Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-18
BY VINCENT RICHARDS,
International Tennis Star and Former
Davis Cup Ace.

Davis Cup Ace.
w YHEN Wilmer Allison won
M the national intercol-
Wv legiate championship in
1927 he was hailed as
one of the finest tennis players
the colleges had produced in
years.
During the two seasons of play
since this 25-year-old star from
Dallas, Tex, has more than lived
up to all the fine things said
about him. ranking we'll up in our
first 10, making the Davis Cup
team and winning the Wimbledon
doubles title with Johnny Van
Ryn.
There is q great deal of similarity
between the games Of Allison and his
doubles partner, Van Ryn, whom con-
Sidered in my preceding article. Like
Van Ryn'S, his game hasn't single out
standing weakness. He is good both
from the baseline and from the net,
and he has one Of the most dinicult
services to handle.
II his driving were little more relia-
able should rate Allison as potentially
q national champion, but he is in
clined to periodic slumps in back court
play, his forehand failing more often
than his backhand, which is especially
effective.
But even though he is not quite as
reliable as Van Ryn, believe Allison
has 1t in him to go farther in singles,
for when he gets hot and has every
thing working right he can play the
most sparkling tennis.
His service Is one of the biggest as
sets. 1t is unusual, because Allison de-
livers 1t with his body almost squarely
parallel to the net. An injury to his
side years ago makes this position NEG
essaTy, but In spite of the handicap
Allison has one OF the best deliveries in
the game. He has both a fast ball and
q twist service, usually giving the latter
on his second effort.
A Deadly Overhead.
As most fine servers are usually first
rate smashers. Allison is particularly
deadly overhead. That is one reason he
makes 80 good a doubles partner He
can be counted to bring down lobs with
killing effect, though he can be erratic
in this as well as in driving. He is an
excellent volleyer. too-one of the half
dozen best in amateur ranks of this
country; and with so good a service to
prepare the way for his rushes forward
his net attack is to be feared.
The obstacle to AIison's rise to greater
heights has been his temperament and
his susceptibility to the humidity Of the
East. The blonde young Texan is in
clined 70 become discouraged If his
shots are not working for him, and 70
lose heart. But this doesn't mean he Is
not . fighter. When his shots are work
ing he keeps right after his man to the
end, even If he is fighting a losing
battle.
His victory over George Lott in the
national championship at Forest Hills
last September was a demonstration Of
this. Lott appeared to have the match
Sewed up after gaining a wide lead in
the nth set, but Allison kept fighting
and going to the net on the slippery
turf and finally he carried the day.
Coming from a part Of the country
where it is hotter than In the East, but
where the heat is dry, Allison is notice
Eastern Seaboard.
His Collapse at seabright.
His match with Van Ryn in the final
at Seahright two years ago viii be re-
called. The temperature was around
100. and the humidity was so excessive
that Allison was beginning to wilt be-
fore the end Of the third set. Van Ryn,
on the other hand, kept going strong all
the way through the three-hour battle
of I'VE sets, which he won at 10-all In
the nth, when Allison collapsed.
Whether Allison plays one OF the
Davis Cup singles in Europe this year
depends largely upon whether Tilden
and Hunter are available. II Allison
can show his best form he is capable Of
giving any man on he cup squad a
tough battle, although, as have said,
he has not yet shown the stability by
which he can be counted on TO turn in
his best day In and day out, as Van
Rvn can. For this reason think the
the Texans chances Of landing sin
giles assignment are slim, and that he
will have to prove by his singles play in
1880 that he is worthy Of the call for
1891.
1t is in doubles that Allison Is likely
to be used this year, Just as is Van Ryn.
His play in the doubles at Newport and
at Longwood in the championship
somewhat marred the fine impression he
made at Wimbledon, Berlin and Paris.
But the fact that he produced such
magnificent tennis abroad in 1929 war
rants his receiving serious consideration
for the assignment With Van Ryn again
in 1880.
The player is more valuable to the
team who can play his best tennis
abroad, where the stiffest opposition will
be met, rather than in the United
States, where our team faces rela-
lively easy task.
(CopyFiEat, 1890, by North American News
paper Ailiance1
Next: Berkeley Bell.)
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