Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-20
HAS -FOUR STRONG
PLAYERS ON TEAM
Harada Is Seen as "Ace," but
Satoh, Newcomer, Rated
High by TiIden.
BY WILLIAM T. TILDEN, I'd.

|
~ ONTE CARLO, April 19.-In
I'M starting series of articles on
the teams which must be
considered as possible chal-
lengers Of France in the Davis Cup, I
suppose one should start with America,
last years challenger, but I prefer CHI
max to anti-climax, so will write first
of the outstanding playing strength in
the European zone before taking up the
United States.
There are four real threats IN the
| European zone, any one or which may
reach the interzone final. These are
japan, Italy, England and Australia.
I will write first of Japan.
The Japanese team consists OF
Takeichi Harada, Yoshiro Ohta, Tameo
| Abe and the new star, Satoh, nrst
name undiscovered by me. This is a
rrollp of seasoned and experienced
players, with the exception OF Satoh.
Fine AlI-Around Player.
"Takey" Harada made his first APP
pearance in Davis Cup play in 1924. He
represented Japan in 1925, 1926 and
1927. 1t was in 1926 that he first
proved his right to be considered
among the great players in the world
when he beat Little Bill Johnston at
Newport and followed this up by beating
both Cochet and LaCoste In the DAVIS
Cup match. :.
This seemed to be the high point OF
Haradas career, for the following year
he went into slump from which ne
did not recover until this Winter. He
did not play on the japanese Davis
Gun team of 1928 or 1929, but last De-
cernber he once more beat Henri CO.
chet during the trip of the French
players to Japan. Then Harada was
himself again. During the two years
since 1 had seen him, I found he had
increased the power of his service and
improved his volley.
Today, Harada is fine all court
player. He drives with terrific power,
| forehand and backhand. He is about
| the hardest hitter now in the game
His service is speedy and carries good
| spin. His volleying is still uncertain
| but far better than it was. Overhead he
| is sound and severe. Harada uses the
peculiar unorthodox grip Of the Japa-
nese stars and his ground strokes, par
ticularly his forehand ones, carry an
exaggerated topspin.
Big Bill Likes Satoh.
| Harada is a possible point winner
| for Japan against any team. He should
| win at least one If not two singles In
| each tie.
The second singles position is still
uncertain, but lies between Satoh anc
! Ohta. Personally consider Satoh de-
| cidedly superior. Ohta is a baSelint
player with the exaggerated topspir
ground strokes of his national style
| a player of great courage, resource ano
stamina, but so limited in stroke equip
ment that cannot see him point
winner against teams like England
| Italy or Australia. His limitations are
| too definite, his weaknesses too easy to
exploit.
/ expect to see Satoh play the Sec
| ond single. Satoh, in my opinion, Is
| the greatest potential player of any
( Japanese have seen, because his style
| is classic, clean cut, almost American
or French in its stroke production. Ht
has none OF the unorthodox grip OIL
exaggerated topspin of his teammates
| He is stroke player Of ease, grace and
we'll placed, average pace slice of reli-
ability, but not great offensive strength
Both Satoh's forehand and backhand
are accurate, fiat drives, which he uses
with consummate skill. He DISCUSSES his
direction brilliantly. His volleying Is
sound, not particularly severe, but ade-
quate, while overhead he is magntfi-
cent. I see no weakness to Satoh's
stroke equipment. He lacks the pun
ishtng power of Harada, but his game
has far more variety. 1t is a more
modern style.
Has Plenty of Power.
One cannot yet tell what Satoh will
show in the strain of Davis Cup
matches. I have played against him
twice in doubles on the Riviera, and
found him a cool, dangerous, fighting
opponent. He is man of great ply
steal strength, apparently tireless and
of most remarkable quicknesS. ! have
been tremendously impressed by him,
although he has not found his true
game on the Riviera.
would not be surprised to see Satoh
win one or both singles in the Davis
Cup against any man in the European
zone.
The last member of the Japanese
team, Tameo Abe, Is the finest doubles
player of any japanese. Abe is not a
great singles player. I would place him
behind all three of his teammates, but
in doubles I believe he is the best.
This is due to his magnificent volley-
ing, crushing overhead and his clever
use of short angle shots in returning
service.
There is a good old maxim in the
tennis world that any Japanese team
is mark in doubles, but believe this
year will prove a very different story.
I have twice played Harada and Satoh
on the Riviera and twice met Abe with
other partners, and can say that neither
team proved easy. Harada IS not a
good doubles player, but certainly Abe
is, and Satoh is close behind Abe.
Abe and Satoh Fine Pair.
If the Japanese, who for some reason
still are uncertain about the doubles
team, pair Abe with Satoh, then they
have combination which may win
points against any team in the Davis
Cup matches. believe Abe and Satoh
would have at least an even chance, if
not better, against either Morpurgo and
Gaslini of Italy or Gregory and Collins
of England only Crawford and Hop
man or Moon and Willard of Australia
have the edge on them in the European
zone.
To sum up my impressions of Japan's