The New York herald., 1922-08-10
Tilden, Johnston and Will
Jams of 1921 Team Are the
Other Players.
TENNIS FANS DIVIDED
Committee Receives Scores of
Letters on Question of Rich
ards's Selection.
ny SAMUEL J. BRooKMAN.

Possibly with an eye To the future
the United States Davis cup commit
tee yesterday named nineteen-yea
Vincent Richards a member of this
years international team. thereby an
swering question that has agitated
tennis circles for some time. The
youthful star. who at present stands
third in national rank. replaces Wat
son NJ. Washburn, who played in the
doubles match of the challenge round
against the Japanese year ago. The
rest of the 1921 squad-William T.
Tilden I'd of Philadelphia, William NJ.
Johnston OF San Francisco and r.
Norris Williams I'd of Boston-re-
mains intact.
Judging from the contents of scores
Of letters and kilograms that have been
pouring in to tennis headquarters of late
the selection OF Richards will please
many and disappoint others. Tennis
fans have gone to great trouble to bring
mittee the importance Of having Rich
ards named in preference to Washburn,
or the justice Of naming Washburn in
stead OF Richards as the case happened
to be. There never was any question OF
the other three--Tilden, Johnston and
Williams-but Richards and Washburn
apparently were the only other two seri-
Gus candidates, and tennisdom seemed to
be perfectly well divided on the question.
1t was pointed out by many that not
only had Richards earned higher rank
ing than Washburn year ago in singles
but that he had won the national doubles
championship with Tilden and had domi-
mated the title round in which Williams
and Washburn had been forced to accept
defeat. 1t was pointed out further that
Tilden and Richards had won the first
Of the tryout doubles matches with
Washburn and Williams recently and
that the first OF these tryouts constituted
the real test.
Arguments Pro and Con.
On the other hand. along came the
champions of Washburn's cause with the
argument that Washburn and Williams
had won the second tryout more easily
than Tilden and Richards had won the
first, that Williams and washburn had
won the Nassau doubles and the Sea-
bright doubles from strong teams and
that they were the most formidable
available doubles combination. the most
logical ono In fact. since Tilden had quite
enough to do to take care of the singles
end OF the Davis cup challenge round
without teaming with Richards !, In
eoubles.
So 1t went pro and con. the Richards
admirers declaring in rebuttal that
Richards could team well with any
player in the country. and that 1t would
not be taxing Tilden's strength In the
least to play doubles match the day
after singles with days rest coming
between the doubles and the second
singles.
= No doubt the committee. which re-
fused 10 make any comment on its selec-
tons. took up all these arguments in
turn. and no doubt there was plenty of
discussion before decision was reached.
Possibly, too. the selection was not
unanimous, some of the committee mem
bers being rather doubtful about ex-
perimenting with newcomer to inter-
national play in year when the likely
challengers. the Australians, appeared
10 be so formidable. However. Richards
was chosen and there the matter stands.
1t All Depends.
The selection OF Richards does not
necessarily mean that the youngster
will get an opportunity to play IN any
OF the challenge round matches. II
means that he has mighty good
chance TO get into the tournament. II
all depends. For instance. should both
Johnston and Tiden on the opening
day OF the Davis cup event win their
singles contests decislveiy, II Is almost
-fnf hal inf nd rhar ID
would be called on for the doubles
match the following day. On the other
hand. should either Johnston or Tiden
or both be beaten in their opening
singles tllts-perish the thought-it
would not surprise in the least IL Tilden
and Johnston, who played such sensa-
tional doubles in England and Aus
tralia two years ago In bringing the
cup back to America, were selected TO
take up the doubles burden In that
event possibly Williams or Richards
would be called on for singles the
third day.
OF course anything can happen. but
there are mighty few who are figur-
ing on a defeat of either Johnston or
Tilden in singles. not after the won
derful quality OF tennis they have
flashed Of late, and the consensus seems
TO be that II won't matter at all who
wins the doubles.
Having been chosen for the team. the
four players are now in the hands OF
the Davis cup committee and will COM
pete only where and when the com
mittee thinks best. The committee in
tends to watch very carefully over the
quartet to make sure that no member
OF the squad reaches the pink" of
condition too soon before the all i'm
portant challenge round. The two tour
naments that come before the Davis
cup matches are the Newport invita-
tion and the national doubles at Long
wood and IL Is M to the committee "a
decide whether the men shall play in
either or both or neither.
II. Norris Williams I'd retains the cap.
taincy Of the team. Robert ID. Wrenn
chairman Of the committee, which also
includes George II. Adee. Holcombs
Ward. Samuel Hardy and Beals G.
Wright. In making the announcement
yesterday. stated that mo decision has
been reached regarding the combinations
that will be used in singles and doubles !
Phenomenal Rise.
Richards's rise 70 fame has been phe.
nomenal. AT the age OF II he was
beating some or the best racket wieldors
In the metropolitan district. AZ Is, un.
der the able coaching II Tilden, the
yonkers youth won the national doubles
title with his illustrlous partner. Since
then every season saw him mount
higher with added experience until hs
had beaten many OF the top notchers .pi
the game. His play was so brilliant
N. aaa.a,, that ha ruoo a rIad thfw1