Case For Pro. Tennis: Henri Cochet’s Views

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 99, 21 January 1936, Page 14

Case For Pro. Tennis: Henri Cochet’s Views

HENRI COCHET believes that the amateur tennis world is over-tennis-ed This, he says, results in a natural slackness, something of .a lack of independence in the individual, particularly the champion, and a loss of incentive to make the sacrifices the game demands. Citing the case of Jack Crawford, who, because be says he lacks the urge to plaj, may not be available for the next Australian Davis Cup team. Cochet says that Crawford is not the only player giving vent to bis feeling in this regard. . National associations become national hosts, under the present routine, and the result is that the amateur player feels it an obligation to go here and there at then dictates. This lack of independence wearies him.■•When we were young players in France,” said Cochet. ‘ e saw our ambition sketched ahead of us in the overthrow of the mighty United States team. At first it was nothing but a dream, lhen. as Lacoste. Borotra, Brugnon and myselt gradually forced our way to the front we

became firm friends and fighterfl for the one thing that seemed to matter most the Davis Cup tor France. ‘‘This was no light ambition either. Tilden and Johnston had dominated the tennis world. They always seemed a long way ahead of our best. Then you Australians with Patterson, ' nderson, Hawkes and Pat O’Hara Wood, were not easily defeated. Japan, too. were strong with Shimizu and Kumagae and later Harada.

Then —and Now. “The early,failures and disappointments of I hose years bound our friendship with fresh determination. No sacrifice was too great.' ‘‘To-day I see young players who have ambitions to represent 1: rance, aud the youngsters of Franco are not isolated cases who. chasing what do you call it, the light fantastic till 3 and 4 o'clock in the morning, still hope to attain championship class 1 “Well now, I ask you. how can they ever do themselves justice?.No, ambition is just as keen to-day but it is not backed up with sacrifice. “There are too many hosts in amateur tennis. You play in the Lnited States and are feted here and feted there. Then Austrn'm, not wishing to be outdone, sets herself for another round of social turns. The tired player of the court: cannot afford to refuse the patronage of the social lions. Naturally the inexperienced youth is the first to feel the strain.”

Cochet said that the leading tennis nations always suffered in the end through the possession of an outstanding woiiu "Let Perry fail,” bo said, "and Britain will topple like a rock. There is no one ready to take his place. "When the French were dominating the tenuis position many times we Older men would have liked to feci the support of vigorous young players. But they did no come along, and to-day the older men n Brugnon aud Borotra are still in ■t eti e service The day came when our best vas no't good enough, and we lost the cup to Britain.”

Apostils of Tennis. . •■Now here is where the professional can play his part. He is independent ot the social side of tennis. Under no obligations he wanders on giving an exhibition o °doing a little coaching Who knows but he will find the material so vital to the maintenance of a nation in the forefront of the game. .

“Believe me, there is more to it than the mere source of revenue derived by the professional. When I set out from trance u lv mission was backed by my government I was to go into the places of the world and play tennis as true Frenchman should I was bound to no itinerary. I went where I wanted to. Throughout the East, where tennis i,n its greatest sense m unknown, I carried the game I came to A because 1 wanted to. •• \ll this is something that an amateur cannot do. He must be invited by a national association. Apart from bis xpenscs, officially he gets nothmg from tie !,.. nie and is therefore dependent on his hosts’ He must go where the gates are Where the great names in tennis ■■■•l'iTier The professional is a wanderer to piaeefl’of less renown.”'