The keen competitive spirit that stimulates a match player also
increases the nervous strain. This should be recognized by
tournament committees, and the conditions of play should be as
nearly standardized as weather permits.

A tournament committee should never keep a player waiting for an
important match to commence while they scour through the crowd
for linesmen. These necessary, and I trust useful, accessories to
every match of importance should be picked and on hand when the
players appear. A good linesman is a great aid to match tennis. A
poor one may ruin a great battle. Not only will bad decisions
turn the tide by putting a point in the wrong columns, but slow
decisions will often upset players, so they dare not play to the
line kept by slumberous linesmen.

A linesman should take his first judgment as the ball strikes. If
outside he should call "out" at once clearly, decisively, but not
too loudly; a yell is often a shock to the nerves. If the ball is
good he should remain discreetly silent.

The umpire should announce the score after each point in a voice
sufficiently loud to be heard by the entire gallery. His
decisions as to "lets" or balls "not up" should be made only loud
enough to ensure that they are heard by the players. The gallery
has eyes. Following each game, the game score should be called,
giving the leading player's name and the set being played. For
example, "Four games to three, Parke leads. Second set." About
every third game following the completion of the first set, an
announcement as to the winner of the first set is an excellent