The game is too fast and too severe for that. As competition
increases the price of success goes up; but its worth increases
in a greater ratio, for the man who triumphs in the World's
Championship in 1950 will survive a field of stars beyond our
wildest dreams in 1920.
What of the various countries? America should retain her place at
or near the top, for the boys we are now developing should not
only make great players themselves, but should carry on the work
of training the coming generations.
England has but to interest her youth in the game to hold her
place with the leaders. I believe it will be done. I look to see
great advances made in tennis among the boys in England in the
next few years. I believe the game will change to conform more to
the modern net attack. England will never be the advanced
tennis-playing country that her colonies are, for her whole
atmosphere is one of conservatism in sport. Still her game will
change. Already a slight modification is at work. The next decade
will see a big change coming over the style of English tennis.
The wonderful sporting abilities of the Englishman, his ability
to produce his best when seemingly down and out mean that, no
matter how low the ebb to which tennis might fall, the inherent
abilities of the English athlete would always bring it up. I
sound pessimistic about the immediate future. I am not, provided
English boyhood is interested in the game.
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