Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-04
TEMPERAMENT IS:
COBERT'S HANDICAP
Petty Things Annoy and Hurt
Game Of Famous French
Tennis Player
HAS GREAT WAR RECORD
BY CARL FISCHER
Singles Cha mpion

..d of Andre Henri Colbert. the eldest
and captan of the French Davis Cup
nlayers. who contested in the invitation
tournament here this week.
Cobert's teammates are Henri Cochet
aud loan Borotra. All the Frenchmen
arc very interesting.
II Is the first time that France has
invaded America in quest of the Davis
Cup and the players are receiving Il
royaI welcome. Next week they play
IN. Australian team at Boston in the
semi final round and IL successful will
orposp. Spain in the final at the Ger
msntown Cricket Club in Philadelphia
on August II. 1S and 10.
Even if Australia does defeat France
a, Boston. Philadelphia still will have
q chance to see the Frcnchmcn, for
they have promised to remain in this
country for the national singles which
will be played at the Germantown
Cricket Club, beginning September s.
Won Croix de Guerre
Colbert was first assigned to artillery
and then to aviation. During service
he h won the Legion of Honor medal, the
Croiy do Guerrc. with six citations. and
the English military cross. Quite u
record.
Colbert is thirty two years of age,
about six feet four inches tall, and very
\ well built He Is the Bill Tilden of
the invading Frenchmcn. and has vic :
tories over practically all of the fore
most players Of the world He plays
very gracefully. yet there is great power
10 all his shots. His strokes are ex-
ecuted in perfect form. His whole game
| Is practically hawless. Yet he is not
the worlds greatest player, and this is
largely due to his temperament.
Petty things annoy him greatly. This
was quite evident in his recent match
with Williams. The court was very
heavy and he slipped continually. In
each case it would take him several
points TO get back on his game again
His actions during this match amused
the gallery greatly. He was continu-
ally talking to himself in both French
and English-he speaks our native
tongue well. On one occasion. when
Williams made seemingly impossible
return half volley which left the
Frenchman helpless. Colbert waved his
arms in the air and shouted.
Next week the Australians are sure
10 hear from this massive Frcnchman.
Considering that he is accustomed to
hard courts, for they have no grass
courts in France, and that the courts
here were very soft, due to great
amount Of rainfall recently, Colbert has
played remarkably well. 1t was al
most impossible for such large man
to keep his footing on wet turf. and yet
be played Williams, who is in excel :
lent form, to n standstill. If conditions
are more normal next week at Long
wood he will be able to execute his
strokes with freedom and great eff
tectivencss. Watch him!
Borotra Wears Hat
Jean Borotra, whose home Is ut
Biarritz. in Southwest France. is tall
and well built for tennis. He has a
most liEablc manner on and off the
court. He speaks English quite well.
When playing Rorotra wears his ma :
tive hat. Il sort Of blue Tam O. Shanter.
he said I" me:
cannot get along without this hat
It has become quite a mascot. When
! do not have it | might just as well
oe minus thirty at the beginning of each
game.
Then he added. with a grin. "This
| '''' 'i"', i'l NY gus
IN my face If | do not wear it and ]
cannot Scc.''
This Is more truth than fancy. for
MS hair Is very long. Il might wear n
handkerchief around my forehead" he
continued but this does not look we'll.
W hair net, but this would be toe
efeminate."
Borotra and Cochet did not play par.
tcularly well here. They Just landed
saturday. and wee compelled to play
&p mn'rheS tom. MaRdaX. the, opening
nearly exhausted from the heat and hu
midity.
Too Hot Here"
1. Though it is often hot in Franco
= is never damp-humd like this, .
h5oratra said. "And the food is sc
clher"nt. In France they feed cor,
!he cattle, but they served it to Ms
although the French only have hard
utnutts, their style of play is more sim .
PLAYERS. our eastern than our western
eS except service. with the tyrical ca.t' rn
vi anguish grip. They are nccustom
snd % " inc fast play of the hard court
H .,I naturally need time to adapt thcm .
rs IT'S 10 the grass game.
Inc team while here is under the
t.ati Stasction of Alan II. Muir, an Amer
SSsh S.h born born IN, Philadelphia, who has
Ssd SIsa abroad for thirty years. Iuh,
S,a captaincies in the English. Tnli"d
sM.eS sa ana French armies during tho
''r TL ana IS q Legion of Honor man,
~ ne me pest line that has been pulled
Gotne ne tourney came to light during the
Vas ,'si ll',ams marathon. Williams
nShlng quite heavily and lipbtni""S bG"S
FmatIn IN strcaks. Still they playrd
Gd: '''' e''' III 'he srahustaM!
b.,o No,hrr. we'd better get away from
sttrao Mr' Williams steel racket might