第 30 节
作者:
雨霖铃 更新:2021-05-03 16:33 字数:9321
McLoughlin。 It is a furious murderous attack when it goes in and quite
useless when it is off。 Allen's backhand is a flat drive played to either side
with equal ease。 At present it is erratic but shows great promise。 Allen
volleys at times brilliantly; but is uncertain and at times misses
unaccountably。 His overhead is remarkably brilliant and severe; but also
erratic。 He reaches great heights and sinks to awful depths。 If Marshall
Allen consolidates his game and refines the material he has at hand he
should be a marvellous player。 If he allows his love of speed to run away
with his judgment at the expense of accuracy and steadiness he will never
rise above the second class。 Time will tell the story。 I look to see him
world famous。
OUR RISING JUNIORS
For a moment I am going to pay tribute to some boys who I look to see
among the stars of the future。 They are all juniors less than eighteen at the
time of writing。
First in importance comes Arnold W。 Jones; of Providence; R。 I。; who
accompanied me to France and England in 1921; where he made a fine
record。 Young Jones has a splendid all…court game; with a remarkable
forehand drive but a tendency to weariness in his backhand and service。
His volleying is excellent。 His overhead erratic。
Second to Jones I place Charles Watson III of Philadelphia。 Here is a
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boy with a most remarkable resemblance to Chuck Garland in style of his
game。 Watson has a fine service; beautiful ground strokes fore and
backhand and a more aggressive volley than Garland。 His overhead lacks
punch。 He is the cleverest court general among the juniors。
Phillip Bettens of San Francisco is a possible successor to Billy
Johnston。 Bettens has a terrific forehand drive and a rushing net attack。 He
needs to steady up his game; but he is a player of great promise。
Armand Marion of Seattle; Washington; is another boy with a finely
rounded game who; given experience and seasoning; bids fair to become a
great star。 Marion does not have enough punch yet and; needs to gain
decisiveness of attack。
Charles Wood of New York; W。 W。 Ingraham of Providence; Milo
Miller and Eric Wood of Philadelphia; John Howard of Baltimore; and
others are of equal class and of nearly equal promise to the boys I have
mentioned。
In the younger class of boys those under 15; one finds many
youngsters already forming real style。 The boy who shows the greatest
promise and today the best all…round game; equalling in potential power
even Vincent Richards at the same age; is Alexander L。 (Sandy) Wiener of
Philadelphia。 At fourteen young Weiner is a stylist of the highest all…court
type。
Among the other boys who may well develop into stars in the future
are Meredith W。 Jones; Arthur Ingraham; Jr。; Andrew Clarke Ingraham;
Miles Valentine; Raymond Owen; Richard Chase; Neil Sullivan; Henry
Neer; and Edward Murphy。
There are many other great players I would like to analyse; but space
forbids。 Among our leaders are Roland Roberts; John Strachan; C。 J。
Griffin; Davis; and Robert Kinsey in California; Walter T。 Hayes; Ralph
Burdock; and Heath Byford in the Middle West; Howard Voshell; Harold
Throckmorton; Conrad B。 Doyle; Craig Biddle; Richard Harte; Colket
Caner; Nathaniel W。 Niles; H。 C。 Johnson; Dean Mathey; and many others
of equal fame in the East。
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CHAPTER XIII。 BRITISH ISLES
J。 C。 PARKE
There is no name in tennis history of the past decade more famous
than that of J。 C。 Parke。 In twelve months; during 1912 and 1913; he
defeated Brookes; Wilding; and M'Loughlina notable record; and now in
1920; after his wonderful work in the World War; he returns to tennis and
scores a decisive victory over W。 M。 Johnston。
Parke is essentially a baseline player。 His service is soft; flat; but well
placed。 His ground strokes are hit with an almost flat racquet face and a
peculiar short swing。 He uses a pronounced snap of the wrist。 He slices his
straight backhand shot; but pulls his drive 'cross court。 It is Parke's famous
running drive down the line that is the outstanding feature of his game。
Parke was a ten…second hundred…yard man in college; and still retains his
remarkable speed of foot。 He hits his drive while running at top speed and
translates his weight to the ball。 It shoots low and fast down the line。 It is a
marvellous stroke。
Parke's volleying is steady and well placed but not decisive。 His
overhead is reliable and accurate; but lacks 〃punch。〃 The great factor of
Parke's game is his uncanny ability to produce his greatest game under the
greatest stress。 I consider him one of the finest match players in the world。
His tactical knowledge and brainy attack are all the more dangerous;
because he has phenomenal power of defence and fighting qualities of the
highest order。 There is no finer sportsman in tennis than Parke。 Generous;
quiet; and modest; Parke is deservedly a popular figure with the tennis
world。
A。 R。 F。 KINGSCOTE
The most recent star to reach the heights of fame in English tennis is
Major A。 R。 F。 Kingscote。 Kingscote has played good tennis for some
years; but it was only in 1919; following his excellent work in the War;
that he showed his true worth。 He defeated Gobert in sequence sets in the
Davis Cup tie at Deauville; and followed by defeating Anderson in
Australia and carrying Patterson to a hard match。 Since then he has
steadily improved and this season found him the leading figure of the
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British team。
Kingscote played much of his early tennis with R。 N。 Williams in
Switzerland during 1910 and 1911。 The effect of this training is easily
seen on his game to…day for; without Williams' dash and extreme brilliancy;
their strokes are executed in very much the same style。
Kingscote's service is a fast slice; well placed and cleverly disguised。 It
carries a great deal of pace and twist。 His ground strokes are hit off the
rising bound of the ball; with a flat raquet face or a slight slice。 His
wonderful speed of foot offsets his lack of height; and he hits either side
with equal facility。 There are no gaps in Kingscote's game。 It is perfectly
rounded。 His favourite forehand shot is 'cross court; yet he can hit equally
well down the line。 His backhand is steady; very accurate and deceptive;
but rather lacks speed。 His volleying is remarkable for his court covering
and angles; but is not the decisive win of Williams or Johnston。 He is the
best volleyer in the British Isles。 His overhead is reliable and accurate for
so short a man; but at times is prone to lack speed。
Kingscote is a sound tactician without the strategic brilliance of Parke。
He is a fine match player and dogged fighter。 Witness his 5…set battle with
me in the Championships; after being match point down in the fourth set;
and his 5…set struggle with Johnston in the Davis Cup。 It is a slight lack of
decisiveness all round that keeps Kingscote just a shade below the first
flight。 He is a very fine player; who may easily become a top…notch man。
His pleasant; modest manner and generous sportsmanship make him an
ideal opponent; and endear him to the gallery。
H。 ROPER BARRETT
One of the real tennis tacticians; a man who is to…day a veteran of
many a notable encounter; yet still dangerous at all times; is H。 Roper
Barrett。
A member of every Davis Cup team since the matches were
inaugurated; a doubles player of the highest strategy;