Evening star., 1936-05-17

llNS ICCAB iOlA III ANi6hN,
has added to that stone wall charac-
teristic the ability to go up and put
the ball away cleanly after his deadly
deep court placing has provided an
opening.
1t is always bit disconcerting to
face an opponent who keeps returning
your best Shots Bitsy, the most sensa-
tional and determined "scrambler'
who ever went on a court, soon i'm
presses you with the uncomfortable
feeling that nothing is safe from the
sweep of his racquet until, with your
own eyes, you have seen him miss.
Grant is usually slow starter, but
once Bitsy starts to scold himself in a
self-administered pep talk, and to
shake his fist and wag his head it is
well to be on guard. He is the greatest
tennis player OF his inches that the
world has ever seen!
Grant should be taken abroad with
the Davis Cup Team, believe, be-
cause his brilliant record in this coun
try warrants it, if for no other reason.
Were it France again. at Auteuil, that
we would face if we reached the Chal-
lenge round, should regard Bitsy
as the No. singles player, Nobody
in this country is his equal on clay
courts. and doubt that any man in
England or Europe would be able to
break even with him.
Donald Bulge, now the second
ranking player in the United States
came along very fast last season. His
trip abroad to play both at Wimble-
don and in the Davis Cup matches did
him a world of good. Don reminds
oldtimers of the famous Maurice
Mclaughlin of California. His flaming
red hair and his many freckles un-
doubtedly account for this resem-
blance; but in the power of his service
and the crushing severity OF his smash
ing, there are also reminders of the
Comet who ruled the tennis world
in 1914.
But Budge's ground strokes. es-
pecially his backhand drive, which he
whips across deep court faster than
the average ranking player propels
forehand drive. are better than Nc
Loughlin's ever were. They give
Bulge the opportunity to get to close
quarters at the net and finish off with
a smash or sharply angled volley.
Don has not yet reached the heights
that are within his reach, but he will
certainly get into action against
Australia at Germantown.
Gene Mako. Budge's doubles part
ner (they are the second ranking team
of the country, is fast. severe hitter
and brimmlng over with confidence.
He is very fine doubles player. He
and Bulge seem sure to win the
national doubles title sooner or later.
and eventually to become the main
reliance of the United States in Davis
Cup doubles competition.
Johnny Van Ryn is. of course, the
worlds outstanding doubles player.
and lucky is the man who has Johnny
as his partner on the court. 1t was with
Van Ryn that won the all-England
doubles twice; the Challenge Round
Davis Cup doubles twice and the
national doubles twice.
Johnny's return of service is rated
the finest in the game - a most i'm
portant asset in doubles play. And as
a tactician Johnny has no superior.
| can think of no one would rather
pair with when it comes to doubles
play against any team in the world.
Those are the players upon whom
America must rely. Which will be
chosen? The fact that the North
American Zone Final match, on May
80. 81 and June l, is to be played on
grass means that our strongest pos
sible lineup must be placed on the
field Extreme caution must be exer-
cised in Dickinp our Dlayers for this