No player has caused more discussion than Kumagae, unless it is
Shimidzu; while surely no man received more critical comment than
Shimidzu, except Kumagae. The press of America and England have
vied with each other in exploiting these two men. There was
unanimity of opinion concerning these two men in one respect. No
finer sportsmen nor more delightful opponents can be found than
these Japanese. They have won the respect and friendship of all
who have met them.
Kumagae is the speedier tennis player. He came to America in
1916, the possessor of a wonderful forehand drive and nothing
else. Kumagae is left- handed, which made his peculiar shots all
the harder to handle. He met with fair success during the year;
his crowning triumph was his defeat of W. M. Johnston at Newport
in five sets. He lost to J. J. Armstrong, Watson M. Washburn, and
George M. Church. He learned much during his year in America, and
returned to Japan a wiser man, with a firm determination to add
to his tennis equipment.
In 1917 Kumagae returned to America to enter business in New
York. Once established there he began developing his game. First
he learned an American twist service and then strengthened his
backhand. That year he suffered defeat at the hands of Walter T.
Hayes and myself. He was steadily improving. He now started
coming to the net and learning to volley. He is not yet a good
low volleyer, and never will be while he uses the peculiar grip
common to his people; but his high volleying and overhead are now
excellent.
Pages:
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179