Ranking The World's Best Ten Players Of Lawn Tennis

Taranaki Daily News, 12 November 1934, Page 11

Ranking The World's Best Ten Players Of Lawn Tennis

NOTEId BRITISH A UTHORITY'S LIST

,T AWN TENNIS enthusiasts the world ,Ju over are always keenly interested in the annual ranking by A. Wallis Myers, celebrated English authority on the game, of the world’s best 10 players. Myers’s ranking for this year was cabled to New Zealand papers at the time it was issued, but his notes on it were not. So the list is reprinted here, with his commentary on it. 1. F. J. Perry (England). 2. J. H. Crawford (Australia). X G. Von Crarnrn (Germany). 4. H. W. Austin (England). 5. W. Allison (United States). 6. S. B. Wood (United States). 7. R. Menzel (Czechoslovakia). 8. F. X. Shields (United States). 3. G. de Stefani (Italy). 10. C. Boussus (France). Perry is indubitably the man of the year. He has been crowned in three continents, which is a unique record.

Crawford won three big titles last yeai, but two were in Europe. The Australian got a little slam, Perry has achieved a grand slam. Moreover, he has beaten

Crawford in three championship finals. . .. . Crawford may still be a greater.artist than Perry. His play may delight the spectator’s eye more and feed his brain more; but the Englishman has proved himself better conditioned, richer in stamina, and a greater fifth-set Yet Crawford missed the French championship by only a point. Had he played less, his faultless technique might have been vindicated. The champion of 1933 deserves ‘ second place. Von Cramm, the first player to hold the French and German championships in the same year, rises from ninth to third place. ~ He won. the French title in a field that included Perry, Crawford and Austin. The German was handicapped at-Wimbledon by illness, but has all the attributes of a great match player, and.has no stroke weakness. Austin is better in team matches than in championships. Losing only one set in the Davis Cup challenge round, he struck a gallant, and perhaps a decisive, blow for England. He lost to Boussus in Paris and to Shields at Wimbledon, but if it were possible for him' to meet Perry in a Davis Cup match I would support his chances. Allison returns to the first 10 by virtue of his splendid effort at Forest Hills, where he beat Stoeffen and Wood and carried Perry to the 14th game of the fifth set. He will be ranked No. I m America this year, and is certain of a place in his country’s challenging team next summer. . Menzel and De Stefani are newcomers to the list. Both have been knocking at the door for several years past. The Czech champion beat Crawford at Prague and threatened Perry at Wimbledon. He is “temperamenzel, if the pun may be excused, but possesses several of Tilden’s qualities, including pugnacious vigour. The Italian champion has beaten Perry and Menzel. Christian Boussus comes back to the list and is faithfully holding the French flag. His compatriot, A. Merlin, has conquered Crawford, but his ihclusion must wait. , . . „ V. B. McGrath has stronger claims, but his game outside Australia at present lacks stability. Stoefen is another player certain to rise, and V. G. Kiroy may well make the first 10 soon.