Tennis development, just as tennis psychology, is largely a
matter of geographical distribution. This is so well recognized
now in America that the country is divided in various geographic
districts by the national association, and sectional associations
carry on the development of their locality under the supervision
of the national body.
Naturally new countries, with different customs, would not
develop along the same lines as England. America, Australia, and
South Africa took the English style, and began their tennis
career on the baseline game. Each of these has since had a
distinct yet similar growth--a variance to the original style.
American tennis followed the English baseline style through a
period that developed Dr. Dwight, R. D. Sears, Henry Slocum, and
other stars. Tennis, during this time, was gaining a firm hold
among the boys and young men who found the deep-driving game
devoid of the excitement they desired. Americans always enjoy
experiments, so the rising players tried coming to the net at any
reasonable opening. Gradually this plan became popular, until
Dwight Davis and Holcombe Ward surprised the tennis world with
their new service, now the American twist, and used it as an
opening gun in a net attack.
This new system gave us besides Davis and Ward, the Wrenn
brothers, George and Robert, Malcolm Whitman, M. G. Chace, and
finally Beals C. Wright. The baseline game had its firm adherents
who followed it loyally, and it reached its crest in the person
of William A.
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