Evening star., 1928-06-06
MUCH IS EXPECTED
OFLOTT, HENNESSEy
Both Are improved, and Coen
Is Hailed As a Future
World Champion.
BY VINCENT RICHARDS.
American Professional Tennis champion al
Former Davis Cup star,

American Professional Tennis champion ana
Former Davis Cup SVSt'
AS was more or. less expected by the
tennis critics, the American Davis Cup
team. led by Capt. Tilden. gained the
riSht to challenge in Europe next month
by defeating the JapaenSe team IN q
three-day series of matches at Chicago
From the standpoint of competition
there was nothing startling IN any OF
the matches. due mostly to the TACT VI,de
the American PLAYERS far outclaSSeo the
little men from the Orient.
One or two facts, however, made their
,impreSsion on me as ! watched the
plavers go through their PAGES on the
splendid courts of the Chicago Town
and Tennis Club.
Most important of all was the TACT
that in George Lott and John HenneS-
sev the United States has two boys who
have improved their games at least is
over the form they displayed last year.
Make no mistake about these two
young men. They are playing cham
pionship tennis. They are going to be
important factors in the coming Eu-
ropean invasion.
The one outstanding improvement IN
HenneSsey'S game is his SteadineSS. he
has learned, in the short space OF one
year, how TO keep the bali in play. That
little asset is going to mean great
deal to him this Summer.
Lott. too. has added one or two things
that have raised the standard OF his
play. He is hitting harder OF the
around. and seems TO have settled down
more in temperament.
Uncuestionably either Hennessey or
l Lott will be used in one of the singles
matches abroad. and predict that no
matter which plays he will make 1t de-
cidedly interesting for his opponent.
/. Another factor brought home forcibly
to all those watching the play is that
In Junior Coen the United States has
a future world champion. This young
man from Kansas City had his first
taste of international singles play here,
and the splendid manner in which he
turned in four set victory is an indica-
ton of what he will be in the near fu-
ture
coen has a wonderfully developed
ground game, which he uses from the
base line with telling effect against a
net player. but for some reason hard 10
explain he seems reluctant 70 go up TO
the net himself
Time and time again in his match
here against the Japenese he let oppor-
talnities go by to get up close for kill
Ing shot at the net That is one thing
he will have TO remedy, and undoubtedly
With his natural playing ability he will
be able TO do this. Junior" also viii
have 70 get little more speed on his
second service.
Men Of the caliber of La Coste, Cochet
Or Borotra would step in and drive his
second ball for an ace. However, Coen
Is only l6, and has plenty Of time to
Improve his game.
Tilden. IN his natchs here. was not
extended enough for me 70 tell whether
he Is the Tiiden Of old. He still has all
the amazing speed on his strokes. and
retains that subtle court craft which
placed him at the top Of the tennis
Uurld for seven years. But whether he
ear stand up under the grind Of hard,
Gve-set match is hard for me TO say.
His singles matches here against the
japanese we're not gufdcient test for
me 20 say that the United States can
count on "Bill Bill definitely in the
European invasion. He may be called
upon 20 play two singles In addition 10
the doubles match while abroad. and
that, believe me, is real tennis assign
Ment
The difficulty facing the men who run
the degtinies Of the Lawn Tennis Asso-
ciata0n is whether 70 put Tilden only in
the singles and allow the doubles as
Gignment 10 be taken care Of by the
younger players That win have TO be
decided IN the near future, and unless
] miss my guess it win be q mighty
important decision. It may mean the
winning or the losing Of the cup.
fCoDyrlEbt 1879. in all countries by North
AMERICAN NeEEDapeF AIbancfD