New Britain herald., 1925-01-17
TENNIS CHAMPS IN
 STRONG POSITION.
Little Likelihood That Leaders
 Will Fall Behind
By The Associated Fress.

By The Associated freas.
 New York. Jan. 1T.---Champions in the world of tennis appear more strongly entrcnchcd than those In any other branch of sport as tho 1925 campaign fcts under way
 This is particularly true of the American mons and womcu's cham pions-"Eg I'ill' Tildon and Miss Helen Wills, Both came through lmrressi' ely in detcnso of their lallrcls in 13e4 and face the coming summer with strong prospects of again ruling the heights
 With Little Bill' Johnston past the crest of his game, Tlldens chief menace this year is Vincent Richards the young Olympic chlmpiou ~ho flashed the Jest t'nuis of his career in 1924, starred in Davis cup play Tor the first time and is expected to displace Johnston as No. ? man on the national ranking list. Richards, aggressive end confident, is the only top.notch performer with a variety nf rhnta rivallinc the repertoire Of 1il1en. They have many Fpectacu- lar duels but their prospective struggle this year should be the best.
 TiIen, 9t odd moments, has been reported 3s heinz ready to retire and himself had admitted the possibility nf hIs withdrawal because of con- niot with U-t proposed now amateur rule of the United States Lawn Ten his eSSorlatl0n, which would bar from title competition any player. writer who "covrra' tOTrn9m mcut m which he takes part Ha also might faCA incligibility through Use of lis court titles in counertron with mo- tjon picture Hork in which he d. ready 1, engaged
 Th"so tacrors play their part in the 1925 outlook but friends and fol- lowers ot Tllden aliR~ are confident that inc 'ali Philadelphian will find the call Of tennis battle too strong to resist, even at the cost of some per sonal sacrifice He is expected not only 10 attempt 10 win the SUE les crown for the sixth straight year | feat no other has eyer performed I trt to h" in the front rank of Davis cup defenders.
 With Tlldcn and Richards at thei1 peak, Americas possession of the historic Davis trophy se"ms secure for another year, although a CroHIne menace is seen in tho dcrelormcnr cf 3 younger school of French ey. T"rts France gave Austran1 q req tuES]e in ihe intcr-IOnr finals last soaoqD and win tho improvement ot Lacoste and Borotra, her outstanding stars, will he q thrnattning factol this ynar. Australia dominates th' A'Norican zone cha}lenC"rs aF1in. hlI ur.ess J. C. Anderson, Gerald Pator son and O'Iiara Wood can h. per !"r3Cl 70 combine their efforts, th' tiya}, from 'he Antipodra do not ap l''ar unusually dangerous,
 Miss Wills. who won British anr Olympic hon6rs besides her trlYm1n here last Hrar, dominates her hofc ! z 1T more docislyoly than in r2@4 with the development of her al1lit, and conhionce Her closest rival of 1924 Mrs. Nola Mallory an, Miss Mary k. Browne, have passe, their playing primo,
 1 h the doubles, Miss Wills u!ll h { hard to h"at if she combines u1,I hcr veteran partner of 1924. Nr, . Geerre W. Nlgh,man of Bcston Among tie men, Howard and Hober , !&inacT inc ratrral chamriont, fac strong opposiucn, with such com htnauons as Richards and Franl Hunter, Olympic champions. ln th ] otFing, besides the veteran taams n Woshhnrn and Williams and John ston and Griffin.
 The work of scver1l younger star
 who flashed 10 the front in 1924 wi
 bn closely watched, including Gcorg
 Lott, Chicago schoolboy. who de
 foat"d R. Norris Williams in tho na
 uonal championships: John lIennes
 sry of Indianapolis; Alfred Chanil
 of Springfield, Mass. Lucicn Wi
 hams Of Chicago, and Kirk Eeid (
 Cleveland.