THE GAME OF THE FUTURE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16521, 23 August 1919, Page 10

THE GAME OF THE FUTURE.

COMING BOOM IN 'LAWN TENNIS. (By G. L. Patterson, in an interview.) Mr. G. L. Patterson, the young Australian player, who has created such a sensation in English lawn tennis circles this .season, gives his views to the Illustrated .Sunday Herald. Patterson, whose amazing service has never been approacncd since jPLaughlin's time, beat Mr. J. G. Ritchie in a shorter time than the champion lias ever been defeated before.

1 certainly think that lawn tenuis is going to be the game of the tuture, and

mat it will prove a serious rival to cricket in the affections of the British public—when the British public understands the came. Alter all, lawn tennis starts with a big handicap. At all j’oar public scnools i learned to my surprise, the oilier day, cricket is compulsory, and therefore* I lie great majority oi men stall .villi a good knowledge at least of the rules. Must people in England. I suppose, are able to watch ibe game nun a tair appreciation of the good points m the bulling, bowling, and adding. As \\e> all know, the method of scoring in lawn tennis is rather confusing to the beginner. LI is a ltinny system, really, but it is perleelly simple when you get into it. And it is north while understanding for the sake of what promises to ue one oi the most popu.ar games in the world, Unee the public do understand, when they are not muddled by the continual calls of ‘To—--30.” “deuce,” " ’vantage.” and have lime to devote themselves to the lino points of the game then will come the real tennis boom. FINE POINTS OF THE GAME. One groat reason is that the fine points oi lawn tennis are easily understood. It is a game of infinite possibilities, but a man who has once seen two champions piny, and had the game explaiuect. will almost certainly become a convert, if not a keen enthusiast. it seems to me that in England the game, lias been regarded as the properly of the middle classes. This is because certain cliques seem to get hold of the local tennis club—there is generally only one. in small places—and other people are frozen out. This state of affairs is changing rapidlv, for lawn tennis grounds are being hud down ail over England, and in the next few years hundreds of thousands of people will be realising the fascination of the game.

It is essentially a modern game; it is quick; keeps both the players’ and onlookers’ nerves throughout at tension; it is spectacular, and the crowd is bound to sec one man or woman “perform” a great deal absolutely on their own. Then, of course, tennis can be played for tho most varying limes—half an hour, an hour, two hours. Tho longest five set match does not take more than two hours. Now that is very different from cricket. THE GA.ME IN AUSTRALIA. Tennis undoubtedly has a great future. In Australia it is very popular, and it is rapidly becoming more and more so. Out there they are a most cricket-loving nation; they have two publics, one tennis and one cricket, with, of course, a certain amount of overlapping. We don’t have so many tournaments, partly because our clubs arc not so licit, and partly because tho distances from State to State are big. I do not care to express any opinion at. present about English lawn tennis. You have got some wonderful men and women players over here, but I have not seen enough of them yet to give any definite opinions. This will probably bo tiro greatest lawn tennis year we have ever seen, for, in spite of tho chaos caused by the war. those who have the interests of the game at heart have got into harness in record time. I expect to see. record crowds at Wimbledon, where the accommodation will bo strained to tho utmost. The spectators there, of course, will be mostly enthusiasts—even experts—but now that thPEnglish press lias taken up the game seriously people will bo induced to go to tho lessor tournaments.

At those “lesser” tournaments, by tho way, most of the stars appear at one time or other, and there are plenty of tournaments within easy reach of everyone, particularly in London.