LAWN TENNIS

Taranaki Daily News, 19 August 1926, Page 4

LAWN TENNIS

HOW TO WIN AT THE GAME.

HINTS AND TACTICS.

(By

Suzanne Lenglen.)

No. XI. Tactics win matches at lawn tennis as they do in every other sport. It is no good, however, to think of tactics until you are sure you can place a hall very nearly where you want it; until, as we say, you are “stroke perfect.” What is the use, for instance, of your decoying your opponent into the corner of her forehand court with the idea of driving down her bank-hand line, only to find that your shot has gone yards out of the court? I think one of the greatest tacticians I ever knew was Mrs. Lambert Chambers. I don’t believe that she ever played a shot which had not a definite end in view. Many players bang the ball over the net, time after time, in the hope that sooner or later their opponent may make a mistake; but the former world champion never went to work that way. The first step in tactics must be to find out not only your opponent’s weakness’ but his strength. Then you can play hard on to the weak point, and keep carefully away from the strong one. As I have hinted, most players are weak on the back-hand, and it is as well to experiment with this first. You will find that every player has a pet shot, and I have often met one of them who, say, with a powerful forehand drive, has deliberately left open the fore hand court so that I should put the ball there. He has been watchful, of course, and, when the chanee has come, has been ready for it, although he might not appear to be so. There is a way round that, even, of course. I think we might call it a kind of Sporting way of “double crossing”— I think that is the term. If your opponent does this, keep on edging him or her more and more away from the pet stroke, until at last you get an opportunity of whipping one across a little bit quicker than usual, too quick for him to recover, watchful though he may be. BEATING YOUR OPPONENT. The generally used tactics in lawn tennis are these: You try to get your opponent out of position in one part of the court, so as to place the ball out of his reach in another. This may be done even from the back line, but it is far more sure to go up on a weak return and volley. If you are opposed to anyone who is a strong driver from the back line, and keeps on sending good length balls to keep you there, try to draw him to the net with a few short ones, and then there are two things to do. You may try to pass him with a swift passing stroke, or lob to his back line, preferably, as I have said before, "to his backhand comer. Again, if you are a hard driver yourself, try to master the drop stroke. Then, after a succession of hard drives to either hand, drop a short one with, perhaps, plenty of cut on it. THE GOLDEN RULE. One golden rule is never to be in a hurry. You must, of course, seize an opening like lightning when it does eome, but don’t try to force it off the • first stroke—off the return of the service, say. I find many players, particularly women, .allow the presence of a man at the net to fluster them. The main result- is that, instead of watching the balk they take their eye off it at the last moment to watch him. Disaster, of course! You can easily see what he’s doing even though you are watching the ball intently. Pay all your attention to it and, whatever you do, don’t drive at him. It used to be all right before people were as good volleyere as they are to-day, but in pre-sent-day tennis you are merelv inviting a kill. In serving, stand, as a general rule, as near the middle of the base line as possible, and serve down the centre line. Very often, in serving into the right hand court you will get an opportunity of going up on that service. If you are a good volleyer go up to the net while your partner is serving, otherwise stand level with him on the base line and let him go up. WHERE THE PLAYER SHOULD STAND. There seems to be a great deal of ignorance about where a player should stand while a partner is receiving a service. I think in ordinary tennis that here again the partner should be level with the receiver. This is particularly the ease if the service coming from the other side is good, and the receiver not too strong. To stand at the net is merely to invite having the ball bang down the “gully” between you, by the server’s partner who will probably be at the net. Even if you are a good volleyer don’t rush up to the net on every stroke. The best one to go in on is a hard drive down the centre line. It is very difficult for anyone to pass you after that shot, as the angle, as we call it, is so narrow. If your partner lobs, and lobs short, and you are at the net, run back. If he changes courts you do the same. There is none of the old set rule of one player one court to-day. Don’t forget it is easier to move forward than to move back, and, when in doubt, retreat to the base line—if you have time! Otherwise go right up. If you win the toss and you have a strong service elect to serve, but if you have a weak one take the worse court for the first game and give your opponents the service. Above all, when in doubt, go for good length. If you can't get it any other way, with both your opponents at the net if you are playing doubles, lob for it. If you are caught badly out of position steady jourself. There’s always a chance of getting even a smash back with a half volley. In short. -■• your bra ns. It pays tenni just as it - in life. NEW CHAVPIONS. BOROTRA AND MRS- GODFREE. (From Our Own Correspondent.) London. July S. The two new champions of lawn tenues are the brilliant young Frenchman, Jean Borotra, and Mrs. Godfree, who, as

Hiss Kitty IMeKane, was successful in 1924. Borotra’s victory in the final was at the expense of the American, H. Kinsey, and he accomplished the feat in three straight sets. The first was the best, the Frenchman failing to secure any advantage until after six all had been called. Afterwards, playing brilliantly, Borotra carried all before him, Using only three more games. The most exciting and perhaps the best match of the tournament, was the ladies’ final, in which Mrs. Godfree was opposed by the fascinating Spanish lady, Senorita de Alvarez. The King and Queen of Spain were present to see her play, and, though beaten, she made a gallant fight, and at one point appeared certain to win. In the third set she led by three games to love, and was 40-30 in the next game. But Mrs. Godfree is never gp good as when in a tight corner, and, rolling up her sleeves, as it were, she played with superb courage, and gradually drew level. Indeed, her recovery was sensational, for she did not allow her opponent to”win another game. Mrs. Godfree was in two other finals, and, though defeated in the ladies’ doubles with Miss Colyer as her partner —the winning couple’ being the two Americans, Miss Ryan and Miss Browne —she was successful with her husband, L. A. Godfree, in the mixed doubles. In this latter event the Godfrees beat Kinsey and Miss Browne. The French pair, H. Cochet and J. Brugnon, were too good for their American rivals, Kinsey and Vincent Richards, in the men’s doubles.