A GREAT TENNIS PLAYER.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 August 1919, Page 1

A GREAT TENNIS PLAYER.

(By H. R. McDonald.)

One day last winter a small party of Australian soldiers arrived at Queen’s Club, West Kensington, for a little lawn tenuis practice. Most of them were entirely unknown to the habitues, and yet one of them was destined soon to be the most talked-of man in the game’s revival.

On one of the courts I noticed a well-built, determined-looking young man who served and drove astonishingly. No one seemed able to take his deliveries or to relish his drives. On inquiring of one of the club professionals I was told that the player's name was Patterson—lyieut Gerald E. Patterson* from Australia—and that he was “jolly good.” The news that Queen’s was harbouring an embryo champion almost unawares soon spread. Then came the first post-war tournament with the decision of the Covered Courts championships on the farfamed wooden surfaced courts of the club. Mr Patterson was seen in serious competitive play, and our players went dowii like ninepins until Mr P. M. Dawson's experience and knowledge cf local conditions administered the only defeat the young oversea player has so far sustained in this countrv.

Then the critics arose in their might. “ No back-hand,” said one. “ Par tco erratic,” decided another. But one merely smiled, knovviug full well that Patterson had yet to play on his accustomed surface of grass. One had also seen the despised back-hand in full working order at practice. Surbiton, the first grass-court meeting since Lhe war, arrived and resulted in a great triumph for Patterson. Called upon to meet the cleverest of England’s old brigade of champions, he gave a wonderful display of first-class lawn tennis, justifying to the hilt all that his friends had claimed for him. And now we are waiting to see what the young champion will do at Wimbledon this week.

Meanwhile if one were called upon to diagnose the secret of the new-comer’s success it could be done in one word —severity. Accuracy and pace are ot course the foundations of success in first-class lawn tennis as in many other games. Hardly the acme of accuracy as yet, Patterson gets . an extraordinary amount of pace into all his shots, both overhead and off the ground. His lightning service with its break and “ kick ” is often quite untakable, while his smashes nearly always beat the stop-netting.

If all these arts are not enough to overcome a stubborn opponent, this young Victorian of 23 summers resorts to a wonderful “ chop ” stroke the like of which has not been seen before He can make it deep down the court, the ball being cut in such a fashion that it rises in ■a semicircle to fall just over the net and spin away along the ground in a most disconcerting manner. Against Mr Roper Barrett at Surbiton this stroke alone won many aces and was the chief factor in the great Kuglish player’s undoing.

For the rudiments of his devastating game this world champion in the making has to thank his lather, with “ additional numbers,” as they say in musical comedy, by Mr Norman Brookes, his model and doubles partner in the present championships,