TENNIS.

Northern Advocate, 25 August 1919, Page 4

TENNIS.

THE GAME OF THE FUTURE

A COMING BOON.

By G. L. PATERSON,

(In an Interview.)

Mr G. L. Paterson, the young Australian player, who has created such a sensation in ■ English lawn tennis circles this season, gives bis views to the "Illustrated Sunday Herald." Paterson, whose amazing service has never ben approached Since McLaughlin's time, beat Mr J. G. Ritchie, in a shorter time than the champion has ever been defeated before. / I certainly think that lawn tennis is going to be the game of the future, and that it will prove a serious rival to cricket in the affections of the British public—when the British public understands the game. After all, lawn tennis starts with a big handicap. At all our public schools I learned to my surprise, the other day, cricket is compulsory, and therefore the great majority of men start with a good knowledge at least of the rules. Most people in England, I suppose, are able to watch the game with a fair appreciation of the good points in the batting, bowling, and fielding. As we all know, the method of scoring in lawn tennis is rather confusing to the beginner. It is a funny system, really, but it is perfectly simple when you get into it. And it is worth while understanding for the sake of what promises to be one of the most popular games in the world. Once the public do understand, when they nre not muddled by the continual calls of "15—30," "deuce," "Vantage," and have time to devote themselves to the fine points of lawn tennis, then will come the real tennis boom. FINE POINTS OF THE GAME. One great reason is that the fine points of lawn tennis are easily understood. It is a game of infinite possibilities, but a man who has once seen two champions play, and had the game explained, will almost certainly become a convert, if not a keen enthusiast. It seems to me that in England the game has been regarded as the pror perty of the middle classes. This is because certain cliques seem to get hold of the local tennis club—there is generally only one in small places —and other people are frozen out. This state of affairs is changing rapidly, for lawn tennis grounds are being laid down all over England, and in the. next few years hundreds of thousands of people will be realising the fascination of the game. It is essentially a modern game; it is quick, keeps both the players' and onlookers' nerves throughout at tension; it is spectacular, and the crowd is bound to see one man or woman "perform" a great deal absolutely on their own. Then, of course, tennis can be played for the most varying times—half—an- hour,- aif hour, "two hours. The longest five set match does not take more than two hours. Now that is very different from ket. THE GAME IN AUSTRALIA. Tennis undoubtedly has a great future. In Australia it" is very popular, and it is rapidly becoming -more" and "more so.- Out*ther e they are a most cricket-loving nation; they have two publics, one tennis and one cricket, with, of course, a certain amount of overlapping. We don't have so many tournaments, partly because our clubs are not so rich, and partly because the distances from State to State are big* I do not care to express any opin- ] ion at present about English lawn I tennis. You have got some wonder- j ful men and women players over there, but I have not seen enough of them yet to give any definite opinions. This will probably be the greatest lawn tennis year we have ever seen, for, in spite of the chaos caused by the war, those who have the interests of the game at heart hav c got into harness in record time, I expect to see record crowds at Wimbledon, wher e the accommodation will be strained to the utmost. The specta- ! tors, there, of course, will be mostly enthusiasts—even experts—but now that the English Press has taken up the game seriously people will be induced to go to the lesser tournaments, At these, "lesser" tournaments, by the way, most of the stars appea r at one time or other, and there are plenty of tournaments within easy reach of everyone, particularly in London.