New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-02
America Now in the Best
Position to Wrest Tro-
ply From Australians
By Fred Hawthorne

means great deal for international
lawn tennis even though it does come
as surprise to followers of the game
iii this country. who had been led to
understand that all international com
petition on the courts during 1919
would be abandoned.
i the British Isles. whose losses
on the battlefeds of France have been
so staggering, particularly among the
ranks of the athletes. are able to put
lawn tennis team in the field there
is good reason TO believe that all the
other allied nations will soon bc pre-
pared 10 renew tho contests for the
famous bowl, now held by Australasia.
There does not seem much reason to
doubt that America would sweep the
courts At Victoria this year. were she
10 send n team in quest of the cup.
Unless am greatly mistaken. the
United Kingdom has had Mother the
timo nor tho inclination to develop
players OF international cnlibre dur
Ing the last four years | have heard
OF no new names rising to greatness
on English courts, or Auetralnsinn or
Canadian.
Masters Of Game
In l0ti when the lRst Davis cup
matches we're held, with the challenge
round played on the turf OF tho Wcst
side Tennis Club Mt Forest Hills. l.. t..
tho British lsles and Austrnlnsa were
roprosontod by such masters OF the
game m II. G. Parke A. H. Lowe, Nor.
man Everard Brookes md Anthony i.
Wilding, respectively.
Az that time the mighty Pnrke, no
~ the tremendous forohand drive. had
lust about started to so down Hill
lIc and Lowe represented tho Inst of
EnEland's "Old Guard" OF tho lawn
tennis courts Had there been other
Younger and equally skilled players
IN the British lrles in 1914 England
most certainly would have called upon
tham TO represent her in the intorna-
tional arena. but she had no ono TO
rely upon except her veterans, and
not equal to tho task set them
Who. having seen them play, caN
ever forget Brookes, that magician Of
the courts, and the splendid giant,
most e,st at middle age s' and wiidng "" quite
a bit beyond the time OF life when
man is supposed to be at his best at
tennis when they made the far journey
from Australia TO the United States
10 battle the Americans-McL oughlin,
Williams aid Bundy-at Forest Hills.
That thev. were successful In wrest
ing the Davis Cup once more from the
land Of its birth is but added proof
of the power Of their game, the more
so as they were in competition against
far younger men. But Brookes and
Wilding, as did ParlIe and Lowe for
England. represented Australasia's
dying effort in 1914.
There were no brilliant juniors be-
ing schooled to take the place so ably
filed by these masters of their craft,
more's the pity. And now the great
Widing is dead having given up his
life for his country in the great war
some three years ago, and the Brooke
whom we all marvelled at is through
with international lawn tennis. Who
are to take their places?
America Furnishes Contrast
What contrast here in America,
IT is true that the flaming California
comet" McLoughlin, has apparently
seen the zenith of his day on the
courts, and Tom Bundy and Karl Behr
too, have undoubtedly passed out of
the picture. But we may look forward
with perfect confidence 20 the future.
There is Robert Lindey Murray. our
present national champion, still youth
and player with tremendously ag-
gressive style of game. modelled very
much after the net-storming tactics OF
Mclaughlin. The great California;
has not yet reached the heights Of
which he is capable, to my way Of
thinking, for with further improve
ment in his ground strokes his game
should develop at least half 10 in
strength
Then there Ia william r. rilden. 3D.
Of philadelphia. whose potentialities
helsyc to be almost llmitlesH. He hne
height, reach, superlatiye speed and n
wonderful ability nj VolleVing, backed
UP by singing drive. of either fore
OF back hand.
or course, there is Captain Rich
ard Norris Williams. I'd, Of philhdel-
phIa, twice holder Of the national
titls, and still In France, to be called
upon. There Ia no need here to praise
WillismHs game The WILLIAMS of
Wimbledon" the civilians who top
pied tho Comet" from the heights in
1914 and the fawless Johnston In
1915. In certainly among the worlds
greatest players even to-day. after two
wears and more Of war. There does not
seem much doubt that Williams will be
able TO take his former place on the
courts In 1920.
Aohnston, national title holder in
1915. is about the age Of Murray and
Williams. and hence should he good
for several years Of highest class lawn
tennis. Equipped with one of the
soundert games ever developed In this
country, Johnston has not placed the
tremendous physical INK upon his
strength that II necessiiated by the
typical California game, and there
seems no reason Why he should not be
quite as formidable in 1920. as he was
when champion.
The "Old Guard
The men mentioned above compose
what we might call Americas "Old
Guard" old in experience II young in
wears, and they form a mighty host
in themselves. but there arc those
among the juniors who are bound TO
take a prominent part in international
tennis within the next year or two.
Vincent Richards, just passed six
teen years Of age, holder of tho ma
tonxl doubles and national boys cham
pionshir, IL tho outstanding figure
among these youngsters. No player
OF the game. past or present, ever had
the opportunities for such truly
brilliant court career as has this
stripping.
Not only in beauty Of stroke cxccu-
.ion and speed Of court covering, but
in strategy Of the highest caibrc, is
Richards far beyond tho average tour
nsmeht player, and he is only six
teen years old What win he be
whom twcnty.oue2