Legendary Tennis Players FRANK PARKER	Browse Other Pages Homepage A Viewpoint on the Game How It Began A Viewpoint on the Game 2 A Viewpoint on the Game 3 Concentration; Practice Condition, Physical and Mental Keep Your Eye on the Ball Footwork and Weight Control Women's Tennis The Grips The Service The Drive The Chop and the Slice The Volley The Subtle Shots Courage Your Opponent's Weaknesses General Tactics Outside Conditions Pressure on Your Opponent Doubles and Mixed Doubles The Coaching Job Legendary Tennis Players Olympic Tennis Does Youth Rule Tennis Hall of Fame Amateurism to Open Tennis Some Defects in Tennis Doping Olympic Review Technology and Sport The Slice Service Flat Serve The American Twist The Drive The Backhand Drive Drive - The Main Uses The Volley Net Position The Volley Position The Overhead Smash The Half-Volley The Drop Shot The Mechanics of the Slice The Main Uses of a Slice The Grips Doubles and Mixed Doubles To Open the Court Doubles In Europe and US Legendary Tennis Players (1940's) Questions in Australian Tennis History of Australian Tennis History of Australian Tennis 2 History of Australian Tennis Players Women's Tennis in Australia Australian Tennis: Nature Ages of Tennis Players The Careers of Women Players
	(1949) This remarkable player has one of the longest and most amazingIy consistent careers in the history of United States tennis. He has held the United States Boys', Juniors', and Men's Championship crowns, has represented his country on the Davis Cup team, has played with success in Europe, and has been ranked seventeen years in the United States' First Ten. Only William A. Larned has hung up such a consistently magnificent record. Parker is still a young man for all his years in the game. He is in his middle thirties, with many seasons ahead of him. Yet he is an old man of tennis. I feel that Parker has passed his peak, not because of his age but because of his years of competition. His will to win, still strong, has for the past couple of years been centred on holding what he had, rather than looking ahead to greater fields. He is a perfect example of a player who is playing "not to lose" instead of "playing to win." Parker is one of the finest baseline players the game has ever known. His ability to cover court, his remarkable patience and accuracy, and his dogged determination make him always dangerous. He volleys well, without great severity, while his overhead is accurate and well placed, though lacking in real power. His service is awkwardly produced, not speedy, but he places it well. The only real flaw in Parker's game for years was his forehand, which never seemed to groove into any very definite style shot, but in recent years he has improved it until now it is a reasonably reliable flat drive. He is the possessor of one of the finest backhands in the world. His one stumbling block to absolute greatness was the lack of killing power anywhere in his game. In the past few years a definite change has come over Parker that really marks the downgrade tendency in his game. Up to about three years ago, Parker was one of the greatest fifth-set players in the game, but in recent years, if he is forced into a fifth set, his legs and his concentration seem to go back on him, and he is now losing where he once won. He has such a completely unemotional personality on a tennis court that the average speetator does not particularly enjoy watching him. He is a tennis player's tennis player. He is a wonderful example for any young player who wants to learn concentration, patience, and tenacity of purpose, as well as perfect sportsmanship and court manners. Actually, Frank is far more highly strung and temperamental than anyone realizes, and his iron control of himself adds another strain for him. Little Bill Johnston was another player who had the same characteristics. I believe Parker still has a few years among the topflight of the world. I think he has a decade of good tennis ahead of him at least, if he wants to play. I know Parker intended to turn pro in 1946 and 1947, if he had beaten Kramer for the ehampionship. His contract awaited his victory, but he didn't win, and the deal was off. In 1949 he was seriously considering a professional offer when suddenly, in the midst of the negotiations, an opportunity to play in Europe, from Sweden to France, opened up. As he had done on previous occasions, Frank passed up the money for more glory. Only after a not too successful season, which must have convinced him of the inevitable fact that he would never again be National Champion, did he accept a splendid offer to tour with Kramer, Gonzales, and Segura, under the management of Bobby Riggs. Certainly there is no player in tennis today who deserves more respect and honour than Frank Parker. In consistency, he is outstanding performer of the past decade and more. Richard Pancho Gonzales Ted Schroeder Frank Parker Doherty Brothers Other Players 1940's Professional Players The Women Players Helen Wills Classic Tennis Posters Home