Evening star., 1923-08-26


championships last September.
Tilden's only downfall was accom-
t'ished by Alonzo during the height
"f this tennis season. This marked
leir tenth encounter this year. and in
il the Spaniard tired out his opponent
After two long sets, one TO each
Vayer, TIlden gave UP the struggle
nd obviously let the match go. Much
redit is due Alfonso, however. for ms
'"rtinacity. Most of his playing has
'"en done on hard courts. and If he
ccustoms himself to grass before
the championships. he will come close
10 reaching the finals if he has good
raw. Ttlden thinks that only John-
Ston and himself are now capable of
heating the Spanish champion.
How Australians Figure.
1t is interesting to note how Austria
lil figures on defeating America.
They remember Andersons five-set
match with Tilden last season. and his
in over the American champion in
i921 at Chicago. They know that
anderson Is in fine fettle and that
he is playing better tennis than he
ever played in his life, SO they hope
Strongly that he will defeat Tilden.
They expect, too, to win the doubles.
remembering Australias orerwhelm-
tng victory in them in last years
contest. A little luck. that is all that
~ needed to take the cup home.
Right here, they meet a stumbling
block in Johnston. They recall his
crushing defeat of Anderson last year.
hut they comfort themselves with the
reflection that Anderson had just been
taken from sick bed.
The main trouble with their calcu-
lations, as / see them, Is that they
overlook the conditions under which
Anderson carried Tilden to five sets
last year. The challenge round al
ready had been decided in favor Of
the United States when these two
raced each other on the third day of
play. Now. the American champion
IS noted for his inability to play we'll
when nothing is at stake, aS was the
situation that day. Consequently.
Tllden played most unenterprising
game, seemingly content to allow
Anderson to win about as he chose.
II was only at the solicitation of his
friends that he finally bestirred him
self and took the last three sets.
Anderson Due to Fail.
This year, 1 hope that Tilden and
Anderson will play in the opening
match. Then we shall see Tilden at
his best, and | doubt if Anderson gets
u single set. unless it be the first.
Johnston, too. is as certain to defeat
Anderson. His relentless drives to
-lndersons backhand uncovered a
weakness in this quarter last year,
ana Johnston is sure to repeat these
tactics.
Hawkes. cannot yet hope to beat
either of our men. His left-handed
play may prove bit troublesome. but
he has not their ability to extricate
themselves from tight corners, and TO
return seemingly impossible shots for
kills. Hawkes. has developed a new
chop stroke since he was here last
year, but what terrors has a chop for
johnston, who plays against almost
nothing else when opposed TO the
Kfnseys, or for Tilden. who constant
ly practices with Wallace johnson,
the finest chopper ever known?
Hawkes. top-spin drive, too, is
faulty. as he draws away from the
ball when stroking it. instead of fol-
around play, however. is considerably
improved, and while he will undoubt-
edly go down to both Tilden and
Johnston he is certain to go down
lighting.
Looking to Future.
The Australians have used a wise
policy in their plans this year. First,
they game early, and then refused to
play Hawaii in Honolulu in order to
accustom the members of their team
to the different playing conditions
mat obtain in this country. That
this was sound Is proved by their
easy victory over France a little over
"A week ago. The French team, al
though not the one which had won on
the continent, made the mistake of
reaching here too late to get accus-
toned to the conditions of play and
our climate.
In addition. they have wisely
brought along two of their best
young players-McInnes and Schles-
lnger-so they may have the benefit
OF seasons play in America. Nor
man Brookes. who had sole charge of
selecting Australia's team, considers
these two lads the likeliest success
sorS of Anderson. Patterson and
Hawkes., while the Journal, Aus
fralia's lawn tennis publication, said
or their exhibition match played in
sydney just before the team sailed:
These two young colts played like
champions, and their brilliant rallies
had the galleries fairly yelling with
excitement on many occasions. The
applause was so spontaneous that not
even the hard-hearted umpires had
the cruelty to remind the crowd that
1t should not applaud during rallies"
Although Australia is confident of
the result of the meeting with Amer
lea, her older heads have been wise
enough to plan for the future in the
hope that when Tilden or Johnston
drop from the game hers will be the
opportunity to regain the Davis cup
But this year, accidents barred Amer
ica will hold it surely. And that is
all there is to it.