TENNIS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 19 June 1926, Page 13

TENNIS

VALUE OF CONCENTRATION. PROSPECTS FOR ENGLISH WOMEN GOOD. A gill may have a very promising game, good form and natural ability in. tennis, and yet she may never become ■a really good player, because of lack of concentration, says Miss Helen Wills. Concentration in tennis is a hard thing to define exactly. In- young players it is very often absent; but, aided by; real interest, it grows with experience. The experience coming from tournament play is most valuable in acquiring concentration. Among the best players of this country, two stand; out ias possessing marvellous power of concentration in match play. They are William Johnson and Mrs Molla Mallory. It shows in their court manner as well as in their methods of play. How can one possess; the power of concentration in tennis? one may a&k. The answer lies in the; word ‘ ‘ cultivation. ” One often sees young players "fooling” on the court. They talk about the various shots, making irrelevant remarks, and are careless in their, play. If this is continued, they cannot become good players, because of tills lack of concentration. One can have much more fun <aud enjoyment from playing the game quietly and thoughtfully for a short period of '

time than from "fooling” for a whole afternoon. . Along with concentration and experience, control is important. One must be resolved upon entering a match not to be influenced in any way by the turns of luck which are so numerous in tennis, or in various little* incidents which may arise during the course of play. Sometimes one sees a player "thrown off” for several games because some real or imagined; mistake of a linesma in calling a ball in or out. Or. a racquet string may break, and the incident may be regarded too seriously. There are hundreds of other things which may have a devastating effect on one’s game unless one guards against them. The beginner in tennis should cultivate controL

Our men have failed upon a lean—* hut by no means hopeless —time, writes Mias Kitty McKTane in the Morning Post, in dealing with the future of English tennis. On the other hand, our women are certainly able to. hold] their own with any country in the world, and the talent shown by our younger players makes the future look even more rosy. One of the outstanding features of last season was the promise of Miss Joan Fry, and I am certain she has a great future before her. I hear she has been coached in one or two departments of the game, and, although her progress may .be slightly checked, she will most surely, become a greater player in the end. Last year on the Riviera, Miss Eileen Bennett began to show the world what she can do, and! with her excellent style, keenness and opportunities there is eyery reason to believe that she will 'soon become a player of internation standing. Miss Betty Nuthall, too, will be a great strength in the future; she is at present probably the best player in the world for, her age*