New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1928-06-06
BILL T|LDEN IN
DAVIS CUP QUEST
Turn Of Fortune Has ~Little
Bill" Johnson Retiring

sion DEFINITE retirement from com
petitive tennis is made known, tn
Californian's oft-time rival and ais
comrade- arms, Big Bill Tilden, j
to set forth as the guide of yout
in a new Davis Cup quest.
The domain of tennis or any spor
has had few stranger turns tina
this. Eight years ago Little Bill an
| Big Bill, youths themselves then i
the competitive sense, although ais
cham pions, made the last Amerj
can Davis Cup pilgrimage to Europ
together
In eight years Tilden and John
ston each figured in only three los
ing Davis Cup matches. There ha
not been and may never be any in
ternational record to match theirs
great though the present Frcncl
combination Of Lacoste and Cochc
Loon.
Johnston went out with crasf
last September at Germantown Lit
tie Bills retirement was taken fol
granted after the debacle agains
the French. He was only a pale
shadow of the once famous Might,
Atom.
Big Bill, despite seven defeats ir
two years at the hands of the La.
coste-Cochet combination, is not vel
through. In fact Tilden, in defeat
last year, was close to as great as
ha hnc SThiu NO ~
only has mustered the best available
youth and put new life into the
Davis Cup campaign but set him
self for another big comeback at
tempt. 1t may have the same fate
as last years attempt but not for
lack of a gallant thrust.
Therein perhaps is the keynote
of the reasons why Big Bill was
more dominant, more successful
than Little Bill In the long span
over which these two Americans
ruled. Tilden possessed physical ad-
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 Cali
fornian. 1t may be called the vital
urge" but whatever it is Tilden has
it.
II have taken my lickings before
this and ! will take good many
more before get through but | will
still be playing the game So as
serts Tilden.
Nine years ago Tilden and John
ston first met in the finals for the
national singles championship. Lit
tie Bill won but 1t was the last time.
Why? Because for months after
ward Tilden devoted hours daily to
perfection of backhand stroke. his
weakness against Johnston. He de-
veloped probably the greatest Of
fensive backhand shot tennis has
ever known.
1T was the difference between my
backhand of 1919 and that Of 1920,
plus additional experience, that en-
able me to win the Wimbledon
carrying with it the
worlds title at that time, and later
the American championship" said
Tiden. I'm the American final that
year. Johnston set out to pound my
back hand as he had done the year
before but it would not be pounded
this time. 1t is just the difference
in backhand strokes which ! believe
provided the margin of my victories
over Johnston"
Johnston's whiplash forehand and
Tilden's lightning backhand stand
out as the greatest individual
strokes produced in this country or
perhaps in any other. Every ounce
of Little Bits bantamweight frame
was behind his murderous forehand-
ers When he had then under con-
troll in his prime they were potent
enough to break down any defense
but Tilden's.
Johnstons defeats by Tilden Ger
tainly were the most heart breaking
Of his career, for in several of their
matches for national championship
honors it seemed that Little Bill
would come through. Perhaps the
most dramatic stand
was in 1925. He was then supposed
% have passed his peak. for Tilden
had whipped him easily in two
previous years, but Little Bill had
/ few big shots left. In their match
At Forest Hills went five thrilling
sets and Johnston led in the fifth.
20, but Tilden rallied to win four
straight games and the champion
ship.
"Tildcn seemed TO grow bigger as
he match went along" Johnston
aid afterward. II couldn't get out
IF my head the idea that he was like
4 balloon. spreading out. could
not get the ball past him.
IT would take few volumes to
'atalog Johnston's other famous
matches. In 1922. In the national
mails, he led Tildcn, two sets to one
md 80 in games in the fourth set
out was unabl" to stem the fury of
Big Bits uphill rally. In 1928 Lit
lie Bill lost his first Davis Cup
match, to Jim Anderson OF Aus
ralia in five sensational sets. That
anne year, in a brilliant battle with
Dick Williams at Seabright John
,ton lost eight pounds in four sets
)ut won the match. One of the
oldest margins of victory he eyer
aimed was over Rene Lacoste in
he Davis Cup challenge round of
a26 by scores of 60, Ga, O-G, 60.
NDNf. Ktt LEADERS
American League