Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-25

LaCOSCe really Is OuL Ol COLlPcIAtlOh
the United States has a chance to
bring the Davis Cup back across the
4 ocean. And the chance should be
more than forlorn hope.
With Lacoste, the present mechanical
player, on the side lines, the French
must turn to Jean Borotra, the inspired
BASQUE, and Henri Cochet, a genius OF
the courts. It Is possible that the re-
suit of the cup matches may hang on
the doubles. In fact. the United States
almost must win the doubles to come
through.
There have been some great doubles
teams in the history of tennis. Sears
and Dwight. Hobart and Hovey, Ward
and Davis, Little and Alexander, Alex
ander and Hackett, BrookeS and Wild
ing, the Dohertys, Paterson and Wood,
Gore and Barrett, Richards and Tilden,
Wright and Ware, Williams and Wash
burn the NeelS, Collins and Waidner,
Tilden and Johnston and several others.
If an outsider were to pick the ablest
trio from these pairs he probably would
select the Dohertys, Brooks and Wild
ing and Tilden and Johnston at their
best. Yet 1t Is doubtful whether any
of these teams had anything on Cochet
and Borotra in top form. If, therefore,
Van Ryn and Allison can beat this pair
they will well deserve to be ranked with
the great
Condition Big Factor.
These Davis Cup matches. like many
o boxing contest. promise to be largely
q matter of condition. When he is
right, Cochet has superb endurance.
The farther he goes the better he gets.
He can play tennis all day. But Bo-
rotra burns up a lot Of energy on the
courts, although the Basque is seldom
as tired as he may appear, as more
than one opponent has learned to hts
cost. Just when he looks about ready
to lie down and die he suddenly
charges with the speed of deer and
and the fury Of a tiger.
Tilden is not going to try to play
doubles, which means that those long
used legs should be able to go at full
speed for at least one singles match.
I doubt whether the present Tilden
can beat Cochet. For that reason
wish it were possible for him to meet
Borotra in the first match. He not
only might beat the Basque, but he
might chase Borotra around the court
to the extent that he would be weary
when he played doubles. After the
doubles, Borotra certainly wouldn't be
any fresher and Lott might take him
in the third days singles match.
4AA OO41CA "OLOo1 ~ ASOhS do II, Will
Borotra and Cochet carrying the whole
burden for the French, that the weak
est point in the Gallo armor might be
the Basque. Not that he Is weak, but
that Cochet is stronger still.
Lott Uncertain Quantity.
George Lott is rather an uncertain
quantity. Wilmer Allison said to me
concerning the Chicago star:
Lott always is good, but when he
happens on one Of his best days he is
better than any tennis player ever
saw, barring Tilden at his height"
So. II Lott happens to get started
right he may possibly beat either
Cochet or Borotra. The chances for
any one beating Cochet are not good
I believe the ball boy Of Lyons" IS the
best tennis player in the world today
and I don't exclude Lacoste or any
other man-but even Cochet isn't al
ways at the top Of his game. But Lott
on a good day might very we'll beat
Borotra, especially If the Basque IS tired.
The only thing about Borotra is that
he Is born Snowman and usually does