The Washington herald., 1920-12-22
TILDEN-JOHNSTON
CHIEF HOPES OF
DAVlSCUP TEAM
Two Bills to Bear Brunt
OF Battle Against
Australia.

NEW YORK, Dec. 2l.-Big Bill
and Little Bill. William T. Tilden,
Cd. and William M. Johnston, will
carry the hopes of America and
bear the brunt of the battle against
the Australasian lawn tennis team
in the matches for the Davis Cup
Christmas week.
Although the United States has
sent forth one of its strongest
teams, which includes Watson NJ
washburn and Sam Hardy, the last
named captain. the fifteenth series
for the blue ribbon trophy of the
courts, on the turf at Auckland, New
Zealand, is fraught with much un-
certainty.
Remembering the showing OF the
Americans in England last July,
when they made a clean sweep
against the French and the British
Isles, there Is reason for sanguinary
belief as to the outcome. Still, as
an officer Of the National Associa-
tion remarked: I'VE have sent
other formidable teams to Australia
and all have met defeat"
Trip Il Costly One.
Continuing: this same official re-
marked that the trip had been an
exceptionally costly one this year,
In round figures $4,000. and 1t was
the belief that success was at hand
that had caused the Willingness to
spend so large a sum. Altogether
the Davis Cup expenses OF the Amer
leans for this year will approximate
$4,000.
BEFORE leaving this city, Hardy
made no secret of the fact that
the return of the Davis Cup was
entirely dependent upon Tilden and
Johnston being at the top of their
game against the defending forces.
He realized that Norman E
Brookes, one of the craftiest lawn
tennis generals who ever hit a ball
across a net, would put to the fore
a team in every way calculated to
test the strength of the American
challengers to tho fullest. The ex-
PLANTATION is to be found in the fact
that Brookes knows by minute
analysis the abilities of each of the
men on the American side and will
strive to discount their most pow
erful weapons of play.
Dates of Matches Changed.
Statements cabled to this country
have named Brookes. Gerald L. Pat
terson, Patrick O'Hara Wood and
j. B. Hawkes. as the four defenders.
There is the belief that Patterson
and Hawkes., a young player who
has recently defeated Brookes III
several of the Australasian tourna-
ments, are likely to bear the brunt
of the battles in the singles. Wood
two years ago won the British dou-
bles championship title with Ronald
V. Thomas as his partner. He Is
regarded as one of the ablest dou
bles men in all the world. Wood
and Brookes appear likely to form
the doubles pair.
Because the United States team
arrived in Auckland a week latcr
than was expected, the dates for
the matches have been changed to
give the men more time to get rid
Of their sea legs.
The new dates for the matches
are Tuesday, December 2s: Thurs
day. December 80. and Friday. De-
cember 81.
In connection with the Davis Cup
matches Julian S. Myrick. president
of the United States Lawn Tennis
and Davis Cup Commit
tee, has called a special meeting o.
the international committee for to-
day. 1t will consider recommended
tions mde by France as to definitely
determining what constitutes the
expense of Davis Cup teams and
also changes in the rules