AJNTD OFF BY ANTHONY F. WILDING LAWN TENNIS CHAMPION, XQXO, IQH WITH KIETY-BICU3T ILLUSTRATIONS NEW YORK DOUBLEDAY, PAGhB CO. 1012 TO MY FATHER AND MOTHER TO WHOM I OWE EVERYTHING PREFACE IF it is the rule to offer apologies for writ ing a book about ones favourite game, and its auxiliary diversions, I must break it. Most of my notes were made in slow Scan dinavian trains or in journeying between London and Manchester and though I am not of a literary turn of mind I can truth fully say that compiling them has given me genuine pleasure. Of course it is difficult to teach lawn tennis by the written word, but I venture to hope that all those in the early Stages of proficiency will be able to formulate ideas which will improve their game. I am greatly indebted to my friends, Mrs Larcombe and M. Gobert, who have been good enough to make valuable contribu vii viii ON THE COURT AND OFF tions. Having played cliiefly with men, I know too little about ladies play. Secondly, being a New Zealander, I do not know as much about the remarkable development of the Young French School as M. Gobert. I wish to place on record my sincere thanks to Mr Wallis Myers, who has been good enough to edit this work for me and to give me the benefit of a vast experience, and who has further afforded me great assistance in the arrangement of the photo graphs and the subject matter. ANTHONY F. WILDING 121 MOUNT STREET, LONDON, W. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGB I. STROKES IN THE MAKING i II. THE WAY TO IMPROVE .... 29 III. POINTS IN TACTICS 45 IV. TRAINING IN SUMMER AND WINTER . 67 V. RAW MATERIAL 86 VI. Mv CHAMPIONSHIP EXPERIENCES . . 109 VII. MAINLY ABOUT TOURNAMENTS . . .145 VIII. ON THE ROAD AND IN THE AIR . . 173 IX. AUSTRALASIA 205 X. ADVICE TO LADIES. By Mrs Larcombe . 234 XI. FRANCE TO THE FRONT. By Andre Gobert 253 INDKX 273 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ANTHONY F. WILDING . . Frontispiece From a Photograph by Elliott 6 Fry FACING PAGE FOREHAND GRIP SHOWING FINGERS . .1 I o FOREHAND GRIP SHOWING BACK OF HAND . BACKHAND GRIP SHOWING THUMB UP HANDLE BACKHAND GRIP SHOWING BACK OF HAND . J 9 BEGINNING AND MIDDLE OF FOREHAND TOP DRIVE . . . , .18 FINISH OF FOREHAND TOP DRIVE . . 19 CROSS-COURT VOLLEYS BACKHAND AND FOREHAND . . . .20 Low FOREHAND VOLLEY Low BACKHAND VOLLEY MY SMASH SUCH AS IT is . . . 24 MY BACKHAND DRIVE IN THREE POSITIONS 32 MY ORDINARY SERVICE IN FOUR POSITIONS 38 MY REVERSE SERVICE IN THREE POSITIONS 39 TRAINING FOR THE DAVIS CUP AT MELBOURNE, 1908 ..... 68 After a mornings work on Norman Brookes Court at Brookwood FATHER AND SON IN THE NEW ZEALAND CHAM PIONSHIP AT AUCKLAND . . 88 xii ON THE COURT AND OFF FACING PAGE TRINITY COLLEGE ELEVEN, 1907 . . 100 From a Photograph by Steam dr Sens CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY Six, 1905 . . 101 From a Photograph by Steam Sons CAMBRIDGE MAY WEEK, 1906 . . 102 The Dohertys All England Club against K. Powell and myself SEMI-FINAL OF THE ALL-COMERS SINGLES, WIMBLEDON, 1906 . . . no From a Photograph by the Sport and General Press Agency Ltd. NORMAN E. BROOKES . . in Reproduced by the courtesy of Mr Gordon fnglts WINNING THE DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE FIRST TIME AT WIMBLEDON, 1907 . 114 From a Photograph by the Sport and General Press Agencv Ltd. M. J. G. RITCHIE . . , 115 From a Photograph by the London News Agency FINAL OF THE ALL-COMERS SINGLES, WIMBLE DON, 1910 .... 130 From a Photograph by the Sport and General Press Agency Ltd. THE LAST STROKE MY CHALLENGE ROUND AGAINST A. W. GORE AT WIMBLEDON, 1910 131 From a Photograph by Edwin 7 rim WINNING THE DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE THIRD TIME AT WIMBLEDON, 1910 . 131 From a Photograph by Edwin Trim THE SPOILS OF WAR RECEIVING THE UOM BURG CUP, 1907 .... 146 --This text refers to the Paperback edition.