Evening star., 1928-06-06
T|LDEN TO CARRY
.0N|NDEF|N|TELy
Declares He Will Take Good
Many Beatings Before
Giving Up Game.
BY ALAN J. GOULD.

|
| ~ same week that Little Bill
5ohnston's definite ,s retirement ir .ss
| known. the Californian's Oft
| time rival and comrade-in arms, Big
Bill Tilden, Is to set forth as the guide
of youth in a new Davis Cup quest.
The domain of tennis or any sport has
had few stranger turns than this. Eight
years ago Little Bill and Big Bill, youths
themselves then in the competitive
sense, although also champions. made
the last American Davis Cup pilgrimage
to Europe together
| In eight years Tilden and Johnston
each figured in only three losing Davis
| Cup matches. There has not been and
may never be any international record
to match theirs, great though the pres
ent French combination Of Lacoste and
Cochet looms.
| Johnston went out with a crash last
| September at Germantown. Little Bills
| retirement was taken for granted after
| the debacle against the French. He
was only a pale shadow OF the once
| famous mighty atom.
Big Bill, despite seven defeats in two
years at the hands of the Lacoste-
Cochet combination. is not yet through.
In fact, Tilden, in defeat last year. was
| close to as great as he ever has been.
This year he not only has mustered the
best available youth and put new life
into the Davis Cup campaign. but set
| himself for another big comeback at
tempt. 1t may have the same fate as
last years attempt, but not for lack Of
gallant thrust.
Therein Is perhaps the keynote of the
reasons why Big Bill was more doni-
nant. more successful than Little Bill
in the long span over which these two
Americans ruled. Tilden possessed
| physical advantages over Johnston, but
he also seems to have had something
less tangible, but none the less potent
in spirit and confidence, to lift him a
notch or two above the great Califor-
nian. 1t may be called the vital urge,
but whatever 1t is Tilden has it.
Il have taken my lickings before this
and will take a good many more be-
fore l get through, but / will still be
playing the game" So asserts Tilden.
Nine years ago TiIden and Johnston
first met in the finals for the national
singles championship. Little Bill won
but it was the last time.
Why? Because for months afterward
Tilden devoted hours daily to perfec-
against Johnston. He developed prob
ably the greatest offensive backhand
shot tennis has ever known
1T was the difference between my
backhard of 1919 and that of 1920, plus
additional experience. that enabled me
to win the Wimbledon tournament, car
rying with 1t the worlds title at that
time, and later the American cham
pionship." said Tilden I'm the Ameri-
can final that year Johnston set out
to pound my backhand. as he had done
the year before. but 1t would not be
pounded this time. 1t Is Just this diff
ference In backhand strokes which
believe provided the margin of my VIC
tories over Johnston"
Johns0n's whipissh forehand and TIL
den's lightning backhand stand out as
the greatest individual strokes produced
In this country, or perhaps In any other
every ounce of Little Bills bantam
weight frame was behind his murderous
forehanders. When he had them under
control In his prime they were potent
enough to break down any defense but
Tildens.
Johnston's defeats by Tilden certainly
were the most heart breaking of hi:
career. for in several OF their matches
for National championship honors II