Have a Tennis Face ?

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12211, 8 August 1925, Page 15

Have a Tennis Face ?

j By AMUNDA LOBB

It sounds, rather alarming—a little too personal perhaps—but players will know what I mean. We are supposed to go on the court, play on it, and then come off it, without once having changed our expression. Wo may be “rabbits” or “stars,” or merely middlingly good; we may muff every shot or play marvellously. It doesn’t matter. In triumph or disaster, “in form” or in a frazzle, we must show ourselves impassive as a gargoyle, serene as a summer sky. But I wonder if it is really so very sensible to copy the big majority? After all, there are heaps of peoplo who go through life itself with an expressionless faco, and you Would find these on a tennis court, anyway. But they don’t have to make any effort. If you snatched them from undor t.lie wheels of a motor-’bus, they would jußt murmur. “Thenksl” and look at their wrist-watches. No. Tho virtues of the. “tennis-fnee” are overdqne, A little more vivacity and sprightliness "are indicated—more natural , elation, and more life in the features. And there is more in all those “mores” than meets the eye. WINNING WITH YOUR FACE You can turn the fortunes of a game

by looking confident when you feel confident. As your belief in .yourself visibly increases, your opponent’s courage springs a tiny leak. It lets water in, and she begins to play diluted tennis. But between confidence and this over-rated self-possession there is a ' wide difference. You must look ani- ! mated, letting the mask fall off; not I glacially conventions,!, like a pieoo ot a dinner-service. And then, if yon are just a little hit clever, you can go further. A hall is returned to you, and, as it happens, you haven’t an earthly hope of taking it in the only possible way. You may have lost your court position for the nonpe. Very : well, then, muff that shot most horribly. And look as though you nro surprised it hasn’t won you the ace. Your opponent will try to ropcot tlio performance, when you are in the right court position. Then you will go forth to kill. No doubt about it. The “tennis face”, to cultivate is the kind you can bluff with. Recognise this, and the Eve in you will dictate the artful play of the features "which bluffing pre-sup-poses. You need not think 'about your faoe at all. The other waythinking how to keep it blank—means taking your mind off the game. And there is not much 6ense in that.