Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-31
DAVIS CUP CHANCE
HINGES ON COCHE1
Bill Thinks Yankee Youths
/. May Win This Year if
French Ace Is Out.
BY WILLIAM T. TILDEN, I'd,
world Professional Champion.


- VERIFYING points to a
- great year for the golden
jubilee year of the U. 8.
L. T. A. 1t Is the Davis
Cup which, after all, Is the last
word in tennis and a glance at
our chances at this time Is in
order. Certainly we can be proud
Of the record of the youngsters.
One must hand the palm to
Frank Shields who has been the
outstanding star of the matches.
Apparently Shields has overcome his
cratic streaks that marred his play IN
the past and has risen to the occasion in
every tie. He seems to have realized the
value of sound defense to back up his
magnificent attack.
Some people we're seriously upset by
Sid Woods defeat by Marcel Rainvillc
of Canada. Personally see no cause
for alarm. Rather, regard 1t as sign
of the thing which will make Wood out
standing for it showed he had the i'm
animation to sense the magnitude and
Importance of Davis Cup tennis and
even II, for once he was affected I'd
versSly in the end this imagination will
prove his strongest asset for 1t will in
Gpire him and lift him to the heights
In future years when experience has
given him greater poise.
Title Tennis Improves Strain.
No one who has not played Davis
Cup tennis can fully sense the strain
OF the first few Davis Cup matches,
particularly on a young player. know
that Billy johnson and 1 both felt it
and It definitely affected us. Even so
unperturbable . person as Johnny Hen
Messy admitted to me in Mexico that
he was very nervous in his first match
against Young Ricardo Topia.
It Is noteworthy that, although de-
feated by Rainville the first day, Sidney
Wood scored the decisive point for VIC
tory against Canada's best player, Jack
Wright, when defeat would have placed
US in q dangerous position.
have no fears for Sidney Woods
future In Davis Cup tennis. see him
definitely as our great hope for world
champion because he has not only a
mind. great courage and, above all, i'm
agination.
It was o dangerous experiment the
Davis Cup Committee tried in using
such a young team as Wood, Shields,
Clifford suffer and Gregory Mangin,
but 1t seems to me q very wise one.
Step Toward Rebuilding.
The retirement OF Allison and Doeg
comp. etely disorgsnized last years
team. and the new alignment is the
firrt step toward building a team for
the future. 1 cannot quite see Wood
end Snields carrying our country into
the challenge round this year. but l
ca rec them, aided by Junior Coen
cn6 cutter, bringing back the cup in
three to flve years.
II we want to reach the challenge
round this year and make our best
Lett should play both singles and
doubles.
At the moment the yelled news from
France concerning the reported illness
Of Cochet and his probable absence
from the Davis Cup team puts diff
ferent face on the matter.
If Cochet does not play, it is quite
within the range Of possibility to beat
France. on the other hand, I doubt
seriously Cochet's absence in July.
Rene Lacoste has started practice
and will make a gallant attempt to de-
fend for his country. My belief is
IAcoste will fail. because I cannot gee
how any man can be out Of competition
for three years and get back in six
weeks. However Lacoste, always a
great sportsman, lives UP to his code
BY his attempt and he deserves great
praise for his gallant, and what may
well be unavailing sacrifice.
Capt. Hardy an Asset.
One tremendous asset to the Ameri-
can team abroad this year is the pres
ence of Samuel Hardy as captain.
Hardy captained the team that brought
back the Davis Cup in 1920 from
Australia. He is man who knows
intimately by personal experience all
the playing conditions and players of
Europe He Is past master Of tennis
strategy
The lamented retirement Of r. Z.
Dixon, last years captain, could only
be Offset by Sam Hardy. have played
under many captains, but Of them all,
Dixon and Hardy stand together and
supreme.
It is golden jubilee year of the U. s.
L. r. A., but the large piece Of silver
ware presented by former Secretary
Dwight r. Davis, and known as the
Davis Cup would not be amitt among
the trophies of the association in its
celebration.
(copyritht. 1891. BY North American News
paper Alliance, Inc)