The Washington times., 1936-07-31
t7-Yr.-0|d Hunt
Favored Over
MCDiarnid
BY MICHAEL ]. FOSTER
International News Service Staff
Correspondent


SEABRIGHT, N. j., July 31.-A
new boy wonder, hailed by Off
cials and players alike as the
answer to Uncle Sans Davis Cup
prayer, stood on the threshold OF
his first major tennis triumph to-
day as Seabright prepared to wind
up its forty-ninth annual invita-
tion court classic.
A Whirlwind victor over Gregory
Mangin, 1885 titleholder in the
semifinalS, 17-year-old Joe Hunt,
latest of the California sensations,
was expected to carry his winning
streak through his final-round
match with John McDiarmid this
afternoon, and write his name on
Seabright's history mems singles
bowl alongside those of such count
greats as Big Bill Tilden, Little
Bill Johnston, Winnie Richards
and Ellsworth Vines.
McDiarmid, a decisive winner
over Sidney Wood himself, had
other ideas, but, regardless how
he fares against the bespectacled
Princeton professor, Hunt loomed
as the newest darling Of racquet
mogulS, whose major objective in
life is the recapture of the Holy
Grail Of tennisdom which France
took from our shores back in 1927.
"He's a real prospect" was
HOlcOmbe Ward, American Davis
Cup chairman'S praise, after he
had watched the Los Angeles
boy survive a rocky third set in
his battle with Mangin, and
forge ahead to a yaqn 11-9,
lib, Ga victory.
"My only fear is that he may
get swelled head and spoil his
own chances"
Even more enthusiastic was
Walter Pate, captain of the ILL
fated team which should have
beaten Australia at Germantown,
but didn't. FIOwery adjectives
flowed in endless stream as Pate
waxed eloquent anent JOe's "briI-
liant service" powerful attack"
Variety of shots" and mag
nificent smashing"
Hes better now than Winnie
Richards was at his age" he
insisted. "HiS ground strokes
are beautiful to watch and his
service is lots stronger than Vim
nie'S ever was. If he continues
the way he's playing, we'll be de-
lighted to invite him to try for
q place on the cup team. But
no interfering with his studies
at school"
Bernon Prentice, another for
mer Davis Cup captain, also COM
pared the Coast youngSter with
Richards, and was certain there
was no weakness in Hunts game.
Dick williams, a national cham
pion two decades back, and a for
mer cupper himself, likes the boys
possibilities but was skeptical
about his development.
1--WE seen too many prOmiS-
ing youngsters fade away to be
calling him Davis Cup timber"
williams warned.
Perhaps the greatest praise Of
all came from Mangin, who main
tanned that he had played well
himself, but that he just couldn't
stop the California phenom.
"He cOnceals his shots better
than any one / ever played
against" was Greg'S addition to
the encOmiumS heaped upon
Hunt.
Hunt will need all his strategy
and remarkable shot making
against McDiarmid this afternoon
if Texas John can duplicate the
tennis he displayed against wood.
Mac solved the puzzle of Bobby
Riggs, the Californian who hogged
the headlines before Hunt took
them away, and used keen strategy
in encompassing Woods defeat.
He may have the answer to the
Hunt problem, too.
The women's final is scheduled
for tomorrow. It sends Alice
Marble, a 60, 60 victor over
Gracyn Wheeler, against Carolin
Babcock, a lucky 3-6, Ga, IS
winner over Nine. Silvia Henrotin.