TENNIS TOPICS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 16, 31 October 1935, Page 7

TENNIS TOPICS

EXPRESSION OF INDIVIDUALITY.

COACHING YOUNG PLAYERS. (By “Forehand”).. The coaching of young tennis players is an expert’s job. Far too often the task of polishing or reconstructing a player’s technique is undertaken by a well meaning but inexperienced playe" and often the result is disastrous, declares a Melbourne critic.

The building of a sound tennis technique should be the aim of every young tennis player. This can only be done under the observation of an expert.

A well-grounded tennis technique should last for all time. The freak game will last just so long as the feet retain their pace or the eyes their brightness. With the thirties past a general deterioration in prowess takes place, when freak shots are made a mainstay.

1 The coach on looking a pupil over has first the all important decision to make as to whether Jhe colt lias a natural basis for development, or is a fit subject for a complete reconstruction. Capacity for the game is the first essential that the coach must develop. Looking oyer the competitors in. the schoolgirls’ championship of Victoria, I was struck with the fact that almost every girl had evidence of coaching. Some were endeavouring to copy exactly the' text book, others tempered the text book with bright individuality and with pleasing results. I felt, however, that many coaches are stripping the pupil of individuality in their fight for uniformity and orthodoxy. Not every player will become the topiiotclier and the mediuuT player is entitled to the pleasure derived fron>. the expression of individuality. A coach should be content to build up the individuality in, such a ease, but I felt that fin many cases the coach was wrecking the natural game and leaving a cold orthodoxy which probably will never be mastered in its place. The expert is the man who knows his text hook sufficiently well to depart from its teaching whenever the question demands. He sets about attaining his results through developing natural assets. The young players to-day are gradually sorting themselves up under the influence of coaching. Some, aie following lines of pure orthodoxy, some are _ developing natural inclinations. Some will finish with a hybrid style—a

horrible fusion of orthodoxy and natural inclination. Davis Cup Ceremony. After Perry had beaten Allison at’ Wimbledon and given Great Britain a five-to-nothing victory over the. United States, the challengers, there was a little ceremony, says the London correspondent of the “Manchester Guardian.” First of all two large cocoanut mats were brought out (the net having been removed) and placed end to end in the middle of the court. A stand was placed on the 'middle of the , mats, which was then draped with the Urn oll Jack and tho Stars and Stripes Then an ornamental round base, embellished with silver, was laid on the top ot the stand, and on top of that the Davis Cup, all nicely cleaned for the occasion. A strong posses of photographers took up position’. . , „ , , Then the two teams arrived—all but Allison and Perry in mufti, which made them look quite ordinary people. The Americans elected to have their hands in their pockets. Our men ha theirs clasped behind them Little Mr Roper Barrett was at the end of the line, which carefully toed esi line Then Princess Helena Victona accompanied by Sir Samuel Hoare and Sir Herbert Wilberforce, came> on the scene, and Sir Samuel intimated that the Princess would present the cup. The Princess had an inspection the line toa.n up, on, (Sle in most friendly^*°ds; That part over the Princess presented the cup. J-elt there should have been a fanfaie but there was nothing hl» ty at - - 1 , Roper Barrett received the cup and managed to retreat with it back to hi_ place, still bowing and walking back wards, a stirring feat. . A “ei Pri cess departed the triumphant team, Perry, Austin, Tuckey and i Hughes, with the trophy, Mr Bairett and Austin holding it joint!}.

Chinese Schoolgirl Champion. The greatest lawn tennis player ,„ 0»g iu representing the cream of British schoolgirl talent has to be the tiniest of the lot, wrrt.es Ulyss Rogers in the London “Daily She is a child four years below the maximum age. She is a Chmeso too ■ horn in Hongkong, by name Gem Hoahing. She is U years of age and has now grown tall enough for hei head and neck to appear over the top of the net. - Gem Hoahing is a marvel player, one of the outstanding child prodigies m the history of the game. The others aie Lenglen and B’etty Nuthall Last year, in this schoolgirl tournament at Queen’s, Gem won the under sixteen” cup. This year she entered for the senior cup—age limit 18. She has this year sailed right through the competition with, the loss of on y one bC She met in the final Daphne Rowe, 17 years old, the winner of the senior section last year. Daphne is also the junior champion of Great Britain. Yet little Gem Hoahing whacked Daphne, 6-2, 6-3. Daphne is' sft 9in; strong, with a hefty punch at the ball. But -when the game started! Gem hit the hall hard on the forehand, hard on the backhand; her agile brain was working out angles; she lured the enemy to the net; passed her across court, down the side line, and lobbed her with a precision that many a Wimbledon player might envy. Daphne put over some hot shots but Gem did not mind them. Rather she disliked soft, high returns. Gem’s expression is just the same whether win-

ning or losing. Off the court she is a silent child. She is a British subject and eligible for the Wightman Cup. But that is anticipating.