Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-25
LA COSTE IS RANKED
SECOND BY NET PRO.
Harada'S Victory of French
Ace Minimized Because of
Henri's Sea Trip.
BY. VINCENT RICHARDS.

TIME United States Lawn Tennis
Association soon will announce
officially its ranking of amateur
Il tennis players for 1929.
The publication of this list is
always followed by an acrimonious dis
cussion Every tennis star has group
of staunch admirers and each of these
groups. large or small, never fails to
g. present its reasons why its favorite
should not be a peg or two higher on
the list.
Just to start the discussion little
D sooner than usual, I offer my own list
OF this years first 10:
/. Henri Cochet (France).
2. Rene Lacoste (Francel.
3. William T. Tilden, I'd Omitted
States).
4. Jean Borotra (France).
5. F. T. Hunter Omitted States).
8. George Lott Omitted States).
2. John N. Doeg Omitted States).
3. John Van Ryn Omitted States).
3. II. L. De Morpurgo Qtaly).
10. H. w. Austin (England).
Unquestionably Henri Cochet is the
greatest amateur tennis player in the
world today. The little French star
had one Of the finest seasons in his
career this year and from all indica-
lions he will be up among the leaders
again next season. l say this because
| take little stock in his recent defeat
by I. Harada at Toxic. Having had a
few experiences myself in PLAYING
matches just after a long sea trip, I
can readily understand how the French
players felt when they took the court
az the Toxic Tennis Club against the
Japanese stars.
COchet Gets Even.
Within a week after his defeat by
Harada, Cochet was able to take Har-
ada's measure rather easily in the final
matches of the intentional series. This
would indicate that the former LYONS
ball boy is right at the peak of his game.
Rene Lacoste's record in the European
matches IS almost as good as Cochet's.
Inc sad-faced Frenchman played beau
tiful tennis In the early part of the
season, but, unfortunately, he was forced
TO retire in some of the later engage
ments because of i'll health. Recently
the report has become current that La
coSte has played his last serious tennis
Tnden is placed in third position
mainly because he was able to recapture
ans national singles championship at
Forest Hills The lanky Philadelnhian
did little else during the season. hut
ms f1ve-set victory over Hunter in the
nnal round gives him the edge for that
spot.
There can be little or no argument
concerning the relative merits of
Cochet, LacoSte or Tilden, but the next
seven rankings will probably not be so
1t has been definitely decided that
the United States will chal1enpe new
year Tor the Davis Cup in the American
zone and for the Wightman Cup in
England: Some IL players have been
notlf1ed that they have been made mem
bers Of the Davis Cup SQUAD for the
season OF 1880. These men have been
requested to stay in good condition, for |
the entire season. From time to time |
new names will be added to the lief
winch probably means that we viii fatre
q squad OF at least IS during the early
rounqs OF the American zone play.
:, Atnougn the outdoor tennis season
Is oHclaIly closed there is plenty of
activity among the indoor followers of
tne game. Many of the players are
getting their strokes in working order
Ior the various indoor national cham
plonships, which start bit earlier this
year than usual.
For the past five years the mems
Lnatlonal INDOOR singles championship
las las always peen held during March at
tne Seventh Regiment ArTnorv New
YORK City, but this year there is
movement on foot to hold it during
February. I imagine the reason is the
COMMITTEES feels they will get a better
entry list at that time, because the
PLAYERS then viii not yet have started
Southwark.
William T. Tilden II, national singles
titleholder, seems to be just as versatile
on the court as he is on. London
tennis critics report that Tilden recentIv
made his debut in q West End cabaret
and that he Is more than holding his
own. just what Big Bill" does is
somewhat Of mystery, unless he has
hidden talents in the way Of soft-shoe
dancing
At any rate, Tilden IS not letting his
cabaret work interfere with his tennis.
Since arriving in England he has repre-
sented Great Britain in the interna-
tional team matches between that
country and France and has PLAYED
several exhibition matches on London
courts.
Recently he definitely stated he will
never play on Davis Cup team again,
which probably means that the famous
Philadelphian will be in there again
next year tackling Cochet or Borotra
in the singles and coaching the younger
players in the doubles encounter.
tCopyrlghtb 1929, by North American News