SOME TENNIS "WON'TS."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19177, 17 November 1925, Page 14

SOME TENNIS "WON'TS."

Everybody who writes about tennis ! comes out sooner or later with a list of ' " Dont's." Just in order to be different, then, and because it is a little more polite, let me suggest a sort of tennis catechism beginning with,' " I won't," writes Amanda Lobb. It is so much nicer to say what we won't do than to be told what we mustn't do; and if we leave cut club fixtures and tournaments there are many playing occasions for which the following recital would prove particularly appropriate. Incidentally, it would tend to save time, trouble and temper. Here we then : I won't return the balls between strokes to the server. I will look first to see where she is standing, and return the balls as close to the point as possible. I will roll thein along the ground and under the net if I can. I won't forget, if I touch the net while the ball is in play, or break any other rules, to tell my opponent that I have done so. I won't leave it to my opponent to keep the score. It is my job as much as hers. -* , , I won't " call " the balls that I have hit. My opponent will say if they are in or out, because she is the more likely to know, and she would not wilfully call them wrong. . I won't serve till my opponent is ready. A glance at her will show me whether she is or not; and it is not fair to hurry her. I won't, because the service I receive is a fault, swipe at the ball to get it out of the way. I have no need to hit it at all in that case; and if I do so, I am certain to annoy the server and put her off h6r second effort. _ I won't say, " Don't mention it, if somebody calls out, " Thank you. I shall know that this is an appeal, and not an. acknowledgment, and that I am expected to return a stray ball quickly and willingly. . I won't chatter, nor giggle, nor scream when I miss a ball. I will put all my energies and my emotions into my tennis. Etiquette ? Nothing to do with it. It is a foolish word, anyway. Oh, no. These things are little niceties. They are the tiny, simple flowers in the garden of your game. Neglect them and the weeds of selfishness and unfairness will flourish in their stead.