New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1927-04-20
JOHNSTON-7|LDEN
Combine IS BEST
Former National Champion Gives
Views on Davis Cup Play
BY :hs Associated Press.

BY :hs Associated Press
Big Big Tilden has few tennis
reference after he finishes an ex-
tensive European campaign with
Frank Hunter.
One OF them Is that the defense
OF the Davis Cup this year should
be put entirely in the hands OF the
combination that brought II back
from Australia seven years ago-Big
Bill himself. and Little Bill John
ston.
Not only Is this the logical com
bination. as Tilden sees it. but it's
the only one that has even a
prayer"
The novelty OF It isn't the Idea
of the two famous Bills again car
ryirg the singles burden. They have
done this. with only a single break
in seven successive challenge
rounds. The point OF main interest
is Big Bills theory that Johnston
also should team with him in the
doubles, now that the victorious
Williams Richards com bination OF
the last two years has been broken
up.
Few tennis experts will question
the strength OF the Tilden-J Johnston
doubles team but probably nine out
Of ten instantly and simultaneously
will point out that it is too much 70
expect of the pound and COM
paratively frail Johnston to stand
the GAIT OF three successive days OF
keen competition and still be at his
best.
Tilden Is the tenth and dissenting
voice. He not only believes John
ston can stand the gait but that 1t
would invite disaster to form any
other combination.
There is only one other expert
enced doubles pairing possible, Til
den and Williams IL the selection is
limited to the veterans OF recent cup
play On their only Davis cup APP
pearance this pair took five sets 10
down the Australians, Anderson and
Hawkes., in 1928, in a match that
was thrilling but that also provoked
a stormy aftermath over the issue
of doubles strategy. Big BIZ and
the American team captain haven I
teamed together since.
Tilden and Johnston, on the other
hand. although seldom teaming
"A 1n1u NV Will
and Richards as a successful COM
hination. Each has been triumphant
twice in Davis Cup play, the Bills
pairing up successfully in 1870 and
1924. the year in which Richards
displaced Johnston In the singles
The spectacular trial matches be-
tween these teams prior to picking
the 1925 Davis Cup still are recalled
az classics OF American doubles
play.
Since Tilden's European Invasion
will carry him into the camp OF
Americas foremost national tennis
rival, France, his estimate of tbs
French strength Is OF interest.
There is no question: In his
opinion that the French team Is
the strongest and best balanced thai
has appeared in Davis Cup play
since the days Of Nildlng and
Brookcs the Australasians. Lacoste
is the undisputcd champion or the
world and without doubt the most
consistently effective of his country
men. day in and out over long
season. In any given match, how
ever. either Borotra or Cochet may
reach heights equal or superior to
Lacoste while Brugnon, although
not quite the equal OF the other
three in singles. is possibly the fin
est doubles player of the four.
I'VE know that the French are
supremacy confident and confidence
is a great portion OF the battle in
any match
Tudcn harbors no illusions, nor
does he venture any predictions
about his own prospects. he Is
concentrating on possibly the big
eest and certainly the most drama
observers, however, it seems his out
look isn't altogether light and airy
bv any means at 33 with the pos
sible handicap Of a knee that has
crumpled on more than one occa-
sion.
The knee seems all right now,
said Tilden. Five or six doctors
have looked 1t over and all say that
same thing: that it may weaken at
any time or that it may stand the
gait for ten years without troubling
me-"
Tilden and Hunter sail tomorrow
on the most extensive tour any
American tennis team has ever un-
dertaken abroad. ii starts in Ger
many and covers two months OF
steady competition, including Ger
many. Holland, Belgium, France
ireland and England, besides play
in the French hard court cham
pionships and British title events at