FRANCE IN TENNIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20343, 26 August 1929, Page 12

FRANCE IN TENNIS.

REASON OF DOMINATION.

TRAINING YOUNG PLAYERS. Much history has already been written bearing on supremo lawn tennis honours in 1929, writes Sideline. To Franco has fallen the three great successes up to the present, so fnr as men players aro concerned—the win of their national title by Lacoste, the win of the English title at Wimbledon by Cochct and the successful dofenco of tho Davis Cup against a strong American challenge. For the sixth time a French player has won at Wimbledon, which is without doubt the most important championship in the world. Tho Davis Cup has been successfully defended twico sinco it was w6n and the United States championship has already been won three times. Will tho forthcoming championships at tho West Side Tennis Club, Forest Hills, commencing on September 7, provido still another opportunity of tho demonstration of French superiority? It certainly soems probable. It is strange that Franco coming comparatively lato into "world" lawn tennis —it was not until 1908 that any French player appeared at Wimbledon and not until 1911 that one reached the last eight —should, in so short a time, have reached her present high position. It has been brought about undoubtedly by concentration on tho training of her young players and by regarding her defeats as a means to an end. First her Qwn national championship was mado safe», then Wimbledon was conquered; tho United States championship . followed and finally the Davis Cup was secured. It is not to one man alone that Franco owes her rise to tho top of tho treo; Cochct. Lacoste, Borotra and Brugnon have all played their parts. Certainly, Lacosto and Cochet must both rank on an equality with any player tho game has over produced in its 52 years' history. After Mr. Norman Brookes' last visit to France ho said that at tho French headquarters in Paris there wero 30 courts, which woro crowded from morning until night by young players whoso ages ranged from eight to seventeen years. Tho players wero instructed by professionals and numbers, of thorn, wero showing good form and stylo.