The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1934-04-02

His victory also gave him an in
side track on Davis Cup selections
this year, and his choice by the
tennis fathers. for at least the al
ternate post, will be the first step
toward infusion of young blood
into the rangs OF the veterans who
Topped SO ungracefully in 1898.
Stoefen has been coming up in
leaps and bounds. The giant
racquet wielder from Los Angeles
has climbed the amateur ladder
faster than any other player in the
last three years. In 1881 he was
rated in 18th position. The follow
ing year he jumped to sixth spot,
and when selections were made for
1898, he rated third.
Hits Hard
What's the secret to his phe-
nomenal clumb? TO be brief, its
his service.
Ellsworth Vines. just before he
turned pro last year, had q lot to
say about that service. Following
is part Of what hes said:
LES, when he's right, can beat
any player in the world. I respect
him more than anyone when he is
right, mainly because Of his serv..
ice.
THE service in tennis has two
functions: 1t puts the ball into
play and it can be used to place the
receiver at disadvantage. Good
| placement or dazzling speed may
accomplish this.
"Stoefen has the speed. When
in form he gets more behind a ball
than anyone of our time. He
strikes the ball when it is IL feet
in the air, and he hits it with. such
| canpon-like speed and momentum
that tits next to impossible to re-
turn it with any degree of ac-
curacy. He has you at his mercy,
and you realize that he can win
his service games and the pressure
is put on you; it will depend upon
how many of your service games
you can win"
Vines himself, being tall, has an
excellent service game. But Stoefen
tops "Elly" by several inches, and
his added height and arm reach
enable him to get way up in the
air and smash down on service.
His speed has been binding them
all in late years.
Too Much?
| Some say that Les speed will be
his undoing. They point out that
Maurice Mclaughlin, the original
speed demon, flashed to the from.
with his cannon-like service and
stayed at the top only two years.
On the other hand, they illus
| trate, Bill Tilden, who had none Of
that razzling speed, took a change
Of pace, a variety of delivery, a.
TWIST cut, and lob, and held the
crown for seven years.
| But it can be said for Stoefen
that he's y0ungster, just coming
along, who is built for speed. His
frame is not taxed by the power he
puts into his game. and 1t will be
some time before his well-condi-
toned body breaks down under his
terrific pace.
Henri Cochet, the great French
star who recently turned pro, has
said the U. S. chances to capture
the Davis Cup this year are good
and he had Les Stoefen in mind
when he made that statement.
| At least two new faces will be
on the American squad this year -
Frank Shields and Stoefen. Frank,
If he's at his best form, should win
one singles match, and Stoefen, IL
he's right, can beat anyone in
the Notwithstanding to Vines.
In addition to his singles compe-
tition, Les may take part in the
doubles. He won the U. S. doubles
title with George Lott last year,
and that same combination should
be good enough to work Uncle
Sans boys through the three Davis
Cup ties in the United States.