South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-02-25
TILDEN SAYS U.s..
TENNIS SUPREMACY
WELLESTABLISHED
international Champ Gives
Interview on Recent
Australian Tour.
By JACK VE1OCK.
By international News Service:


PHILADELPHIA, Feb. "a. -
Americans should successfully de-
tend the Davis Cup this year and
for some years 10 come" VIM T.
Tilden II. national and international
Johnston, brought the worlds most
famous tennis trophy 10 the United
States so told the writer here Thurs
day.
Il do not mean to make what
may sound like a rash prediction"
Tilden continued. "and I do not say
this in view OF the fact that Bill
Johnston and may be called
upon to defend the cup. 1t is simply
my supreme confidence in Ameri-
can tennis.
Respects Challengcrs.
81 have profound respect for the
brilliant ability OF the Australian
and English players. yet with no
thought OF detracting anything from
them must say that 1 believe
America would still be able to re-
cruit a successful defending team
should Johnston, Williams, myself,
and several others drop out OF ten
mis-. I'll tell you why.
1T is because America develops
and is stil developing the greatest
field Of young players anywhere in
/ the world, whereas other countries
90 not pay so much attention to the
boys and juniors. In Australia for
instance, the players they call
youngsters are over twenty years
old for the most part"
Il take great pride in saying this
Of American tennis 1t is wonderful
to see our young players coming so
fast and 1t is a great credit to our
national president. Mr.. Julian S.
Myrick. along with Charles Garland,
Of Pittsburg, Paul w. Gibbons Of
Philadelphia, and Z. B. Alexander
and Samuel Hardy OF New York.
who reserve no end of praise for
the encouragement they have given
the young players"
Tilden Modest.
Tilden himself has been RESPONSE
BILE for much OF the enthusiasm
among young players. He neglect
ed to mention himself because he
is modest in this respect. However,
he discussed the recent Australian
invasion with the enthusiasm OF a
school boy.
Helping to lift the Davis cup"
he said. gave me the greatest thrill
I have ever been experienced.
"There was something romantic
almost dramatic about it. And
there was the realization that the
lofty ambitions Of myself and my
teammates had been fulfilled.
ITO Journey $4,000 miles as the
American team did and to have that
journey crowned with success be-
fore as fine a sporting public and
in competition against as cleancut
sportsmen as the world Possesses
gave each OF US personal satisfac-
ton. It can only be expressed in
the hope that we will have the
pleasure of receiving In America as
our guests the representatives Of
the nations over whom we tri-
umphed-
Achieved Ambition.
ITO be a member Of a victorious
Davis cup team mas always been the
ambition OF my tennis career. and =
| believe, the careers of most other
players. Therefore the victory in
the Davis cup matches was more
81 tisfying to me than my victory at
Wimbledon or my winning of the
National championship last fall.
Had we failed to lift the Davis,
I 1t was to have been because our best
was not good enough. Fortunately
| II was. And to the American sport
4 ing public the players and officials
OF the United States Lawn Tennis
/ p association and especially 10 our
captain, Samuel Hardy, belong the
real credit for our victory. Much
( Of the success of our travels, by
the way was due 10 the efficient
handling Of Capt. Hardy. And now
"a word about Bill Johnston.
ITO me it is always a pleasure to
be associated with Johnston on or
off the courts. A greater player or
finer representative American could
! not be found.
Praises johnson.
con the tennis court I consider
him a wizard. His playing is Won
derfully fast and accurate. He Is
the perfect embodiment of coordin-
alton OF the mind and the eye. He
meets a tennis ball as Ty Cobb meets
a baseball and ne has given me the
hardest matches I have ever played.
As for Johnston and myself, as
players, we'll, there is no more than
a hair between US either way"
"Our Australian friends, inclyd-
ing the players. officials and the
public showed US wonderful hospi-
tally.
NO discussion OF the Australian
trip would be complete without pay
ing to Norman z Brookes, the out
standing tennis player OF all time,
a tribute that is due his unequalled
skill and generous craftsmanship.
Mr.. Brookes. today in my opinion Is
still the greatest tennis genius in the
world He is the greatest player in
Australia and ranks among the first
three players in the world. Such a
position to a man Of AZ who prac-
tically retired in 1914 Is unique IN
the annals OF sport and the game
Of lawn tennis cannot hope 70 repay
/ Mr.. Brookes the debt IL owes him. !"