Evening star., 1927-04-21
Quits Smoking Cigarettes.


"Haye a cigarette. Bill?" he was
asked. Tilden shook his head and
laughed. Il haven't smoked for three
weeks and don't expect to until after
the American championships next Sep
tember."
This is significant. Tilden usually
smoked at least score of cigarettes
q day even during tournaments.
Il started to prepare for the ls2!
season on January /, when l closed
my theatrical affairs and went 10 CAN
fornia,'' Tilden explained. Il took
things easily out there, and after five
weeks went to Florida. ] am satisfied
with myself now in every way"
How do you think the game you
are playing now compares with your
self, say, four years ago?' Ttlden was
asked.
Il would bet money on myself to-
day, If such a match were possible.
THE principal trouble / had last
year was lack of control. My knee is
an old story / always have had 1t,
but sometimes it behaves better than
others. The injury dates back to
soccer game II years ago, and gave
it a bad twist down South early last
year. Then | went right on playing
and it got sore, so that later, when 1t
slipped again, it didn't come back as
readily as it ought to. 1t hasn't both
cred me so far and I'm hoping it won't.
AS for control, have it again.
Has Praise for French.
How do you rate the French?"
Tilden was asked. Big Bill settled
back in his chair and thought mo-
ment before answering. Finally he
said: "Lacoste is, day in and day out,
the greatest tennis player in the
world, but Cochet is better at times.
BY that l mean that Lacoste is
magnificent mechanical player but he
lacks tL4 inspirational heights to
which Comet can rise.
Let nae illustrate: Last September
I.acoste Enapped out his tactics against
Borotra I'm the American finals. He
decided TO lob to Borotra, and he prac-
ticed lobbing for an hour and a half
the inorning OF the match. Then he
went on the court and by tossing the
Basque high ones that fell deep in the
court broke up his net game and all
he had.
but what should have happened If
Borotra had been able to stay back?
Lacoste would have been lost. Lacoste
decides OH his plan of campaign and
goes through with it. Cochet can
change his tactics on the court, but
has less mechanical skill. There is
the difference.
''As for Borotra, he is great net
player, the fastest man on the court
and fine actor. But his tennis is not
sound, and once his game is solved he
can be beaten. I'll wager Billy John
ston never loses to him again"
What is the game these French
men have developed? Is it something
new in tennis-next step in the his
tory of stroke making?"
Defense Becomes Attack.
''Well, they have SO perfected their
defense that it becomes an attack, -
explained Tilden. Usually defen-
sive stroke means dumping the ball
back anywhere. Lacoste and Cochet
can block balls short or deep, TO one
side or the other. By a defensive
stroke I mean q short swing with a
modified follow through. This is a
safer and surer way to play a hard
hit ball than to swing on it. These
two French stars have combined
safety with direction. That's how
they have been winning. 1t remains
for the rest of us to work out some
method to combat it. | have a theory
which I win try out in France. Until
then it must remain a secret.
II think our trip has been well ar
ranged" continued Tilden. 1--WE play
team matches in Germany, Holland,
Belgium, France, Ireland and Eng
land, in addition to the French hard
court championships at st. Cloud the
last of May, and the British champion
ships on turf at Wimbledon the last of
June. This will give Hunter and my
self good stiff competition in every
match without the necessity Of run
ming Up against dub players in early
rounds, as we would have encountered
If we had gone over earlier and
played the Riviera"
do you think the French will be
better on hard or turf courts?"
"Oh, on hard courts, undoubtedly.
expect more trouble at St. Cloud
than at Wimbledon
Respects German Players.
"And, by the way, watch Germany.
They meet France in the semi-tinals
of the Davis Cup play and l know sev.
eral people who think they will win
Remember, Winnie Richards never
won a set in Germany last Summer
Winnie wasn't in the best of condi
tion, but not to win a set means some
thing.
we are going over to do our best,
gas.,,.,.saggaD - 90