Zerlendi. This man is a baseliner of the most pronounced
type. He gets everything he can put his racquet to. He reminds me
irresistibly of Mavrogordato, seemingly reaching nothing yet they
all come back. I cannot adequately analyse his game because his
first principle is to put back the ball no matter how, and this
he carries into excellent effect. Zerlendi is a match winner
first and a stylist second.
CHAPTER XVI. THE COLONIES
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.
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