Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-04-13


I 1t is true that Johnston did no-
play well in France. But the disad-
vantages under which player labors
III foreign country are too well rec
ogntzed by this time to be commented
upon. He won the last world hard
court championship then, and after
ward the grass championship at Win
blcdon, where. from all accounts he
defeated Richards in one of the most
brilliant matches ever seen in Eng
land, afterward crushing Hunter by
an overwhelming score.
Worried by Comments.
When Johnston returned to the
United States he was, though tired
| still playing splendidly. In a previous
article | pointed out that Johnston,
like all great players. is. in spite of
his calm appearance, highly strung
and is very susceptible 70 surround
. Jugs AS soon as he returned he was
bombarded with advice from well
| meaning friends on he-necessity Of
conserving his strength. Press and
| players alike continually held UP 10
him the picture of his physical limi-
tations, always Comparing his Slight
physique with Tildens great physical
endurance.
Every time Johnston took up u
newspaper he read some reference to
/ little Billy Johnston" and mis- slight
physique. He was always being ad
vised to go into the country and rest
before the ordeal of the Davis cup.
The Davis cup committee, in refusing
! to allow Johnston to play in the dou-
bles, added to his conviction that he
was generally considered to be ten
der plant that needed cherishing.
What could be more detriueDtal to
any ones morale than this deadeninG
atmosphere of encouragement? John
ston himself thoroughly realized the
inhibiting qualities of all this friend
ly solicitude, and said to me one day:
IF any one else asks me now my
stamina is. I'll yell!"
In my opinion, Johnston's defeat by
Anderson was attributed to mental
fatigue due to constant worrying
about his physical condition, and his
fear of having his strength fail him
as every one predicted it might
Tilden fully recognized and openly
commented upon the danger Of John
ston's worrying about himself, ana
in their match at Germantown obvi-
ously based his attack upon shaking
Johnston's confidence.
He's Better Than Ever.
Proof that Johnston's handicap was
mental rather than physical lies in
the comeback that he made in the
east-west matches at Forest Hills
soon after his defeat in the cham
pionship. At these matches there was
no great issue at stake and Johnston
Immediately reacted to the lessened
tension by playing magnificently with
no hint of physical insuficiency.
] am perfectly convinced that
Johnston can come back and will
come back if his friends will discon-
tinue their constant reiterstion or
his physical limitation. Let Johnston
be freed from the fear Of defeat and
he will be greater than ever.
Only recently I heard TiIden say TO
man who spoke Of Johnston as a
has been: Don't fool yourself. John
ston today is d greater player than
he has ever been, and l would bet five
to one on him were he to play An
derson again"
Let Johnston be given the courage
and confidence that his achievements
deserve. with no dampening com
ments. Let him be played in the Davis
cup double match with Tilden instead
of being relegated to the sidelines,
and he will prove beyond all doubt
that he is equal to any task imposed
upon him.
With the possibility of Tilden's re-
tirement next year it is imperative
that Johnston should be at his best,
as the burden Of defending the Davis
cup will rest chiefly on his shoulders