the external conditions of play。
  All   match     players   should    know     a  little  about   the  phenomenon        of
  crowd…psychology   since;   as   in   the   case   of   the   Church…Murray   match   I
  related   some   time   back;   the   crowd   may   play   an   important   part   in   the
  result。
  It seldom pays to get a crowd down on you。 It always pays to win its
  sympathy。 I do not mean play to the gallery; for that will have the opposite
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  effect than the one desired。
  The gallery is always for the weaker player。 It is a case of helping the
  〃under…dog。〃 If you are a consistent winner you must accustom yourself to
  having   the   gallery   show   partiality   for   your   opponent。   It   is   no   personal
  dislike    of   you。   It  is  merely   a   natural   reaction    in  favour    of   the  loser。
  Sometimes a bad decision to one play will win the crowd's sympathy for
  him。   Galleries   are   eminently   just   in   their   desires;   even   though   at   times
  their emotions run away with them。
  Quite   aside   from   the   effect   on   the   gallery;   I   wish   to   state   here   that
  when   you   are   the   favoured   one   in   a   decision   that   you   know   is   wrong;
  strive to equalize it if possible by unostentatiously losing the next point。
  Do not hit the ball over the back stop or into the bottom of the net with a
  jaunty air of 〃Here you are。〃 Just hit it slightly out or in the net; and go on
  about   your   business   in   the   regular   way。   Your   opponent   always   knows
  when you   extend him  this justice;  and he appreciates it;  even though he
  does not expect it。 Never do it for effect。 It is extremely bad taste。 Only do
  it when your sense of justice tells you you should。
  The   crowd   objects;   and   justly   so;   to   a   display   of   real   temper   on   the
  court。 A player who loses his head must expect a poor reception from the
  gallery。 Questioned decisions by a player only put him in a bad light with
  the crowd and cannot alter the point。 You may know the call was wrong;
  but grin at it; and the crowd will join you。 These things are the essence of
  good   sportsmanship;   and   good   sportsmanship   will   win   any   gallery。   The
  most unattractive player in the world will win the respect and admiration
  of a crowd by a display of real sportsmanship at the time of test。
  Any player who really enjoys a match for the game's sake will always
  be a fine sportsman; for there is no amusement to a match that does not
  give your opponent his every right。 A player who plays for the joy of the
  game   wins   the   crowd   the   first time   he   steps   on   the   court。 All the   world
  loves an optimist。
  The more tennis I play; the more I appreciate my sense of humour。 I
  seldom play a match when I do not get a smile out of some remark from
  the gallery; while I know that the gallery always enjoys at least one hearty
  laugh   at   my   expense。   I   do   not   begrudge   it   them;   for   I   know   how   very
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  peculiar tennis players in general; and myself in particular; appear when
  struggling vainly to reach a shot hopelessly out of reach。
  Two delightful elderly ladies were witnessing Charles S。 Garland and
  myself     struggle    against   Mavrogordato;       and   Riseley    at  the   Edgbaston
  tournament in England in 1920。 One turned to the other and said: 〃Those
  are the Americans!〃
  〃Oh;〃   said   the   second   lady   resignedly;   〃I   thought   so。   The   tall   one
  'meaning me' looks rather queer。〃
  During the Davis Cup match against the French at Eastbourne; I went
  on the court against Laurentz in my blue 〃woolly〃 sweater。 The day was
  cold;   and   I   played   the   match   4…1   in   Laurentz'   favour;   still   wearing   it。   I
  started to remove it at the beginning of the sixth game; when the gallery
  burst   into   loud   applause;   out   of   which   floated   a   sweet   feminine   voice:
  〃Good! Now maybe the poor boy will be able to play!〃
  For the first time I realized just what the gallery thought of my efforts
  to play tennis; and also of the handicap of the famous 〃blue…bearskin〃 as
  they termed it。
  My   favourite   expression   during   my   Davis   Cup   trip   happened   to   be
  〃Peach〃 for any particularly good shot by my opponent。 The gallery at the
  Championship;   quick   to   appreciate   any   mannerism   of   a   player;   and   to;
  know him by it; enjoyed the remark on many occasions as the ball went
  floating by me。 In my match with Kingscote in the final set; the court was
  very slippery owing to the heavy drizzle that had been falling th