TENNIS NOTABLES

Hokitika Guardian, 17 August 1929, Page 2

TENNIS NOTABLES

IF LOOKS COULD KIEL.

jßy STANLEY;. N. DOUST, in the ■ ■' ; •■' . • , \y;;V* ;V / y Lawn tennis perhaps ipore than any other game, 1 , tests; th 6 ; iff the players.;, i /‘" -,' J . Such things as bad ?/clecisions coming at critical times (asi/.‘they generally do) are most disturbing,' and it is an : interesting psychological study to see how the star players at Wimbledon act under circumstances. 1 •VMiss Helen Wills has an, ideal, temperament. Whether her. imperturbable appearance is the result of self-con-trol or a natural gift; I cannot say. But; if acquired, it is all the more creditable. Miss Wills has never been known by action or expression,; to cavif/at the * umpire’s decision. N ■I saw her lose a vital point through a bad decision ; in a/ championship (which slie lost) without' the slightest alteration; (of, her- expression and- .’she’

never refenred to it afterwards. Hence

lier popularity,. : / '/--v / • : ' •/Tilden is one of! the/best sportsmen: in the worid, but in/the excitenient/ pt the moment he does look at the offending linesman, and if -looks, coiilA .1 kill' that!-poor man would be dead. In (fact Tilden would have quite a lot of dead victims at the end of the season. Til-

den 'simply,j has not Miss Will’s selfcontrol or natural gift of stoicism. . 1 Seftorita. de Alverez is somewhat like Tilden. Shqv “looks'” at' the linesman and so entrancing is she that I once saiv, a reverse liis decision after the senorita hud fixed her eyes on him for 'at least two seconds That >yas a bad thing to do. -/' .H: W. Austin-is inclined to he emo-

tional. He does not appear to im n< ?

bad decision. What affects him is miss : " ing easy shots. He has a habit of showing his emotion by throwing his racquet up and "catching it;. But he §oon gains self-control, and plays well again until'he misses another “sitter.” ■viKErench players are inclined to. lose Jieart. Henri Cochet has a habit of shrugging his shoulders and then not trying for a whole : set ilf. anything happens to upset his equanimity. In Paris he lost the third set to Borotra because that player fell down and got covered with red dust, from the court This made the' crowd roar, with, laughter, which increased when (the ,ball, boy dusted him with a towel. • , ~

Cochet at once became disturbed, held up his hand for this hilarity to cease, and then lost the set and eventually the match. /Happy' temperaments are a joy to see. Borotra is one of those happy persons who take good and bad things alis;e. Nothing affects his fighting spirit except physical fatigue, and even then' he remains ever cheerful and gallant.. ■ : ! •