Australasia
The death of that sterling sportsman, Anthony F.Wilding, and the natural decline in the playing powers of Norman E.Brookes, owing to the advance of years and his war experiences, leave Australasia (Australia and New Zealand) in a somewhat uncertain condition regarding its tennis prospects.
NORMAN E.BROOKES
Volumes have been written about N.E.Brookes and his tennis genius, but I would not feel right if I could not pay at least a slight tribute to the greatest tennis player and genius of all time.
There is no need to dwell on Brookes' shots, his marvellous mechanical perfection, his peculiar volleying style, his uncanny anticipation.All these are too well known to need my feeble description.They are but the expression of that wonderful brain and dominant personality that lie behind that sphinx- like face we know as Brookes'.
To see across the net those ever-restless, ever-moving eyes, picking the openings in my never too- well guarded court, and know that against me is pitted the greatest tennis, brain of the century, is to call upon me to produce my best.That is what my match with Brookes meant to me, and still does to-day.Brookes should be an inspiration to every tennis player, for he has proved the power of mind over matter in tennis: "Age cannot wither nor custom stale his infinite variety."Brookes is the most eminently just man on a tennis court I have ever met, for no excitement or emotion clouds his eyesight or judgment in decisions.He cannot abide bad decisions, yet he hates them quite as much when they favour him as when they are against him.I admit frankly I am a great admirer of Brookes, personally and from every tennis sense.He is a master that I as a student of the game feel proud to study under.
GERALD PATTERSON
Australia's leading player, Gerald Patterson, is one of the most remarkable combinations of tennis virtues and tennis faults, I have everseen.
Patterson has a wonderful service.He has speed, direction, control, and all kinds of twist.He hits his service consistently hard and puts it in.His overhead is the most remarkable in the game.He can kill from any place in the court.His, shot is clean, with little effort, yet carries terrific speed.His volleying above the net is almost faultless on his forehand.He has an excellent forehand drive that is very severe and consistent, but his backhand...Where in all the rest of tennis history was there a first-class man with a backhand so fundamentally wrong? His grip is bad, he pulls up on the ball and "loops" it high in the air.I do not mean Patterson always misses his backhand.He does not.He even makes remarkable shots off it at times, but, if Patterson is pressed, his backhand is the first portion of his game to crack, because it is hit inherently wrong.
Patterson relies mainly on speed to win matches.He is not a strategist, and finesse is not part of his tennis equipment.He has a magnificent physique, and relies largely on his, strength to carry him through a long match and win in the end.
He is very quiet, and inclined to be somewhat careless on the court, unless pressed, when his businesslike, determined play shows what a great match player Patterson can become.He produces his best game at the crucial moment of the match.Patterson is a superior match player to his real tennis ability.His is not truly a top-notch game.It has superlative features, but its whole texture is not of the finest.
Patterson owes much of his success in 1919 to Brookes, under whose guidance he played.The absence of the master mind directing his attack proved a decided handicap in 1920, and Patterson's attack was not so certain nor sustained as in the previous season.Patterson's game plus Brookes' strategy would be a great combination in one man.
PAT O'HARA WOOD
This young Australian is one of the greatest doubles players in the world and bids fair to press the leading singles stars close.
Pat O'Hara Wood is a player without a weakness, yet also one without a strength.He is a typical all court player with no outstanding feature to his game unless it be his volleying.Pat Wood has a natural aptitude fordoubles which at times seriously interferes with his singles game.
His service is a well placed speedy slice that he mixes up well.It is not a great delivery but very effective.His ground strokes, taken on the rising bounces, are flat drives, accurate and varied as to direction but lacking punch.He does not hit hard enough.He is a brilliant volleyer, cutting off at sharp angles the hardest drives.His overhead is erratic.At times he is deadly overhead but is prone to lapses into uncertainty.He is remarkably quick and speedy of foot.His sense of anticipation is magnificent.His generalship good, though not brilliant.It is lack of punch, the inability to put the ball away, that keeps Pat O'Hara Wood from the first flight in singles.
Clever, blessed with a keen sense of humour, a sterling sportsman and delightful opponent, Pat O'Hara Wood is a big asset to tennis and a man who is needed in the game.J.C.HAWKESThe youngest of the Australasian players and a boy of great promise is Jack Hawkes.He is only 22 and young in the game for his age.
