THE GAME
What will be the outcome of the world-wide boom in tennis? Will the game change materially in the coming years? Time, alone, can answer; but with that rashness that seizes one when the opportunity to prophesy arrives and no one is at hand to cry "Hold, hold," I dare to submit my views on the coming years in international tennis.
I do not look to see a material change in the playing rules.A revival of the footfault fiend, who desires to handicap the server, is international in character and, like the poor, "always with us." The International Federation has practically adopted a footfault rule for 1921 that prohibits 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 moreequipment 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 whenseemingly 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 position--which 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.
