Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-27
FIGHTING VETERAN
INSPIRES OTHERS
Won High Place as Racketer
at Time When Most
Players Decline.
By WILLIAM T. TILDEN, I'd.

at the hanQS OF FRANK dunGer,
George Lott and John Hennessy
of the United States.
When one begins to analyze Italys
chances in tennis, one finds that 1t Is
around one man that the whole queS-
ton revolves. This man is Baron HUI
bert de Morpurgo, the great veteran,
who, singled handed, has developed the
italian team and carried 1t to its pres
sent position of power.
Baron de Morpurgo has been Tor
years Italy's leading star. Until about
1923, he was a good second-str1ng
player, but at an age when many men
start down, he suddenly bloSsomed out
as a player of the absolute first flight.
He has several times beaten Cochet,
has forced Lacoste to the limit and dur
ing 1927, 1928 and 1929, scored many
notable victories in the Davis Cup
matches.
Baron Inspires Others.
Not only has the baron personally
hung I'D q most enviable record, but
his tremendous will to win, his driving
energy and enormous vitality swept
with him q group Of young Italian stars
who have steadily advanced until to-
day George Stefani Is practically Nor
purgo's equal, with Gaslini and Del
Bono not far behind.
A Notable Achievement.
It Is a notable achievement for man
in his late 30s, as Morpurgo is. Nor
pudgo Is an all-court player who allows
himself to become practically base
liner. 40 his best, he Is one OF the
most dangerous men in the game. He
has a very high bounding service that
is most effective, accurate, fast' deep
drives OF both wings, ana SOUND
When Morpureo has confidence in
his game, and that is most Of the time,
he IS remarkably steady. II his con-
fidence breaks, he grows very erratlc.
So far this year, Morpurgo has had q
very bad season on the Riviera. He
has lost several matches to men he
should have beaten decisively. His con-
fidence has been shaken. II Morpurgo
does not recover his form, then Itaiy
is out Of consideration as possible
challenger, for good as the rest OF NJ
team is, it must have Morpurgo at nus
hest tn have a chance. believe Nor
nurro will recover his game. CERTAIN
factors quite outside tennis combined 70
unset him during the Winter, out py
Summer he should once more De PACK
in the rame with his whole mind con-
centrated to pulling Italy through.
Stefani Is Dangerous.
George Stefani, the second Italian
singles player. is most dangerous
nIayer. He is the only ambidexterous
iolayer of class in the game. Many
neonle claim Stefani is equally strong
with either right or left hand. nave
nlaved him three times on the Riviera,
and do not agree with this, but certainly
there Is no real weakness on either
Sfefani Is an all-court player with q
finely rounded game. His ground
strokes of both hands are nat IaSt
drives, In each case more effective cross
court than straight. He volleys wen,
smashes adequately and his service Is
good. but not severe. He covers court
1en,arkably while his ability to change
his racquet to either hand allows MIN
to reach shots you believe are quite out
of his reach.
Stronger with Right Hand.
There is no question but what Stefani
is decidedly stronger with his right nano
than with his left. AL his attacking
shots come from his right size: ne
can make winners OF his left II the
oneninr is there, but In the main, he
defends rather than attacks from that
side. ,.,
Stefani Is good enough to possibly
spill any one In singles: would not
saw he was a sure point winner Tor
italy. but he may well pick up Singles
match at any time. He is a most val
liable man to support Morpurgo.
Morpurgo Has Spirit.
Neither Gaslini nor Del Bono, the
third and fourth men of the Italian
team. are to be considered in singles,
but each of them has partnered Nor
purge In doubles with success. The
doubles problem Is not an easy one to
solve. Gaslini has only recently re-
covered from q long serious illness, but
seems to be playing better tennis than
ever before.
Del Bono is in military service that
keeps him out of the game good deal
Morpurgo leans rather toward GaSlini
and himself, q good but not a great
team. Morpurgo does not want to play
doubles with Stefani for various reasons,
which do not fully know. This Is
pity for they would be the best team
by far Of any italian combination.
Morpurgo Is not great doubles
player. It is his courage and will To
win rather than his game that makes
him dangerous. 1taly's success may wei
depend on their doubles team. can
see Morpurgo and Stefani between them
winning two singles against any team
so that the tie might hang on the
doubles. There is one other combina-
ton that might prove to be q solution
to the problem. That would be to try
out Stefani and Gaslini, thus allowing
Morpurgo to concentrate on winning
two singles.
Might Solve Problem.
This rather appeals to me as an ideal
way out Of a vexing problem. Both
doubles in the style of their game than
is Morpurgo. Also 1t would provide q
reserve team in Morpurgo and De
Bono, If anything went wrong with
the Stefani- Gaslini combination.
italy Is very lucky In her Davis Cur
draw this year. If she meets England
Australia or Japan, understand the
matches are to be played in Italy. This
| is due to the fact that the last time
Italy played England it was in England
so now 1t is reversed, while with Austria.
liza and Japan, since they are playing
out of their zone, they must meet the
European team at home.
Italy In the Summer Is not an easy
place to play tennis. 1t Is terrtfically
hot, a large and enthusiastic italian
gallery adds to the hazards of the Wis
iting team and the climate takes its
toll. One still remembers the collapse
of the Australian team two years age
when Gerald Patterson and Jack Craw-
ford went down to defeat.
In view of the fact that Italy has
both her important matches at home
1t would not surprise me to see her
come into the interzone final against
the United States and If so give our
young team q terrific struggle before
yielding. The italian team is one OF
Interesting and colorful personalities and
made up of splendid sportsmen who are
popular figures on the courts Of Europe
tCopyrisht. 1880. by North American News
paper Alliance.l
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