New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-04-22
How to Handle
Davis CupTeam
A Big Problem
Some Favor Using Johnston
in Both Singles and Dou.
bles, But Others Object
By Fred Hawthorne

"oo0 VI US WIN nope TO Se0 Cne
American Davis Cup lawn tennis team
return to these shores with the his
torlc Davis Cup in it's keeping next
year hold hundred different opinions
as to the most effective methods for
bringing this about. One man will tell
you that Johnston ought to be used in
both singles and doubles, and another
will declare that the little Californian
should be used solely in the singles,
reserving to Tilden the double role.
j., Then there are those who place all
their reliance in DICK Williams, with
Johnston and Tilden taking a second
airy position when the international
matches begin, and either Richard
Harte or Charles S. Garland filling in
the vacant fourth place on the team.
l have my own opinion rs to the
most effective handling of the team
and the combination that would be
most likely to win the doubles, but the
destinies of the seekers after the cup
have been placed in the keeping of a
man emininently qualified to get the
best possible results. That man is
veteran campaigner on the courts
and thoroughly acquainted with condi-
tlons In England and in Australia.
Captain Hardy to Decide
No one but Hardy will know, previous
to the various matches in which our
players will take part, in just what or
der the men will be played and how
they will be paired in the doubles, and
Hardy himself will be governed by
conditions at the moment. One of the
players may be off his game on a GER
tain day, or he may not be playing at
his best, and then it will be up to the
team captain (Hardy). to US his own
Judgment
1t may be Williams or Johnston or
Tilden, who fails to show his top form
Harte or Garland or Wallace Johnson,
whoever is the fourth man, may super
sede the regular member of the team.
Williams is the only man named to
represent the United States in these
international matches who has had pre-
vlous experience in Davis Cup play. He
was member of both the 1918 and 1914
teams, defeating c. P. Dixon, the Eng
llsh veteran in one of the challenge
round matches in the former year, and
yielding to the great John C. Parke in
quered by both Brookes and Wilding at
Forest Hills, being away off form.
Players Well Seasoned
Johnston and Illden may be set
down as we'll seasoned, even though
they are new to Davis Cup competition.
Both these men have defeated Brookcs
and Patterson and this should give
them the necessary confidence should
they face the Australians again in the
challenge round matches in New Zea-
land next December
Garland, young in years and in court
career, met some of the greatest play
ers abroad last June when he com
peted in the great tournament at VIM
bledon, and this should stand him in
good stead should he be named for
fourth man on the team
Harte is more of an unknown guam
tity at present, but between now and
the time the team leaves for England.
at the end of May, we may be able to
get a reliable line on this young giant.
who is apparently headed straight for
the heights of lawn tennis. Let us
set our minds at rest on one thing
Harte will not be selected unless he
has thoroughly proved his right to the
place.
Wallace Johnson, of Philadelphia. al
though ne was ranked one place higher
than Williams in the first ten" last
year, has not yet been named for the
team, and there seems considerable
"ooo ehos ne VIII gain the coveted
place.
Explain Choice of Williams
There is ample reason behind the
action of the Davis Cup committee in
choosing Williams in preference to
johnson. A member of that committee
told me yesterday that the whole mat
ter of selecting team was being CON
Quoted on a common-sense basis.
Williams was given the preference
over johnson because the committee
believes he is the better player" this
member said. Murray could not give
up the necessary time to make the
trip, therefore he was out of the oues-
ton. The fourth place is vet to he
filled. and the man to fill it will do
SO because, in the opinion of this com.
mlttee, he has demonstrated his right
to the place. That is the only CON
slderation that will guide us in making
our decision"
think it is safe to say that no
matter what may be the outcome Of
our attempt to win back the Davis
Cup, we may rest assured that the
United States sent the best available
material overseas to measure skill with
the other nations, and that is some
thing to be thankful for.
'ox,x, Q~-1 a. NJ