APPRECIATION OF A. F. WILDING.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14988, 8 June 1914, Page 8

APPRECIATION OF A. F. WILDING.

FITNESS DID IT.

THE GAME THAT CX>UNTS. (7ROU OUE OWN CORRESPONDENT.) LONDON, May 1. "The great charm —the irre&istiblo charm—of lawn tennis, is tho fact tluu> all the family can participate. It A. initially, this family feeling, this out-.-ida carrying on of the home circle, that is probably the cause ol the'allcouquermgnets of 'lawn tennis. This sido cf tho game, however, migut have languished almost for ever, slowly gathering adherents, bat making little lieaa\v;iy, it it iiHd not, been for the prowess" oi ths giants <jl tiie game." Thus writes "left JJieu" , in tho ''.Daily Express." His championship of the giuno really serves as an introduction lo an appreciation of the New Zealand play if A. i , '. Wildirg, who is deecriLn ed as "o-io of the most perfectlytrained athletes in the world. Hβ looks alter himself far more carefully than tho man wh > is boxing lor tho world's champi unship. H») does not smoke, .no docs not drink, and he goes to bed at ten sharp.

"Wilding can lose the. first two Bets agaiast a man and never turn a hair. In 1910 he met Beals U. Wright, the famous American. Wilding lost the first two sets, and his chances looked hopeless. Wilding was not worried a bit. He just -went on playing as ho had done all through, and gradually tho American's brilliance paled. Through sheer fatigue his gallant spirit could not respond, and at the finish -AVildin-?, wifc'o. harJly a hair disturbed, romped home an easy winner.

"In 1911 much the same moral was pointed. Wilding had to defend bis title agairsfc H. Itopc-r Barrett, the most purely intellectual player who has ever stepped on a lawn tennis cot/rt. Barrett has no physical advantages. But his wonderful lawn tennis brain counterbalanced all disadvantages, and at the fnd of three sets he led by 2-1. Ho was by then labouring heavily, while Wilding was as cool as ever. When the score was two sets all, Roper Barrett collapsed, and was led off the court in a semi-conscious condition.

ildii;g is the greatest lawu tennis player in tho world, but the larger portion or his eminence is due to his eternal fitness. However good a mans strokes may be, he cannot be a really great, player unless lie js fit. Lawn tennis, played as it snould be played, is no game for weaklings. . . . jjawn tennis is becon&ing a great force in the history of the naticn. It is not exclusive to a class. The poor can—and do—Dlay it as much as the wealthy. Cricket is a great game, and. so is football, but neither holds quite the honielv appeal to the multitude which characterises lawn tennis.* In the Dear future, lawn tennis, will be admitted by everyone to bo one of the games that really count."