Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-22
SEEN AS HELPFUL
TO SHIELDS, WOOD
Youngsters Doubtless Will
Benefit From ReverSeS
in Davis Cup Play.
BY LAWRENCE PERRY.

N YEW YORK, July 22.-Of
N course, the United States
Y Tennis Association is not
giving three cheers over
the elimination of the United
States by Great Britain in the
interzone match leading up to
the challenge round against
France for the Davis Cup.
Yet if one could probe into the minds
of some of the more philosophical off,
GERS of this BODY, it would perhaps be
found that they are not SO sure that
the licking Frank Shields and Sidney
Wood took from Bunny Austin and
Fred Perry, respectively, will not do this
pair of youngsters lot of good.
A sound trimming once in while Is
TO. the WORST thing that can happen
to a bumptious young athlete. In the
case of our two representatives in the
interzone singles, their downfall will be
woven into the warp and woof of their
experience and two years from now will
find them the benehciaries of all that
has happened in the meantime, includ-
ing unexpected defeats.
No Real Upset.
In the case, though, of Shields and
Austin, there was no real reason why
Franks downfall should have been
taken as an amazing upset. 1t may or
may not be remembered that in their
match On the center court at Wimble-
don Austin held match point twice
against the American and failed by
hairlines of winning out.
So there is no conclusion other than
that Shields and Austin are very closely
matched. Austin's game, as observed
here two years ago, was that OF fair
first-rater. Undoubtedly he has i'm
proved as ne should: he is not more
than 25 years old He had had this
year the experience also Of a lot OF
international play. and so there Is not
the slightest doubt that he has ad.
vanced very materially. SO mas FREQ
Perry. another youngster.
Perry and Hughes are coming over
here in September to have hack at
our national singles. In view of Austin
showing at Wimbledon and in Paris, 1t
would seem altogether likely that the
British association will send Austin, too:
If he does not come: 1t Will be IN an
probability because of lack of funds in
The association treasury. England has
Tot been in the spotlight for so long
that the question of money is rather
delicate one. But in any case Perry
and Hughes will be here.
The French will send team and, IN
view of plans which seem to be brewing
for an alliance in professional rivalry
between Tilden and Cochet 1t Is re-
garded likely that the sporting goods
dealer of Lyons will come as mem
Der. even if his expenses are betrayed
by parties other than the French fed
Grafton.
Helpful to Tennis.
The effects Of the victory of the Eng
1ish Davis Cup team over the Americans
will be beneficial to tennis on the British
isles. 1t will be very stimulating, even
assuming that the team fails to pre-
vail over the French in the challenge
round-which 1t Is unlikely TO DO II
Cochet is in any form at all.
In the long run, though, the shoals
of American boys who are coming up
in the game SO greatly outnumber any
thing that Great Britain or France can
show as to make it certain that in
suing years will see this country re-
Stunning dominance in the game. When
Shields and Wood learn that not al
ways can they move forward on a
straight line and slam their way to VIC
tory. that they must meet situations as
trey come and adjust their play to
them. they will be much more formid-
able than they are today.
Any one who has watched Tilden and
other great masters of the past has no
ticed how they have stalled along, keep
ing the ball in play as long as they
could while studying out the special
problem which their rivals interposed.
Working along. feeling for the proper
touch and, when they have it. begin
ming to lay into the ball are the definite
hallmarks of greatness plus experience.
Shields and Woods and all the young
sters do not know this yet but in time
they will Meanwhile Americans have
nothing but admiration and good will
for Bunny Austin and Fred Perry.