New Britain herald., 1927-09-10
LACOSTE IS ONLY
 BAR FOR T|LDEN
Young Frenchman Still Stands as Threat in Davis Cup Play
Fly tho Associated Press.

By tho Associated Frees.
 Philadelphia. Sept. 10 - lean
 Rene Lacoste. 23-year-old French
 youth with the poker face, chess
 brain and machine like game stood
 alone today between Big Bill" Til
 den and the most dramatic triumph
 Of the Americans sensational tennis
 career.
 These two contrasting figures
 one the young invader who sue
 ceeded 10 Tildcn's singles throne
 last year and the other an aston
 ishlng veteran of 34--were drawn together today for the match upon
 which hinged possession of the Da-
 wis Cup. historic emblem Of inter
 national team supremacy.
 Tilden. rampant and triumphant TOT two days. needed victory 10 clnch as great comeback as tennis
 has ever known. America. entering today's play with a to lead. due to Big Bili's' brilliancy. needed the match to gain the third and de r'ding victory. for there was only slim lingering hope that Little Bill' Johnston would be able 10 add to this country's score In the final singles contest with Henri Cochet.
 Tilden and Lacoste have had five stirring battles within three years and the French youth has had the better Of the argument. | winning three of them. Each has leen victorious once in their only | two previous clashes for the Davis | Cup but neither time was as much | at stake or as much drama involved | as there was today.
 Their three biggest battles all have been Of the closest and hard est fought character. Two years ago. Tilden was four times within a point of straight set defeat at Rene's hands in the Davis Cup challenge round before rallying 10 take the match in five sets Last year Big Bill' twisted his knee and went Town fighting in four sets. This year It St. Cloud, I.acoste emerged vic .orious in another fvc-sct thriller lfter being several times within point of defeat.
 With Lacostc playing the best 'ingles Of his career now. in the opinion Of the French captain. Pierre Gillou, and Tildeu at top tridc himself. there was every pros 'ect today for another epic duel
 Three Of Frances four aces al eady have found Tilden too big an obstacle to hurdle in two previous Big Bill" dominating Americas de ensc. has been a magician of ten 'is. Cochet fell under the spell Of lis stroking sorCery on the opening lay while Little Bill' Johnston's .urs were being spiked by Lacostc. -esterday Tilden had able support n the all-important doubles match rom his stock partner, Francis T. iuntcr. hut again he was dynamic 8 the American team yanQuished acques nruEnon and Jean Porotra n five sets and forged 10 the front
 With Tiden apparently alone dc endahlc in the singles. America celed that doubles victory badly took five sets to gain fl. the cores going at 3-6, s-3. S-3, 4-6. 60, Ut il was decisive enough at inc nish. even though a sporting but ost'y gesture hy Boro'ra in "throw- ng" q point 10 his opponents spec1- q the downfall Of the French.
 Otherwise Tilden's inNincihle scrv- .o. on which hc scored I2 aces: his ,rcinc tactics. Eeneralship and all round stroking wiZardry from any art Of tho court were tho deciding ctore Hunter stood side by side .ith Tildcn. holding his own when ,o going was hottest. hut if was Big Bill" whose defense saved ,any critical situation or who rough, off shots of the sort that nly Il" possesses when openings ,me Breaks through Hunters ,rNice were largely responsibl" for ,e French taking the first and ,urth sets but they were never able pierce Tildcn'S canNonbali d"liv- " in twelve futile attempts Once hen h" was in danger Of dropping tho American shot over four rViC'' aces in q TOW: another time D ripped over three aces in sue 'ssion.