AUSTRALIAN TENNIS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 282, 28 November 1936, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN TENNIS

, THE PROMISING COLTS , PRAISE FOR J. GILCHRIST | SEVERAL OTHERS MENTIONED. A writer in the Sydney Referee, reviewing the tennis strength of Australia, pays attention to those he deems to be the most promising colts. After Bromwich and Huxley, perhaps the most promising Australian cold is Jim Gilchrist, he says. I do not say this because he won the Hardcourt Singles championships against all comers. That was rather a surprise, and, I even fancy, a bit above his best form at the time. I first noticed him early this year in the junior championships when the New Zealand lads visited Sydney, and I picked him out then for three reasons. First his fine forehand drive, second his splendid and severe service, but above all for his physique. I know champions are built all wavs. Some of the world's very best, H. L. Doherty, Billie Johnston, Rene Lacote and, in our own State, Horrie Rice, would not take the eye as athletes, but they did great things, and H. L. Doherty is one of the three chosen by all critics as the world's greatest players. Yes, physique, and the stamina which usually comes with it. are great assets. Height alone tells, for it gives greater reach, and a capacity to deliver a straight slam service without spin. This last is denied to anyone under six feet. This physique and height Gilchrist has. He is tough, wiry and active. 'Recently he overdid himself, and was compelled to take a rest from match play. One Defeat. i His one defect is a bad stance for his back-hand drive, but he is getting rid of this. Be ng only 18 he has plenty of time to cure it. That is, if he is properly guided. Some writers have said “practise your weak strokes.” That is quite useless. Find out why the stroke is weak and get a new one. 1 expect Gilchrist to rise very high'. How high depends on his outlook on the game. While I do not propose to make any order of merit Harry Lindo on his performances seems to deserve next mention. He has had many line matches against the best of Australia, and has always done well. He has fully extended Harry Hopman. and once beat him. His lack of inches is against him; but he is very young and may grow a good deal in the next few years. He is a fine example tor nearly all others in two things. He has a good follow through in the line of flight of the ball, the lack of which is the prevailing fault today, and he is always, in doubles, working in closer to the net after each stroke in the rally. His aim is to be able to volley down, and he does not, like some experts in the low volley, stay back, trying to do that very difficult thing—kill with a low volley. He is a dour tighter, and is never beaten till the numbers go up. Good Once. W. Sidwell and F. Bennett are two more splendid young players. They arc very close in rank, as they proved a few weeks back at Strathfield, when they fought out Ihe final of special singles. Bennett has better strokes all round and is more brilliant. Sidwell excels more in court tactics and theory. Bennett bids fair to become a brilliant doubles player. Sidwell has wonderful control of the drive volley, almost as great as that of Brugnon, of France. Yet Sidwell was apt to I overdo this stroke. The ball from it travels too flat, and so cannot be handed at the feet of the opponent so easily. The volley down is far better. I He is using the ordinary volley more, land it is good to have both at com- ' mand. ' These seem to be the lads who will lfill the places, in a few years, but there I are many other still younger. Of these D. Pails has done best, and is only 15 now. He ha;s good strokes all round and they are well made. ! lam not overlooking many splendid quite young players, such as Neil Turvey, G. Kendall. E. Maidens and Sheriff. But these are a few years older, and seem to have halted to some extent, save, perhaps, Maidens, whoso line athletic build and dash and all-round good strokes may carry him into the top flight. Maidens and Kenidall won the special doubles at Strathfield, and have won the same kind of j event three times in succession without the loss of a set. It is surprising that none of the (Other States ha.s as many tine young I players. The cause is the skilled training that has gone on for about 10 years in Sydney. , The same thing happened in San I Francisco some 20 years back. The merchants and leading men of that city and surroundings realised that [healthy sport was the best way to I train their youth. They provided free baseball grounds and tennis courts, and even shoes for those unable to afford them. The results have been such champions as W. M. Johnston. H. E. Vines and lots of others. The more field sports, the less need for hospitals is a good slogan.