Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-02


ALI these happenings have Their
bearing on the Davis Cup outlook
for 1880. There have been other
items of interest, too. Bill Tilden
says he is through with interna-
tional tennis, and every one wants
to know whether he had his fin
gers crossed when he said it. II
he refuses to play. will Frank
Hunter drop out also? If both
these veterans fade out of the
picture, who will be our new
standard bearers, and what chance
will they have of lifting the cup?
From early preparations by the U. S
L. T. A. there is strong indication that
the gentlemen in charge of our inter-
national forces see the future through
rosy glasses, and that they are going
to make the most determined bid to
regain the trophy since France carried
it of in 1927.
When Rene LacoSte and Henri Cochet
beat Tilden and little Bill Johnston
three years ago at Forest Hills, every
one took it for granted it would be at
least five years and possibly ten before
the cup would return to these shores.
But the tennis solonS evidently be-
lieve Frances reign is due to end this
year, and that the United States will
end it.
Near Victory Last Year.
The fact that we came so close to
beating the Gauls last Summer in the
challenge round is the main reason
for this. It was by the narrow margin
OF 8 to that France turned back the
United States in Paris. Some said we
could have won back the cup last year
II We had used Frank Hunter instead
OF George Lott in the singles. But that
was second guessing
Another reason for the feeling of
commence is that there is a strong
doubt whether Lacoste will play this
Summer. Last year he was kept out of
the cup matches by poor health, and
some said his days of international
tennis were over. Recent reports from
Paris say Lacoste has no time or in
terest for anything but business now.
and that he is through with the cham
plonship tennis. So even if he should
De In condition to play it is problem
atlcal whether he would do so.
Stu another reason for believing
1880 may be the United States big
year IS the progress of our younger
players last Summer. Johnny Van Ryn
and Wilmer Allison were the sensa-
tons OF Wimbledon, where they went
through field of the worlds best
players to win the title. In the inter-
zone doubles match with Germany they
Kept up their good work, and then
crowned their success by defeating
Cochet and Jean Borotra in the chal-
Ienge round OF the doubles. There is
no question these young men have inn
proved tremendously as doubles team.
and 1t is big comfort to know we
nave them to fall back upon for some
years to come.
Then there is George Lott of Chicago,
VINO disappointed in the national sim
gleS championship, but took a set from
Borotra and Cochet each in the chal-
Ienge round at Paris, and who can play,
on ms Gay, good enough tennis to beat
almost any player in the world.
Also, there are Johnny Doeg. Young
caveman from California, who won the
national doubles with Lott and who
surprised everyone with his triumphs
In the East; John Hennessey INDIAN
apolis, who was kept out of play last
year by poor health; Fritz Mercur
Bethlehem, Pa; J. Gilbert Hall, South
Orange, N. j.; Gregory Mangin,
Tex; j. Barry Wood, Harvard foot
ball star, who made a fine showing in
the national singles championship at
Forest Hills; Frank Shields, New York.
former national junior champion; S. B.
Wood, New York and California. who
came into prominence at Wimbledon
two years ago; Junior Coen, Tilden pro-
tege from Kansas City, who made the
Davis Cup squad in 1928, when he was
Is; George Jennings Chicago, and Dick
Williams whose great play at Seabright
and Forest Hills last year revived
memories of his matchless per-
formances as national champion and
Davis Cup ace Is years ago.
An UnwieIdIy List.
Besides these players, all of them
but Williams representing the rising
order, there are Tilden and Hunter
on the squad, making II in all. This
Is top-heavy and unwieldy list. hut
1t is all-inclusive and represents every
possible candidate from the country
over.
1t shows that j. w. Wear, chairman
OF the committee, and his co-workers
their efforts TO arrive at the strongest
possible team.
Picking the four best players from
this squad is going to be a man-sized
job, calling for a lot of elaboration
and weighing of records, temperaments
and potentialities. The four best men
of 1929 are not necessarily the four
DeSC OF 1851. AlilSOn, Tor instance, peat
Lott in the national championship
But 1 would not pick the Texan ahead
Of the Chicagoan for the Davis Cup
singles on the basis of that result.
1t is my purpose to take each candi-
date and make a critical analysis of
his individual game, style and poten-
tialities, pointing out his merits and
weaknesses and estimating his chance
of making the team
The first analysis viii deal with
big Bill" Tilden.
(Copyright, 1890, by North American News
paper Alliance