LAWN TENNIS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14686, 20 November 1909, Page 12

LAWN TENNIS.

THE DAVIS CUP. During the past week (says the Sydney Morning Herald of the 13th inst.) the American's have been engaged in easy work preparatory to hard and sustained practice lata on. In their practices it has been evident that <liey- have not been "all out,'' hut sufficient has been seen to make it plain that our visitors have infinite nossibiUties. . M'l.otighlit: is the more spectacular of ■tit? two, and with his lightning services nml iiiienenienal sniashes. is sure to lie a. favourite with tho crowd: 0. P. Dixon, of the British Isles team, says of M'Loughliu: -fie is a wonder and the idol of the American crowd. His most dreaded i point of all is his service Not only does he employ every known species of American scrvic, but, more important still, as a rule h? gets it in. Occasionally he is guilty of a doublo fault, but lucky the player who contrives to win even ono of M'Lousrhlin's service games. His serviceis considered in America by those who have played against it to be more difficult ihatr that of Norman Brookes." This is high praise, hut few of thoso who have watched MTiOUghliu in Sydney will disputo it. As to seldom making- a double fault, that is hardly tlw case here, but it must bo remembered that tho Americans aro not yet nearly at tho top of their form or. as thev express it, they arc not yet "on edge." Jl'Loughlin's service is 'certainly most varied. Ho gets many into the conrers with such pace that his opponent never Rets near them. Then there is the original Ainericair service with off-break, ' and another which comes from " leg," to use a cuicket term. All these are made wi'h so little variation of action that it is very hard lo anticipate which is coming. In addition, lio has the reverse tv.i-t, in making_which he crouches very low, and'the ! ball, diving suddenly, breaks" away to the •fore-liiMtt. His s'masiie-o are absolutely crushing, and made with a full swim.' of the arm. His ground shots are made with a lot of spin, sometimes over-spin, and more frequently under-sniir, Iwth on the fore-hand and back-hand, and lie half-volley, frequently. Long is a player of steadier tvpe. He serves wtih little brcak-at all events, he has not used that variety much so far--but he gets ovorspii; on, and sends in his second as fast as (lie first, and seldom makes a double fault. His ground strokes aro made with less spin than those of M'LouuhIm, a back-hander down the line being apparently a favourite shot, as he brings it oft with great prooaioji. He i., soo d overhead, but thgre. appears to 1» jtyae bone