New Britain herald., 1928-04-02
STARS ID
 INVADE MEXICO
Bill 1lden to Lead American
 Team in Davis Cup Matches

New York, April c.-1Rl-The
 Mexicans have acclaimed Big Bill
 rilden as new Ambassador of good will" as he leads his tennis charges
 up the heights of Mexico City for
 the opening round of the Davis cup
 campaign this week.
 It may now be revealed, therefore.
 that il was precisely and principally with the idea of entering on & good -
 will tourney that Tilden forsook the stage. threw over his personally fav- ored plan Of going abroad early in the spring and concentrated his ten-
 his playing and coaching efforts on the American zone competition.
 It isn't so much that tho American tennis authorities fear their team, with or without Tilden. would meet such opposition In the American zone. Mexico, China and either Can- ada or Japan do not make up a threatening barrier for Yankee talent that has only the French cup hold. CTS to worry much about. But the best minds Of American tennis de- cided It to be automatically and DO. itically desirable to throw their full strength into the preliminary play. rather than to toss second string players into the early competition and thereby run undue risks or be criticized.
 In effect Tilden was told that he owed 1t to the sport, to the nation and to the cause of better tnterna. tional relations to play through the American zone and captain the American team.
 When 1t was put to me on that basis. what else could I do but &C., cept?" Big Bill asked before he as. sembled his charges at Augusta for training and selection.
 Personally and from the competi- tive viewpoint l would rather have passed up the American zone and gone abroad to get in shape. Suppose l should beat Robert Ktnsey or Lock Wei or Tamio Abe or Willard Crock. CT in the preliminary matches. Spread over . couple of months? What good would that do me in 6 tough five set match abroad later against men who have been playing In the big leagues for months?
 Tt takes long siege to get in form abroad. l know. for I have been over there | few times. won the Wimbledon title twice and I would dislike to go over there. say on weeks notice. and get bumped off in the first round. Not that would mind tho beating. l have taken those hefore and will take many more be- fore I'm through. But it wouldn't be ! fair test.
 But # TiIden has sacrificed his cherished plans Of going abroad early for another big thrust at the French 1t appears certain hc has put all hts energies In the American zone and In building up a team 0! younger stars.
 It probably is particularly grati- flying to Big Bill to have his young Kansas City protege, Junior Coen. come forward as sensationally as he dtd at Augusta. If Tilden can't win back any of his old titles himself he s determined to develop some youth who will reach the top. In Coen. at l6. he thinks he has tho stuff to SO ahead and do 1t.
 Te prospect that Ttlden will change his mind and go over with he American team in Europe in 1 June. despite his personal beliefs. is strengthened by the fact that Big Bills doubles championship partner. Frank Hunter. is going abroad early lnyway. Hunter is not taking part in he American zone preliminaries but Sill devote his energies to getting in shape abroad. ready to II, in later as i rtlden's partner.
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