New Britain herald., 1926-04-10
MUCH COMPETITION
 IS FACING TILDEN
Tennis King Will Have to Fight to Retain His Crown on Courts

New York, April 10 P>-The perennial problem over Big Eill'' 'rilden's ability 10 maintain lis gasp on the national tennis Sceptcr again is agtating the racquet ruminants.
 Big Bill" the p"ssimists point out. had more clos" calls per tour nament in 1895 than in any previous year. To top that off, ho suffered straight set defeats during the recent indoor otason at the hands of Rene LaccNta anl Jean Boro,a, Frances agile and ambitious contenders for world honors, besides losing to Vim cent Richards in Florida.
 These reVcrses were something that even the skcptlcs regarded as beyond the realm of possibility. even with Tilden obviously not at his best, They have given impctus to the talk of a new tennis king.
 Lacoste is the figure who looms most menacingiy in Tiidcn's path just now. This sprinA-like young frenchman. just turned 22, has all the equipment needed 10 mako q worlds champion, lio came within m ace Of trimming Tndon in straight sets in tho Challenge rouni for tho Davis Cop las. fall, His improvement since then hae boosted his stock considerably.
 Besides this foreign threat, 1il- den will havh his tried and truSty American rivals, Little lull' John Ston and Richards, 10 contend with. The main battle sooms likely to be among Tldcn, Johnston and La costo when the national champion ships are decided at Forest Hills in September. for neither Richards nor Eorotra has shown tho ability to maintain he consistent pace of these 'hreo.
 IL will be TildHn's bid for a !se evrnth straight title on grass and uia friends are confident that he will make it good, in spite of keen op- position and the possibility that the champion may not be able to main tain his old stride.
 If he does he will break all records for consi5tcnt triumph and equal Wilnam I.Hrn"d's total win nings. I.arnod. however. did not win his laurcls without interruption, nor did hc face tho competition that exists today.
 rtll"n is &@ hu' a. he points ont him:o'f most of the champions now adays are h'tw cen 39 and 3o au aF . when it usrI to be con ,,lcrrl that most a'hlo."a were rea1y to retire and 1ake up golf,
 Tho scrr"D, thc stage and tn, typewriter make tncir demands upon tho tennis champion hut in- rariatiy h. is in proper playing condition when the big season starts and his main laurt!e are a. sake.
 Sharing major interest with Til dens prospects is the campaign ot Helen Wills, the three-time woman'S champion for the honors abroad. where sho Is spending most of tho playing season Although beaten l,y a clos" margin in her fnst tcst on the Riviera with Nile. Suzanne Lenglen, the American champion is considered 10 have at least an even chance of upsctting the French marvel's supremacy, either in the team matches or the championship tournaments scheduled in France and EnE.and,
 l At home. Miss Wills chief rival is Miss Elizabeth Ryan, The Carfor- nisn who gained the second national ranking position last year after a long sojourn abroad.
 Otherwise tho fttlchoi1cr faces lutle opposition, with Mary K. Browne and Mrs. Molla Mallory past their playing prime and com rarafivcly few young stars occupy ing a threatening position.