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doubles。
Offer suggestions to your partner at any time during a match； but do
not insist on his following them； and do not get peevish if he doesn't。 He
simply does not agree with you； and he may be right。 Who knows？
Every doubles team should have a leader to direct its play； but that
leader must always be willing to drop leadership for any given point when
his partner has the superior position。 It is policy of attack not type of
stroke that the leader should determine。
Pick a partner and stick to him。 He should be a man you like and want
to play with； and he should want to play with you。 This will do away with
much friction。 His style should not be too nearly your own； since you
double the faults without greatly increasing the virtues。
I am a great believer in a brilliant man teaming up with a steady player。
Let your steady man keep the ball in play； and allow your brilliant man all
the room he wants to 〃poach〃 and kill。 Thus you get the best of both men。
Doubles is a game of finesse more than speed。 The great doubles
players； the Dohertys； Norman E。 Brookes； the greatest in the world to…day；
Roper Barrett； Beals Wright； and F。 B。 Alexander； are all men of subtle
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THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
finesse rather than terrific speed。
It requires more than speed of shot to beat two men over a barrier 3 to
3 1/2 feet high with a distance of some 32 feet。 It is angles； pace； and
accuracy that should be the aim in a great doubles game。 Resource；
versatility； and subtlety； not speed； win doubles matches。
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THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
PART III： MODERN TENNIS
AND ITS FUTURE
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THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
CHAPTER X。 THE GROWTH OF THE
MODERN GAME
Lawn tennis is the outgrowth of the old French game of the courts of
the early Louis。 It spread to England； where it gained a firm hold on public
favour。 The game divided； the original form being closely adhered to in
the game known in America as 〃Court tennis；〃 but which is called
〃Tennis〃 in England。 Lawn tennis grew out of it。
The old style game was played over a net some 5 feet high； and the
service was always from the same end； the players changing courts each
game。 It was more on the style of the present game of badminton or
battledore and shuttlecock。
Gradually the desire for active play had its effect； in a lowered net and
changed laws； and tennis； as we know it； grew into being。 From its earliest
period； which is deeply shrouded in mystery； came the terms of 〃love〃 for
〃nothing〃 and 〃deuce〃 for 〃40…all。〃 What they meant originally； or how
they gained their hold is unknown； but the terms are a tradition of the
game and just as much a part of the scoring system as the 〃game〃 or 〃set〃
call。
In 1920 the Rules Committee of the American Tennis Association
advocated a change in scoring that replaced love； 15； 30； 40 with the more
comprehensive 1； 2； 3； 4。 The real reason for the proposed change was the
belief that the word 〃love〃 in tennis made the uninitiated consider the
game effeminate and repelled possible supporters。 The loyal adherents of
the old customs of the game proved too strong； and defeated the proposed
change in scoring by an overwhelming majority。
Personally； I think there is some slight claim to consideration for the
removal of the word 〃love。〃 It can do no good； and there are many
substitutes for it。 It can easily be eliminated without revolutionizing the
whole scoring system。 It is far easier to substitute the words 〃zero；〃
〃nothing；〃 for 〃love〃 than cause such an upheaval as was proposed。 In my
opinion the best way to obviate the matter is to use the player's name in
conjunction with the points won by him； when his opponent has none。 If
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THE ART OF LAWN TENNIS
the first point is won by Williams； call the score 〃15； Williams〃 and； with
his opponent scoring the next； the call would become 〃15…all。〃
If tennis loses one adherent； it could otherwise gain； simply by its
retaining the word 〃love〃 in the score； I heartily advocate removing it。
This removal was successfully accomplished in Chicago in 1919； with no
confusion to players； umpires； or public。
However； returning from my little digression on the relative value of
〃love〃 and 〃nothing；〃 let me continue my short history of the game。 The
playing of tennis sprang into public favour so quickly that in a
comparatively short space of time it was universally played in England
and France。 The game was brought to America in the latter part of the
nineteenth century。 Its growth there in the past twenty…five years has been
phenomenal。 During the last half century tennis gained a firm foothold in
all the colonies of the British Empire； and even found favour in the Orient；
as is explained in another portion of this book。
Tennis fills many needs of mankind。 It provides an outlet for physical
energy； relaxation； mental stimulus； and healthful exercise。 The moral tone
is aided by tennis because the first law of tennis is that every player must
be a good sportsman and inherently a gentleman。
Tennis was recognized by the Allied Governments as one of the most
beneficial sports during the World War。 Not only were the men in service
encouraged to play whenever possible； but the Allied Governments lent
official aid to the various service tournaments held in France following the
signing of the Armistice。 The importance of tennis in the eyes of the
American Government may be gleaned from the fact that great numbers of
hard courts were erected at the various big cantonments； and organized
play offered to the soldiers。
Many of the leading players who were in training in America at the
time of the National Championship； which was played solely to raise
money for the Red Cross； were granted leave from their various stations to
take part in the competition。 Among