Tennis Puzzle.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 302, 21 December 1935, Page 4 (Supplement)

Tennis Puzzle.

THE CLASS OF BROMWICH. "The Bogy Man of Australian Tennis." John Bromwich, the 17-year-old N'.S.W. tennis prodigy, is tlio bogy man of Australian tennis to-day, writes 11. A. do Lacy, of Melbourne. Just how

good is he?

Tliero are, many shades of opinion in regard to his tennis possibilities. However, for general classification, there arc those who say he will, and those who say lie will not, reach the front line in world tennie. Victoria eagerly awaited Bromwich's appearance at the, Albert Ground. Hi* record nmdo him the draw-card, of the triangular inter-Stato tournament. Victoria is now wondering how Bromwich has established himself on the heights. Quist outclassed him, and while Hopman went down in straight sets, he defeated himself without any help from Bromwich. Hopman was out of touch. and would have Ivon defeated that day by'any first-cluss Australian player who was content to keep the ball in play. After seeing Bromwich in action against Quist, I ivill be surprised if lie defeats Adrian again this side of many summers. His win in Adelaide last season undoubtedly unsettled Quiet, and in Xew South Wales Quist played within lumsclf — played carefully, and was in trouble immediately. Somewhat similarly in Brisbane, Quiet did not let himself go properly until the championship, and was In danger with Bromwich leading in the ii ftit set. At tho Albert Ground once Quist settled down he made Bromwich look a novice. Quist should now have overcome any inferiority complex he had in relation to tho youngster.

Tho supporters of Bromwich are mostly players. They know from experience, most of it bitter disappoint-

ment, just how difficult to overcome this boy can be. His critics are certainly not participants in tennis championships to-day, but they embrace some of the best '.judges of" tennis the game has known.

I moved around the Albert Ground during the triangular inter-State matches, and sought opinions on Bromwich. The players to a man hold Bromwich in a reverence almost amounting to fear. The best judges outside the players shake their heads and say "Xot nearly there vet."

Players are not always the best judges of one another's worth or possibilities. Tenseness can, in a certain set of circumstances, result in a player becoming so muscle bound that he cannot do himself anything approaching justice. Mental difficulties are established where no difficulty should exist.

In just this way I believe Bromwieh is a bogy man to his opponents to-day.

His record is a startling one. Kg hold? the singles championship of South Australia, having defeated Quist and Turnbull in winning the title. He was run-ner-up to Quint in the Queensland chain-

pionship, and pressed him in the semifinale of the New South Wales championship, which Quist ultimately won. Others' of our best players, have been reduced to mediocracy by Bromwich.

Bromwich plays that tantalising game that reduces hits opponent to his own level. Others have succeeded with similar methods, but Bromwich ie a master at dragging the aggression from a player. That is what is happening in Australia to-day.

Analyse Bromwich. He has a highly developed court eense. He is persistent. He has developed control of length. Hie analysis of an opponent is remarkable and he has the ability to raise doubts in his opponent's mind in regard to the strong points of his recognised methods.

On the other fide, Bromwich has a lamentably weak service. His lirst ball enn be hit hard by any player with "round shots. The initiative is immediately taken from Bromwich against a forceful player. His cumbersome twohanded shot can be whipped in good nnd fast if Bromwich is allowed to take position first, from a flat-out defensive position it is a weak shot. His lefthand shot, at Albert Ground at least, was nine times out of twelve three feet above the top of the net.

Here is the greatest weakness in Bromwieh'e methods. He plays the fading ball oft both his two-handed shot and his left-handed shot. He allows the bounce to reach its peak, and begin to drop" before he hits the ball near the ground. This delay in hitting the ball iillows a net rusher extra time to take up his position, and results in loss of value in Bromwich's passing- shots.

It might bo argued that Ellsworth Vines hit a fading ball for his drive. Ho did, but Vinos is a totally different player to Bromwich. He clouted the ball hard and followed it into the net. Vet even Vine* was beaten by the early acceptance of the ball by Crawford and forced into errors.

Bromwich, to succeed, must tie an opponent to the baseline. With a weak service and loft in his passing shots, how long - will he live against players of the Perry, Vines types. There arc plenty of them in world tennis to-day.

Bromwich remains the seriously minded youth he showed himself last your. His puzzled brow, backed by his rather cumbersome style, does not maku him an attractive player to watch. Perhaps all thie, backed by occasional displays of petulance, detracts from the real worth of his play.

Bromwich must change considerably if ho is to play the big part in Davis Cup tennis we hope- he will.