Lawn Tennis and How to Play It

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 274, 9 February 1928, Page 9

Lawn Tennis and How to Play It

By RENE LACOSTE XVIII. TACTICS (Exclusive to The Sun). In practice games, victory may come to muscle, represented by good strokes; in match play, it will come to brain, represented by good tactics. Many experts have been brought to fame by sound tactics in spite of unorthodox and comparatively weak strokes. Mavrogordato, for instance, or Wallace Johnston, or Sleem —such players have been known to beat much better players simply because they used their weaker strokes more effectively. PLAY YOUR BEST STROKE In practising, your ' Jness is to improve your play, and to this end you must then play your weakest strokes, to make them better. In a match, your business is to win, and you must therefore only play your strongest strokes. If your service is good, do not tire yourself by playing it hard in practices, but put every of play into it in matches. If you are good as a volleycr, follow your service in matches as much as you can. If your forehand drive is good, try to stay slightly on the left of the court so as to be able to play more forehand and less backhand. In match play you must not bother unduly about rules and principles and good style, but simply play “all out.” Most players, as soon as they know which are their best strokes and exactly how much pace and spin they can safely impart to the ball without loss of control, adopt a definite set of tactics to suit their play. Some, such as Gordon Lowe, Jacob, Johnston and Shimidzu play with Japanese wizardry which is very hard to meet. Players of this type can always beat any cham pion who is not at the top of his form. Othcjrs choose more audacious and aggressive tactics, Anderson and Washer, for instance, relying on the drive, MacLoughlin and Patterson on service, and Murray and Borotra on volleying. This type of player always plays the same game, hitting every stroke as hard as possible to the best position for scoring. He plays his own game, regardless of his opponent’s answering tactics, . and success either comes or fails according to his form and according to whether or not the opponent knows how to meet the attack.

The greatest champion, however, must not play on any set tactical scheme. He must be able to mix steadiness and speed, attack and defence, he must change his tactics to fit outside conditions or a new opponent He must play the game that best suits his temperament and his capabilities, but he must vary it, remembering that the strokes and tactics that will beat one opponent will not necessarily answer the play of another. For instance, against a very good volleyer, it may pay a weak volleyer to go to the net, simply in order to drive his opponent from it. Similarly, when playing against fast drives that carry top spin, it may pay a man whose best drive is straight to use some undercut. It all depends upon your opponent’s play. You have to give him the shots that he most dislikes to meet. If your forehand across court drive is strong, you should use it frequently, but if your opponent is weak in his backhands, you must alter your play a id send most of your shots along the line to force him to use that weak backhand. Three years ago Cochet’s straight forehand stroke was weak; but he has been forced to play it so often against players who played particular: * against it that it is now nearly as good as his across court drive. Sometimes it will happen that your best stroke is the one your opponent most fears, and so you will be able to beat him even if - " ' really below his class. Johnston c..n defeat Patterson with his hard drive taken on the rise, and Anderson can beat Johnston with his straight low-bouncing drive. UNCERTAINTY OF THE GAME Even if your opponent is well below your usual standard of play, you can never be certain of victory. If you return service with a chop stroke and your opponent sends you a slice bah, you will lose many returns all through the match. If you use top spin and he uses undercut, your strokes may become erratic. That is why you have got to learn to alter your strokes and your tactics according to the play of your opponent. The first time Tilden met Patterson, he discovered in the very first set that a low sliced backhand could ruin Patterson’s backhand, and he adapted his play accordingly. If you are a good tactician, you will oblige your opponent to use his weakest stroke, and you will even force that stroke to become still weaker. Against a real champion, a player’s level is that of his worst stroke. Suzanne Lenglen is an excellent example of this. She knows how to punch Miss Fry’s weak backhand, how to make Miss Ryan’s chop erratic, and how to draw Mrs. Mallory to the net. She does not fear any stroke, and what is more she knows how to make the weaknesses of her opponents still weaker. Do not imagine that it is not fair play to take advantage of exernal conditions and aggravate their effect on your opponent. It is perfectly fair, and as soon as you change ends he will do it to you. If the sun is in your opponent’s eyes and the wind in your favour, send him lobs; on a wet court use undercut, on a hot day use top-spin. Do not only attack your opponent’s strokes, attack also his stamina. Make him run. Tire him out. You must not hurry him between rallies, but while the ball is in play do not be afraid of tiring him by your accurate placing. Do not forget to anticipate your opponent’s strokes. Under given conditions, most players will return a ball to the same place, and if you move toward that place you will 'have more chance of reaching the ball. Do not hesitate to run after desperate shots; not only may you save tne point, but when your opponent sees your energy and determination he will try to hit harder next time xnd this may cause him to miss the shot. Above all, when your tactics are bringing you victory, preserve them; when they are bringing you defeat, change them. Attack is the best defence, and hard hitting the best attack. (NEXT WEEK.—MATCH PLAY)

FINED FOR LAXITY EXAMPLES MADE OF CLUBS As a salutary example to clubs which are lax in sending in names of teams and results of matches, the L.T.A. has decided to inflict fines of 5s on two clubs, Auckland and Onehunga. The secretary, Mr. L. W. Swan, pointed out the difficulty of keeping the results up to date if clubs did not obey the rules of the competition. “It causes a lot of inconvenience,” said the president. “We should bring them to book.” Teams are supposed to be in by the Tuesday of each week, and results should reach Mr. Swan on Mondays. “SIMPLY WONDERFUL!” L.T.A PRESIDENT ON THE FRENCH “The tennis from all points of view was simply wonderful,” declared Mr. L. Hickson in his report on his visit to Wellington to greet the Frenchmen. .“The visitors had only a short time to train, but they went for it, for they are great sports. Our fellows put up a wonderful fight, and upheld the honour of Auckland in a way which satisfied everyone that the three Aucklanders in the New Zealand team were exactly the right men in the right place.” HAURAKI PLAINS TENNIS

ANNUAL TOURNAMENTS HANDICAPS AND DRAWS The annual tournaments of the Hauraki Plains Tennis Association will commence on Saturday next, at the courts of the Ngatea Club. The draw and the handicaps are as follow; THE CHAMPIONSHIPS Men’s Singles.—First and second rounds: W. E. Murphy v. C. N. o i-.uu o iilin; D. /. AI. O’Connor; .J. M. Devereux v. A. R. Vowles; J. Duffy v. winner of following first round match; S. Coppins v. E. Puiman; D. G. McMillan v. winner of following first round match; H. Vowles v. G. Crisp; E. C. Smart v. E. Clay; L. Squires v. A. E. Ludlow; G. L. Griffiths v. V. O’Connor. Men’s Doubles.—First ..and second rounds: McClean and Mahoney v. Ludlow and .Clare; O'Connor Brothers v. Murphy and McMillan; winners play Griffiths and Otter; Duffy and Puiman v. Taylor and Harris; winners play Vowles and Vowles; Coppins and Coppins v. Smart and O’Loughlin. Women’s Singles.—First round: Mrs. O’Loughlin v. Miss Duffy; Airs. Reid v. Airs. Speedy; Mis 3 Benny v. Airs. Bertelsen; Airs. Bird a bye. HANDICAPS Men’s Singles.—First round: H. Aberhart (rec. 12), a bye; D. Murphy (owe 12) v. S. Harris (rec. 10); J. B. AlcMillan (scr.) v. A. E. Ludlow (scr.); G. Crisp (owe 15) v. E. Olsen (rec. 8); J. AI. Devereux (scr.), v. W E. Alurphy (owe 25); J. Kidd (rec. 12) v. E. Puiman (owe 8); A. AleAlillan (owe 2) v. H. Hayward (rec. 5); C. N. O’Loughlin (owe 2) v. S. Griffiths (rec. 12); M. O’Connor (owe 15) v. E. A. Mahoney (rec. ft); A. R. Vowles (owe 5) v. E. Morgan (scr.); G. Paton (scr.) v. V. O’Connor (owe 15); J. Duffy (scr.) v. A. H. McClean (rec. 10); G. Birkenhead (owe 2) v. E. C. Smart (owe 2); H. McConnell (rec. 10) v. H. Vowles (rec. 10); R. McKay (rec. 8) v. F. Griffiths (rec. 12); K.’ Clare a bye. Women's Singles.—First round: Airs. O’Loughlin (owe 8) v. Mrs. W. Kidd (rec. 5); Aliss AI. Aliller (rec. 5) v. Miss Beth Benny (rec. 5); Miss Duffy (owe 20) v. Miss Rountree (rec. 8); Aliss Rogers (scr.) v. Miss Eliot (rec. 10); Mrs. ‘Reid (scr.) v. Aliss Mavis Beaver (owe 5);. Airs. Speedy (owe 12) v. Aliss At. Clotworthy (owe 5); Airs. Bertelsen (scr.) v. Mrs. Bird (owe 8): Mrs. F. Clotwortliy (owo 12) v. Aliss Benny (owe 8)* Aliss Green (scr.), a bye; Miss Aladge Beaver (owe 5), a bye. Men’s Doubles.—First round: Devereux and partner—v. Griffiths and Aberhart (rec. 10); AlcKay and Candy (owe 10) v. Taylor and Harris (scr.); O’Loughlin and Smart (owe 6) v. Vowles and Vowles (rec. 7); McKay and Crockford (rec. 5) v. Griffiths and Otter (owe 20): Alahoney and McClean (rec. 5) v. O’Connor Brothers (owe 10); Olsen and AlcConnell (rec. 5) v. Clare and Hayward (scr.): Crisp and Clay (owe 10) v. Ludlow and Sydenham (scr.); Duffy and Puiman (owe 8) v. Aforgan and Paton (owe 8). Women’s Doubles.—First and second rounds: Misses Beaver (owe 5) v. Airs. O’Loughlin and Aliss Rogers (owe 7): Mis-5' ** Duffy 10) •» winner of first round match between Mrs. Reici and Airs Bertelsen (owe 5) v. Aliases Candy (ccr); Mrs- Bird and Aliss Benny (owe 12) v. Airs. F. and Mrs. Clotworthy (owe 20); Miss Aliller and Aliss Green (scr.) v. Airs. Kidd and Aliss Parker (scr.). Mixed Doubles.—First and second rounds: M. O’Connor and Mrs. Bird (owe i*m v frisr r*T r Aliss Park sr 'owe M; Mr. and Vrs. O’Lmignlm (owe 10) v. and Aliss Candy (rec. 5): V. O’Connor and Miss Bennv (owe 8) v. Kidd and Mrs. Kidd (rec. 10); Paton and Aliss Aladge Beaver (owe 6) v. winners of first round match between AlcKay and Aliss Candy (scr.) v. Vowles and Mrs. Speedy (owe 12); Mahoney and Airs. Reid (scr.) v. Clare and Aliss Rountree (rec. 8); winners play Ludlow and Airs. Bertelsen (scr.); Clay and Airs. Clay (owe 5) v. Olsen and Mrs. do t worth v (owe 3); W. Murphy and Miss Duffy owe 25) v. Smart and Aliss Rogers (oAve fi); S. Coppins and Miss Chatfield (owe 10) V. Mr. and Miss Devereux (rec. 10). SATURDAY’S MATCHES INTER-CLUB DRAW City inter-club matches will be continued on Saturday and the outersuburban games will be resumed after the holiday break. The draws are as follows: CITY GAMES Grade B.—Alount Albert v. St. Heliers Bay, St. Heliers Bay. Grade C. —Aratonga (1) v. Lyndale, Lynndale; Alount Albert v. United, United; Aratonga (2) v. St. Heliers Bay, Aratonga. Grade D.—Otahuhu v. Birkenhead and Northcote (1), Stanley Street; Rawhiti (1) v. Seddonian, Stanley Street. OUTER-SUBURBAN Grade A.—Papatoetoe v. Clevedon, Clevedon; Alangere East v. Alangere Central, Alangere Central; Alanurewa v. Valiey, Alanurewa; Papakura v. East Tamaki, Papakura. Grade B.—Papatoetoe v. Clevedon, Papatoetoe; Alangere East v. Alangere Central, Alangere East; Alanurewa v. Valley, Valley; Papakura v. East Tamaki, East Tamaki. WAIKARE TOURNEY KNOCK-OUT COMPETITION The knock-out competition of the Waikare Tennis Association will be played on the Waerenga courts, commencing on Saturday, February 18. Singles only will be played on the first day and nominations close with the secretary on February 16. The Te Kauwh&ta Club were the winners of the shield for 1928.

WAITEMATA RETAINS SOMERVILLE SHIELD

EIGHT-OARED ROWING HADLEY BREAKS HIS OAR Waitemata retained the Somerville Shield in an eight-oar race rowed from Orakei to Queen's Wharf last night. The challengers, West End, were unlucky from the start, when S. Hadley, rowing five, broke his oar. The crews were: Waitemata. —T. Johnson, str.; L. Brooker, 7; N. Doubleday, 6; A. McKay, 5; V. Smith, 4; W. Stevenson, 3; C. G. Fearon, 2; J. AI. Stevenson, bow; H. Cullen, cox. West End.—J. Skinner, str.; S. B. Rutledge, 7; W. Bloxham, 6; S. Hadley, 5; G. Dowling, 4; O. Felton, 3; L. Strang, 2; G. Conway, bow; M. Conway, cox. In the West End crew the reappearance of S. B. Rutledge, who rowed with successful service crews in England after the war, was a matter of some interest. In the Waitemata crew D. M. Smith could not appear, and was replaced by J. M. Stevenson. After two postponements through bad conditions earlier in the season, the water last night was ideal, but misfortune again attended the picture. Soon after the start Hadley’s oar sprung, and then snapped. Waitemata, who were leading, stopped to see what was wrong, and then paddled on. Under the circumstances West End could hardly hope to keep up over the threemile course, and the race was a procession.