第 21 节
作者:雨霖铃      更新:2021-05-03 16:33      字数:9320
  the   server    lifting  one   foot  unless    replaced    behind   the   baseline。   It  is
  believed this will do away with the terrific services。 The only effect I can
  see   from  it   is   to   move   the   server   back   a   few   inches;   or   possibly  a   foot;
  while he delivers the same service and follows in with a little more speed
  of foot。 It will not change the game at all。 Sir Oliver Lodge; the eminent
  scientist; has joined the advocates of but one service per point。 This seems
  so radical and in all so useless; since it entirely kills service as other than a
  mere formality; and puts it back where it was twenty…five years ago; that I
  doubt if even the weight of Sir Oliver Lodge's eminent opinion can put it
  over。    To  allow    one   service   is  to  hand   the   game    more   fully   into  the
  receiver's hands than it now rests in the server's。
  The   playing   rules   are   adequate   in   every  way;   and   the   perfect   accord
  with which representatives of the various countries meet and play; happily;
  successfully;      and    what    is   more     important;     annually;    is   sufficient
  endorsement   of   the   fundamental   principles。   The   few   slight   variations   of
  the different countries are easily learned and work no hardships on visiting
  players。   Why   change   a   known   successful   quantity   for   an   unknown?   It
  seldom pays。
  The style of play is now approaching a type which I believe will prove
  to have a long life。 To…day we are beginning to combine the various styles
  in   one   man。    The   champion      of  the  future   will  necessarily    need    more
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  equipment        than   the   champion       of   to…day。   The    present     shows     us  the
  forehand   driving   of   Johnston;   the        service   of   Murray;   the   volleying   of
  Richards; the chop of Wallace F。 Johnson; the smash of Patterson; the half
  volley   of   Williams;   and   the   back   hand   of   Pell。   The   future   will   find   the
  greatest   players   combining   much   of   these   games。   It   can   be   done   if   the
  player will study。 I believe that every leading player in the world in 1950
  will have   a drive and   a chop; fore…   and   backhand from  the   baseline。  He
  will use at least two styles of service; since one will not suffice against the
  stroke of that period。 He will be a volleyer who can safely advance to the
  net; yet his attack will be based on a ground game。 He must smash well。 In
  short; I believe that the key to future tennis success lies in variety of stroke。
  The day of the one…stroke player is passing。 Each year sees the versatile
  game striding forward by leaps and bounds。
  The   future   champion   of   the   world   must   be   a   man   of   keen   intellect;
  since psychology is assuming the importance that is its due。 He must train
  earnestly; carefully; and consistently。 The day of playing successful tennis
  and staying up till daybreak is over。 The game is too fast and too severe
  for   that。   As   competition   increases   the   price   of   success   goes   up;   but   its
  worth increases in a greater ratio; for the man who triumphs in the World's
  Championship   in   1950   will   survive   a   field   of   stars   beyond   our   wildest
  dreams in 1920。
  What of the various countries? America should retain her place at or
  near the top; for the boys we are now developing should not only make
  great   players   themselves;   but   should   carry   on   the   work   of   training   the
  coming generations。
  England   has   but   to   interest   her   youth   in   the   game   to   hold   her   place
  with   the   leaders。   I   believe   it   will   be   done。   I   look   to   see   great   advances
  made in tennis among the boys in England in the next few years。 I believe
  the game will change to conform more to the modern net attack。 England
  will never be the advanced tennis…playing country that her colonies are; for
  her whole atmosphere is one of conservatism in sport。 Still her game will
  change。 Already a slight modification is at work。 The next decade will see
  a   big   change   coming   over   the   style   of   English   tennis。   The   wonderful
  sporting abilities of the Englishman; his ability to produce his best when
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  seemingly down and out mean that; no matter how low the ebb to which
  tennis might fall; the inherent abilities of the English athlete would always
  bring   it   up。   I   sound   pessimistic   about   the   immediate   future。   I   am   not;
  provided English boyhood is interested in the game。
  Japan is the country of the future。 There is no more remarkable race of
  students on the globe than the Japanese。 They like tennis; and are coming
  with    increasing     numbers     to  our   tournaments。      They    prove    themselves
  sterling sportsmen and remarkable players。 I look to see Japan a power in
  tennis in the next twenty…five years。
  France; with her brilliant temperamental unstable people; will always
  provide interesting players and charming opponents。 I do not look to see
  France   materially   change   her   present   positionwhich   is   one   of   extreme
  honour;   of   great   friendliness;   and   keen   competition。   Her   game   will   not
  greatly rise; nor will she lose in any way the prestige that is hers。
  It will be many long years before the players of those enemy countries;
  who plunged the world into the horrible baptism of blood from which we
  have   only   just   emerged;   will   ever   be   met   by   the   players   of   the   Allies。
  Personally; I trust I may not see their re…entry into the game。 Not from the
  question   of   the   individuals;   but   from   the   feeling   which   will   not   down。
  There   is   no   need   to   deal   at   this   time   with   the   future   of   Germany   and
  Austria。
  Australasia and South Africa; the great colonies of the British Empire;
  should be on the edge of a great tennis wave。 I look to see great players
  rise in Australasia to refill the gaps left by the passing of Wilding and the
  retirement   of   Brookes。   It   takes   great   players   to   fill   such   gaps;   but   great
  players are bred from the traditions of the former masters。
  The early season of 1921 saw a significant and to my way of looking
  at it; wise move on the part of New Zealand when the New Zealand tennis
  association withdrew from the Australasian tennis association and decided
  to compete for the Davis Cup in future years as a separate nation。
  No one can deny the great help Australia has been to New Zealand in
  tennis development; but the time has come now for New Zealand to stand
  on her own。 Since the regrettable death of Anthony F。 Wilding; in whose
  memory New Zealand has a tennis asset and standard that will always hold
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  a place in world sport; the New Zealand tennis players have been unable to
  produce      a  player    of  skill   enough     to  make    the   Davis    Cup    team    of
  Australasia。 It has fallen to Australia with Norman E。 Brookes; to whose
  unfailing support and interest Australasian tennis owes its progress since
  the   war;   G。   L。   Patterson;   W。   H。 Anderson;   R。   L。   Heath;   and   Pat   O'Hara
  Wood to uphold the traditions of the game。
  The Davis Cup challenge round of 1921 was staged in New Zealand in
  accord with the agreement between Australia and New Zealand and also in
  memory of A。 F。 Wilding。 The tremendous interest in the play throughout
  the entire country showed the time was ripe for a drastic step forward if
  the step   was   ever   to   be taken。   So   after   careful   consideration the   split of
  Australia and New Zealand has taken place。 What will this mean to New
  Zealand?   First   it   means   that   it   will   be   years   before   another   Davis   Cup
  match   will be   staged   on   her   shores;   for   it   takes   time   and   plenty  of   it   to
  produce a winning team; but at the time; the fact is borne in on the tennis
  playing faction in New Zealand that as soon as they desire to challenge;
  their players will gain the opportunity of International competition。
  Experience matures players faster than anything else and I am sure that
  the move that will place a team of New Zealand players in the field in the
  Davis Cup will be the first and biggest step forward to real world power in
  tennis。    New    Zealand     produced     one   Wilding;     why    should    not   another