Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-04

This isn't the first time Tilden
has said he was through with in
ternational tennis. Two years ago
he was saying he had played for
the last time in Davis cup match
es, but you didn't see him on the
side lines after that, did you?
l am convinced Tilden can no more
give up playing Davis Cup tennis
while he can play at all than he
can stop eating. He loves the game
too much and he likes the spotlight
too much. And who, having held the
spotlight, doesn't like It?
1890 American Davis Cup team If the
committee selects him. Some an
nouncement about his making a sacri-
fee and hearing the call to duty will
reconcile his acceptance of the call
with his announcement of retiring.
His Farewell" Discounted.
That the committee doesn't take
much stock in his farewell is shown
by its naming him for the Davis Cup
squad, from which the team will be
selected. The fact that he has been
in tournaments on the Riviera, becoil1-
ing accustomed to courts and climate.
is all the more reason he should be
willing to play this season.
You will remember Bill has had
hot rows with the tennis powers be-
cause they would not challenge in the
European zone and let our players
benefit by early preparation on foreign
courts. Last year Tilden and frank
Hunter declined to play in the Amer
lean zone and went abroad in May,
after saying they weren't sure whether
they would play on the team in
Europe, only to accept places readily
| for the interzone and challenge round.
| If the champion hears the call
again-and he will unless he becomes
stone deaf-he is the logical No.
old, and has already completed IL
years Of service. But, despite that,
he is again the national champion, and
there is TO disputing his position as
/ the premier player Of this country.
He had tough battles in the champion
ship last September, notably with
Frank Shields and Johnny Doeg, but
he came through winner and beat
Hunter in the final.
While it might be wiser to choose q
young team entirely and give 1t oppor-
tunity to season itself for future VIC
tories, the Davis Cup committee feels
1t has a real chance to bring back the
cup this year, but believes that this
can't be done without Tilden.
Would Play Singles Only.
Those choosing our teams have been
criticized in the past for not discard
ing veterans and giving young blood a
chance, but last September j. w. Wear,
chairman of the selection committee,
was roasted because he chose George
Lott In place of Hunter in the challenge
round. That shows you can't please
everybody, no matter what you do, and
If the committee thinks it can win with
Tilden he should be picked.
II T1lden Is selected his play will un-
doubtedly be limited to the singles.
With team like Van Ryn and Allison
on deck, and George Lott and Johnny
Doeg, national doubles champions, also
available, there is no need to burden
Tilden with the doubles. He will be
alone $40
don't think Bill has a. chance of
beating Cochet, II we get into the chal-
lenge round, but would favor him over
Borotra, and If Lacoste returns to the
Tray this year, which seems doubtful,
I1lden might also beat the phlegmatic
Par1Slan. LacoSte has been doing very
little playing for more than a year. and
no longer has his heart in the game.
Tildens recent defeat by Borotra In
the covered court championship doesn't
LaN . %nuis' DOAoCIAS AoFLe is nQoOr
play, while Tilden has never been
within Is as good indoors as on grass
or clay. Bill defeated Borotra in the
challenge round last Summer and nv
money would be on him to do IL again
this year.
II Tflden can come through with one
OF his singles matches there Is a strong
chance we can bring the cup back.
We will be better than an even favorite
IN the doubles, and the job will be to
mo the player who can win another
singles match.
tCopyrisht, 1880. by North American News
paper Alliance)
Next: Frank Hunter)