TENNIS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 14 January 1931, Page 3

TENNIS

A BRITISH “ROPE” (From Our Own Correspondent) LONDON, 27th November. The embryonic champions of British lawn tennis are liavd to find, but the career of F. J. Perry, wlio lias recently won tlie championship of the Argentine, ofl'ers high promise. H. W. Austin lias been given the rank of No. 1, but by many good judges Perry is believed to have more possibilities than any otliei English player. The sou of a Labour member of Parliament, Perry was allowed six months’ holiday from business in order that lie might develop liis game, and he has made splendid use of his oppoi - tunity. The first tiling lie did was to get to within match point with Austin in the hard-eo.urts championship. A little later he defeated the great Italian player, Bayon H. L. de Alorpurgo, at Wimbledon. In the meantime, lie has toured the United States and South America as a member of the team sent out by tlie Lawn Tennis Association, and lie has made steady progress. In the official ranking list he was placed at No. 7, but it is too low.

A strong youngster, Perry never tires no matter liow long a match may be, and this gives him an advantage over Austin. His best stroke is a bold forehand drive of low flight, which lie follows to the net with fine confidence. At the net he is quick on liis feet, and is helped iii his interception by his hue power of anticipation. He is notable, too, for his forcefulness overhead. For several years the ability to put the ball away with a certain “kill” has been a serious weakness of English tennis, h\it Perry lacks nothing in decisive finality.