THE GAME OF THE FUTURE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXIV, Issue 17640, 15 August 1919, Page 2

THE GAME OF THE FUTURE.

COMING BOOM IN LAWN TENNIS

By G. L. PATERSON (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 " Ilhistrated Sunday fierald."' Patterson, whose amazing service has never been approached sineo McLaughlin's time, beat Mr. J. G. Ritchie in a shorter time than The champion has ever been defeated liefore.

I certainly think that lawn tennis js going to be the game of the future, and that it will prove a. serious rival to cricket 'in the affections of the British spiiblio—when the British public understands the game.. After all, lawn tennis starts with a big handicap. Afc all your public schools I learned to my surprise, the other day, cricket* is -compulsory, and therefore the great majority of men start with a j good knowledge at least of the roles. Most people in England, I suppose, are preciation of the good, points in the able to -watch the gams with a fair ap« batting, bawling, and fielding. As we all know, the method of scoring in lawn tennis is rather confusing to the beginner. It is a funny system, really, but it is perfectly simple whan you gefc into it. And it is worth while understanding for the sake of what promises to be one of the most popular frames in the word!. Once the public do understand, when they are not muddled by the continual calls of " lo— SO," "deuce*" "Vantage," and have time to devote themselves to the In© points of lawn tennis are easily underthe real tennis boom. FINE POINTS OF THE GAME. One great reason is that the fine points of lawn tenis are easily understood. . It is a game of infinite possibilities, but a man who has once seen two champions play, and had the game explained, will almost certainly become a convert, if not a keen enthusiast. It seems to me that in England the game has been regarded as the property of the middle classes.. This is because certain cl'r^ues seem to get hold of the local tennis club—there is generally only one in small places—and othar people are frozen out. This state of affairs is changing rapidly, for lawn tennis grounds are being laid down all over England, and in the next few years J hundreds of thousands of people will be realising the fascination ot the game. It is essentially, a modem game; ?t is quick ; keeps both the players' and onlookers' nerves throughout at tension: it i? spectacular, and the crowd is bound to"see one man or woman "perform" a great deal absolutely on their own. JThen, of course, tennis can <b« played for the mpst varying times— half ah hour, an hour, two hours. The longest five set match does not take moire than two hours. Now that is very different from cricket.

THE GAMi 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-lov-ing 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 are _not so rich,, and''partly because the distances! from State to State are•'■bigi y : ;" I do niffc care;%» expresr ajny opinion at present about English lawn tenfms. You have got some'jwonderful men, andwomen players over here, but I have not seen enough of them yet to give any definite opinions. This will probably be the greatest lawn tennis year we have ever eeen, for, in, spite of the chaos caused by the wax-, 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 be strained to the utmost. The spectators there y of course, will be , mostly enthusiasts—even experts—but now that the English. Press has taken up'the game seriously people will be induced to go to the lesser tournaments. At these " lesser" tournaments, t>y the way, most of the stars appear at one time or other, and there are plenty of tournaments within easy reach of everyone, particularly an London.