Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-09-11
FRENCH RACQUET VIELDERS VIM
DAVIS CUP TENNIS TROPHY BY
DEFEATING TTLDEN and JOHNSTON


PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 10 H9 - The
Davis cup, most highly priced of tennis
trophies, passed today from America
to France for the first time in its
history.
In a dramatic uphill fight to VIC
tory, Frances youthful stars broke
through the defense of Americas vet
Grams, captured both of the remaining
singles matches this afternoon and
won the challenge round by the close
but nevertheless decisive margin of 3
to 2.
American hopes had been buoyed
high by the sensational comeback of
Tilden on the previous days of vic
torious plays that had they faded
suddenly, however, when Big Bill to-
day cracked" under the strain and
fell before the machine like onslaught
of Rene LaCoste. They vanished en-
tirely when Little Bill Johnston, al
though making gallant as well as
unexpected stand, yielded to the SUI
per-Stroking control of Henri Cochet
in the final match.
LaCoSte, scoring his second as we'll
as convincing victory of the series,
outstroked, out-generalled and easily
out-laSted Tilden, upon whose previous
brilliance high hopes had been placed.
The French stylist won by scores of
6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 and his victory was
as decisive as these scores indicate.
Cochet faced plucky Johnston who
showed a remarkable recovery from
his disappointing form of Thursday,
when the Aneyican lost in straight
sets to La Coste. But the result, even
though postponed through Little Bills
gallant stand, was inevitable. Cochet
won, also in four sets, by scores of
Ga, 4-6, 6-2, Ga.
Thus the two veterans, who, together
brought the famous tennis cup back
from Australia in 1920 and played the
leading role in defending it ever since,
passed from their long held heights
before an impetuous. Indomitable
youth that would not be denied With
the ending of the dynasty that the two
Bills set up seven years ago, the most
successful in tennis history, France
has established new regime on con-,
troll
Twenty three year old, pocker faced,
relentlessly accurate Rene LaCoste and
25 year old Henri Cochet, dazzling,
brilliant, have accomplished what no
other nation has been able to do
since 1924. Thirteen years ago Maurice
Mclaughlin tried to check Australia
single handed but failed in spite of
his gallant efforts. To-day Tilden, hav-
ing already been the principal figure
in two previous triumphS- in the
singles over Cochet and the other in
the doubles with Frank Hunter-also
tried to settle the issue alone. But
the strain was too much. At 34, Tilden
had whipped himself to the peak of
his game for two victories but his
system didn't have the reserve to gain
a third against such an impenetrable
defense as LoCoste put up.
LaCoSte emerging as the principal
hero of the French victory through his
two singles triumphs, removed what
ever doubt remained of his standing
as the worlds foremost singles per-
former. Already the holder Of the
American and French titles, he gave
two of the greatest exhibitions of his
youthful career in downing the two
famous Yankee veterans.
Counted out" almost before he
started, Johnston revived Americas
lingering hopes by the gritty way he
fought for victory For two sets he
played Frances most brilliant stroke
artist to a standstill Although losing
the third and quickly slipped further
behind in the fourth, Little Bill fought
heroically at the finish. AS it turned
out, all he was able to do was pro-
long the issue, but for few moments
at least Johnston was again the
"MightyAtom" of the courts as he
averted defeat twice in the eighth
game when only a point separated
Cochet from victory.
CocIet had service in this eighth
game but Johnston, playing largely
on his nerve and courage, won it after
sensational fight in which deuce was
called six times. 1t was a forlorn bat
tie with the score standing So in
Cochet'S favor at the time but it
whipped an excited gallery of $4,000
into its best outburSts of enthusiasm.
There was continuous and thunderous
applause despite pleas of officials, as
Johnston won the long duel and then,
in the ninth game, captured his own
service at love-
One more "break" would make it a
deuce set. "Come on Bill" the crowd
implored, as they changed courts. Lit
tie Bill himself gritted his teeth and
shook his racquet at his foe. He
gained a momentary advantage in the
tenth game but his reserve was slip
ping fast. Thirty three years seemed
IN Uoipht heavily T1aW IN tho c1iCht
Californian's shoulders. His punch"
was still there but Il was wild. Under
Cochet's forcing he made three straight
errors, driving his ball into the net
for the point that decided the match
and the battle for the Davis cup.