FRED PERRY PLAYS AS IF FOR THE SHEER FUN OF IT.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20456, 8 November 1934, Page 6

FRED PERRY PLAYS AS IF FOR THE SHEER FUN OF IT.

To-day’s Special Article

An American Critic Discusses His Play in the National Championship.

Fred Perry won the U.S.A. national lawn tennis championship for the second year in succession on the merits of his play —-the soundness and finish of his game, writes George Daley in the “New York Herald-Tribune.” Even while

rooting, inwardly at least, for Wilmer Allison to bring the. title back to this country, one could not help but admire the ease and grace with which England's ace brought off each shot, his really amazing anticipation in rarely being caught out of position and his steadiness and control when defeat threatened. Under the circumstances none can begrudge him the hard earned victory, particularly as by his

own admission he felt forced to favour that ailing tendon and save it from undue strain.

■yyiTll THIS FREE ADMISSION of a well-deserved victory' and with no repining over what might have been, let it be added, however, that Allison, by the fight he waged, supplied the fireworks and the dramatic touch to one of the most exciting and gripping tennis matches it has ever been my privilege to see. Allison was ever coming from behind against heavy odds. When two sets down, he squared the match. With the score 5 to 2 against him in the fifth and final _set he battled his way to make it even at 5-all and then 6-all. With the score love-40 against him in the last game and Perry at match point, he twice staved oft" defeat with two brilliant smashes for earned points. He was fighting for the point that would have brought the game to deuce until passed by a daring sideline shot from Perry’s racquet. He never let down; he never gave up: he never shortened his pace. It was a fight against odds which deserved a better reward. Perry’s lamitless Energy.

At the end Allison looked and acted tired —almost exhausted, whereas Perry appeared as fresh and clean as when the match started. Rarely have I been so impressed by the limitless energy of any' man in sports —both physical and nervous. He never spared himself as most athletes do by slow, lazy steps when not in action. Instead he kept banging away' at balls that were well out of court as if for the sheer fun of it. To all appearances he is tireless. And yet he never seems to be under pressure or working hard, which is accounted for by the ease and grace of his stroking. Allison, on the contrary, had to work hard for all his points. It is interesting to note that the recapitulation shows Allison the leader on earned points, 54 to 31. One did not get that impression from looking on. Perr\*’s energy and condition are the more remarkable in view of the fact that he has been in constant training, whiter and summer, for two y'ears and playing regularly in tournaments, except for one stretch of four weeks and another of two weeks when recovering from the strained tendon suffered in the hard court tournament of France.

The twenty-four-year-old play-er is expected to be back in England next March to get married. Holding all major championships except that of France, and robbed of that only by an accident, he stands alone among the

amateurs of the world on his remarkable record of accomplishments, supported by the soundness of his stroke production, his sharp tactics, quick thinking and consistency of play. There is no gainstaying the fact that our leading players of the day are lacking in consistency. Frank Shields, Sydney Wood, Lester Stoefen and George Lott are worldbeaters one day and just tennis players the next. Wilmer Allison is more dependable, but he also has his on day's and his off. In plain words our best play in streaks. As Ed Morse pointed out a few days ago, Bill Tilden, Bill Johnson, Vincent Richards. Henri Cochet, Rene La Coste and Dick Williams, pmong others of a few years ago, could always be depended on to play within 85 per cent of their top form when in condition. That is hardly true of our present players, who are likely to fall off as much as 40 per cent from their best almost from day to day. The reason for this is not easy to fathom. It might be due to carelessness about condition, some nervous reaction when things are not going right, lack of a full grounding in fundamentals, faulty stroke production or even faulty tactics and absence of quick thinking. Sound Tennis Counsel. Bill Tilden once said to me: “Some players never reach their best, because they arc not quick to change tactics when some particular type of play’ is going wrong. All of us hit day’s like that and the reallyfinished players can sense the fault and adjust their game to meet any need.” There is soundness in this thought and some of our leading players might profit by aiming to follow the advice of a master of the game. It struck me that the crowd on the whole behaved well considering the gripping and exciting nature of that final-round battle. There were exceptions to be sure, but it is too much to expect that a cosmopolitan crowd will be non-partisan, and control pent-up emotions. What at times appears to be applause or shouts of glee for a point gained on error is simply' appreciation for the stroke which forced the error or an impulsive release of steam. The offenders against sporting spirit and even good taste are not to be condoned, but that tennis crowd was hardly to be criticised for its show of enthusiasm in seeing one more thrilling chapter added to an unusual year in sports.