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The Art of Lawn Tennis by William (Bill) Tatem Tilden
page 58 of 197 (29%)
backbone of tennis in each country, that does more for
international understanding than all the notes ever written from
the White House.

I could go on writing tennis psychology as explained by external
conditions for hundreds of pages, but all I want to do is to
bring to mind a definite idea of the value of the mind in the
game. Stimulate it how you will, a successful tennis player must
admit the value of quick mind. Do it by a desire for personal
glory, or team success, or by a love of competition in matching
your wits against the other man's, but do it some way.

Do, not think that tennis is merely a physical exercise. It is a
mental cock-tail of a very high "kick."



CHAPTER VII. THE PSYCHOLOGY OF MATCH PLAY

The first and most important point in match play is to know how
to lose. Lose cheerfully, generously, and like a sportsman. This
is the first great law of tennis, and the second is like unto
it--to win modestly, cheerfully, generously, and like a
sportsman.

The object of match play is to win, but no credit goes to a man
who does not win fairly and squarely. A victory is a defeat if it
is other than fair. Yet again I say to win is the object, and to
do so, one should play to the last ounce of his strength, the
last gasp of his breath, and the last scrap of his nerve. If you
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