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work to hold his delivery。 It worries him to serve long games； and
increases the nervous strain of the match。
In the game score the sixth； seventh； and eighth games are the crux of
every close set。 These games may mean 4…2 or 3…all； 5…2 or 4…3； the most
vital advantage in the match； or 5…3 or 4…all； a matter of extreme moment
to a tiring player。 If ahead； you should strive to hold and increase your lead。
If behind； your one hope of victory rests in cutting down the advantage of
the other man BEFORE one slip means defeat。 5…2 is usually too late to
start a rally； but 4…3 is a real chance。
Never throw away a set because a player has a lead of 4…1； or even 5…1；
unless you already have two sets in a 5…set match； and do not wish to risk
tiring by trying to pull it out； and possibly failing at 6…4。 The great
advantage Of 3…1 on your own service is a stumbling…block for many
players； for they unconsciously let up at the fifth game； thinking they have
a 2…game lead。 However； by dropping that game； the score will go 2…3 and
3…all if your opponent holds service； instead of 1…4 and 4…2； thus retaining
a distinct advantage and discouraging your opponent in that set。
The first set is vital in a 2 out of 3 match。 Play for all of it。 The second
and third sets are the turning…point in a best of 5…set match。 Take the first
where possible； but play to the limit for the next two。 Never allow a 3 out
of 5…set match to go to； the fifth set if it is possible to win in less； but
never give up a match until the last point is played； even if you are two
sets and five games down。 Some occurrence may turn the tide in your
favour。
A notable example of such a match occurred at Newport； in 1916。
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Wallace F。 Johnson and Joseph J。 Armstrong were playing Ichija Kumagae；
the famous Japanese star； and Harold A。 Throckmorton； then junior
Champion of America； in the second round of the doubles。
It was Kumagae's first year in America； and he did not understand
Americans and their customs well。 Kumagae and Throckmorton were
leading one set at 6…0； 5…1； and 40…15； Kumagae serving。 Throckmorton
turned and spoke to him； and the Japanese star did not understand what he
said。 He served without knowing； and Armstrong passed him down the
centre。 Johnson duplicated the feat in the next court； and Kumagae grew
flustered。 Throckmorton； not understanding； tried to steady him without
result； as Kumagae double…faulted to Armstrong； and he； too； grew
worried。 Both men began missing； and Johnson and Armstrong pulled out
the set and won the match in a runaway in the last stanza。 Johnson and
Armstrong met W。 M。 Johnston and C。 J。 Griffin； the National Champions；
in the final and defeated them in five sets； inflicting the only reverse the
title…holders suffered during their two…year reign as champions。
Another much more regrettable incident occurred in the famous match
between R。 L。 Murray of California and George M。 Church of New York
in the fourth round of the American National Championship in 1916。
George Church； then at the crest of his wonderful game； had won the first
two sets and was leading Murray in the third； when the famous Californian
started a sensational rally。 Murray； with his terrific speed； merry smile； and
genial personality； has always been a popular figure with the public； and
when he began his seemingly hopeless fight； the crowd cheered him
wildly。 He broke through Church's service and drew even amid a terrific
din。 Church； always a very high…strung； nervous player； showed that the
crowd's partiality was getting on his nerves。 The gallery noticed it； and
became more partisan than ever。 The spirit of mob rule took hold； and for
once they lost all sense of sportsmanship。 They clapped errors as they
rained from Church's racquet； the great game collapsed under the terrific
strain； and Church's last chance was gone。 Murray won largely as he
wanted； in the last two sets。 No one regretted the incident more than
Murray himself； for no finer sportsman steps upon the court than this
player； yet there was nothing that could be done。 It was a case of external
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THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
conditions influencing the psychology of one man so greatly that it cost
him a victory that was his in justice。
The primary object in match tennis is to break up the other man's game。
The first lesson to learn is to hold your nerve under all circumstances。 If
you can break a player's nerve by pounding at a weakness； do it。 I
remember winning a 5…set doubles match many years ago； against a team
far over the class of my partner and myself； by lobbing continually to one
man until he cracked under the strain and threw the match away。 He
became so afraid of a lob that he would not approach the net； and his
whole game broke up on account of his lack of confidence。 Our
psychology was good； for we had the confidence to continue our plan of
attack even while losing two of the first three sets。 His was bad； for he lost
his nerve； and let us know it。
Sensational and unexpected shots at crucial moments have won many
a match。 If your opponent makes a marvellous recovery and wins by it；
give him full credit for it； and then forget it； for by worrying over it you
not only lose that point but several others as； well； while your mind is still
wandering。 Never lose your temper over your opponent's good shots。 It is
bad enough to lose it at your own bad ones。 Remember that usually the
loser of a match plays just as well as the winner allows him。 Never lose
your temper at a bad decision。 It never pays； and has cost many a match。
I remember a famous match in Philadelphia； between Wallace F。
Johnson； the fifth ranking player in America； and Stanley W。 Pearson； a
local star； in the Interclub tennis league of that city。 Johnson； who had
enjoyed a commanding lead of a set and 4…1； had slumped； and Pearson
had pulled even at a set…all； and was leading at 5…1 and 40…15； point set
match。 He pulled Johnson