Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-05
SHOWING AGAINST
LACOSTE IS GREAT
Victory OF Frenchman,
Though. Makes U. S. Tennis
Cup Hopes Look Slim.

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK. July SIT may be
trine early to read the Americans ou
OF the Davis Cup party for 1923. bu
Big Bill Tilden's defeat by Rene La
coste in the Wimbledon semi-finals II
the first Franco-American test of tn,
season strengthens the prospect tina
the historic tennis trophy will remain
on a Partisan shelf.
There is not much surprise here
The cold light of competition. the
dominant work of Lacoste and Henri
Cochet. is beginning to diSsipate Ameri-
can optimism and restore the feeling
that existed in the melancholy shades
Of Germantown last September. when q
fond farewell was bade to the Davis
cup in the expectation that IL would
not be back for some time to come.
Didn't Want to Play.
The surprise at Wimbledon, as a
matter OF fact. is that Tilden, in his
FIRST tournament abroad. was able TO
force Lacoste to Ave sets and lose only
after an excellent opportunity 70 beat
the ninble Rene In straight sets. Be-
fore he went abroad Big Bin was some
what averse to even playing at Wimble-
don without what he considered proper
preparation.
why should I 90 out there and make
q cfump OF myself" he Queried. i
won't be in shape and / won't have
q chance to win. That may sound ike
an abb all framed up in advance, but
il isn't. I'm not afraid Of taking my
licking there or anywhere else. but for
one who has won the Wimbledon crown
twice it's tough to take 1t on the chin
without being In the best shape.
Big Bill took it on the chin, but he
needed no apologies for his gallant
fight against the young Frenchman.
In fact. Tilden in extending the match
to the limit accomplished something he
wasn't able to do at Germantown in
1925 or 1927 or at Forest Hills last
September.
French 2-to-1 Choice.
France figures to be at least a 2-to-f
favorite to turn back Tilden. Hunter,
HenneSsey and Lott at Paris September
a, Is and %. There isn't much doubt
that the American team will be strong
enough TO dispose of the Italians. Ea-
ropean zone winners, but 1t will be an
other story when they face the bonn
bardment Of Lacoste, Cochet and COM
pany.
Tilden may come through trium-
phantIy against either Cochet or La
coste. He at least has q fighting
chance, but it would be the height OF
optimism TO expect him to take the
measure of both. The American dou-
bies team of Hunter and Tilden prob
ably is superior TO any French ccmbi-
nation, but the issue viii be decided
this year. as it was last. in the singles.
and there the French look strong
enough to beat anything in sight.
French Pair Dominate.
There are q few returns to be tab
ulated before the final result Is posted
this year, but Cochet and Lacoste un-
cucstionably dominate the tennis world
much as Tilden and Johnston did for
some seven years starting in 1920,
Little Bill was Is and Big Bill 81
when they sat astride the net universe
together eight years ago. without much
opposition. in sight. lIac0ste Is now %
and Cochet q, averaging little young
er than the Americans at the CORE
spending period of their ascendancy
and apt 70 last Just as long at the top.
America has q lot Of youthful talent
coming along such as Junior Coen, 70
take up the battle, but 50 has France.
with such juvenile stars as Boussus
and Landry already making their
marks. II probably win be some time
before any one successfully scales the
tennis ramparts of Paris.
Forest Hills probably win see another
French triumph. for Rene Lacoste, the
sober little stylist. is coming back To
attempt TO make ii three straight and
take the championship cup home for
good. Rene has played better tennis
in the American championships tour
rament than anywhere else. He seems
% have a special fondness for the
West Side Clubs turf. He beat his
compatriot. Jean Borotra, In straight
sets for the title In 1925 and conquered
Tilden in straight sets in the 1927
final. so 1t won't be at all astonishing
% see him repeat.