Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-07
LOTT, VAN RYN DUE
FOR DOUBLES AGAIN
Touted to Repeat French
ViCtory-ShieIds and
Wood Are Lauded.
BY WILLIAM T. TILDEN, I'd,


TIME past week has been very
significant in the events in
i the tennis world. France
has successfully defended
her own championships for men
through the victory of Jean Boro-
ira over his teammate, Christian
BouSsus. The United States Davis
Cup team, through the splendid
play of Frank Shields and Sidney
Wood, earned the right to meet
the ultimate victor in the Euro
pean zone and will be on the high
seas when this is published.
The clean-cut victory of Fraulein
Cilly Aussen of Germany in gaining
the Womens Singles Championship OF
France from a field that included Helen
Jacobs, Betty Nuthall, Lily Alvarez,
Eileen Bennett and Simone Matthew
stamps the little German star as second
only TO Helen Wills Moody herself.
In my last article I said believed
George Lott was the logical singles main
stay for this years Davis Cup team
tbroad. On the day that was published
Lott went down to sudden and apparent
~ totally unexpected defeat to Pat
Hughes OF England. and was once more
convicted OF being the worlds worst ten
mis- prophet. l own defeat in this case.
Lott Lost Big Chance.
Frankly. 1 fully expected Lott to be
at least finalist against Borotra and
possibly to beat him and win the title.
II ne had done so 1 think he would
have earned his place It was his big
chance to make sure of his position and
I deeply regret that he threw it away
possibly through overconfldence and
carelessness. Lott should have beaten
Hughes. He is the better player.
In marked contrast to Lofts lament
able defeat was the magnificent per-
Torrance of Sid Wood and Frank
Shields against the Argentine team.
Boyd and Robson of Argentina are an
experienced and dangerous team. To
defeat them at all Is no mean achieve
ment, but TO blank them SO is mag
niflcent
Shields and Wood seem to have def
nitely earned their positions In the
Davis Cup singles and no matter what
the outcome of the matches in Europe,
the boys have fully justified the con-
fldence placed in them this year.
Clifford Suffer showed his class by
his victory on the last day, even though
the strain was over and the tie won.
Sometimes. when viewing the Davis
Cup situation, one is prone to wish that
Wimbledon did not complicate the trip
Of the team. but, after all. even though
Wimbledon Is on grass, where can young
players gain such valuable experience
as on the historic turf of this English
club in the greatest Of all tournaments?
Wood Is Vastly Improved.
Wimbledon is no new story to Lott
and Van Ryn. but even though Sydney
Wood played there previously, 1t was
long enough ago. and he was so young
at the time that to him and Frank
Shields 1t will be almost the same as
a new adventure. Sidney played fine
match against Lacoste on his first ap-
pearance, but his improvement since
then has been so great that the Eng
fish will hardly believe him to be the
same boy.
I believe that Frank Shields. with his
magnetic personality. his physical vital
ity and his dynamic hitting, will be a
great favorite with the British pub
lie. look to see the boys prove one Of
the most popular attractions Of the
year. It will be too much to expect
them to reach their best form just of
the boat and playing on grass for the
first time this year, but I believe they
will come close enough to their real
ability to make their record an i'm
pressive one.
If Lott and Van Ryn can repeat
their French championship victory at
Wimbledon. their claim to the worlds
best doubles team should be clear and
cur Davis Cup doubles worries over
1 lock to see them winners. and If so.
can hardly imagine any other pair
successfully standing against them in
Paris, even Il Cochet-Brugnon should
represent France.
French Situation Delicate.
The French situation Is clearly a
delicate one. Can Cochet recover in
time to play and II so can he re-
produce his form Of other years?
Probably, would say! He is the out
standing genius Of the racquet and as