Japan is the country of the future. There is no more remarkable
race of students on the globe than the Japanese. They like
tennis, and are coming with increasing numbers to our
tournaments. They prove themselves sterling sportsmen and
remarkable players. I look to see Japan a power in tennis in the
next twenty-five years.
France, with her brilliant temperamental unstable people, will
always provide interesting players and charming opponents. I do
not look to see France materially change her present
position--which is one of extreme honour, of great friendliness,
and keen competition. Her game will not greatly rise, nor will
she lose in any way the prestige that is hers.
It will be many long years before the players of those enemy
countries, who plunged the world into the horrible baptism of
blood from which we have only just emerged, will ever be met by
the players of the Allies. Personally, I trust I may not see
their re-entry into the game. Not from the question of the
individuals, but from the feeling which will not down. There is
no need to deal at this time with the future of Germany and
Austria.
Australasia and South Africa, the great colonies of the British
Empire, should be on the edge of a great tennis wave. I look to
see great players rise in Australasia to refill the gaps left by
the passing of Wilding and the retirement of Brookes. It takes
great players to fill such gaps; but great players are bred from
the traditions of the former masters.
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