Evening star., 1939-07-17
Sees Australian Win
Unless j. :. Quickly
Develops Talent
Gene, Bent Upon Singles
PIoy, Appears Naked
Without Partner
BY JOHN LARDNER,
Special Correspondent Of The Star.

Special Correspondent OF The Star.
NEW YORK, July II (NANA).-
Thinking 1t was high time that we
unfurled our annual midsummer
review of Davis Cup prospects, we
asked Cap'n Walter Pate, the Davis
Cup leader, about it. The captain
said mo" which means it is high
time.
We do not take dictation from any
tennis authority. That is the job Of
certified stenographer, who knows
shorthand, and, besides, taking die
tation from tennis official is like
taking candy from baby.
Here, without fear or prejudice, is
the way the candidates shape up:
Constantine Gene Mako-In con-
sidering this strapping blond trap
drummer from Budapest, you have
to remember that Mako has been
bitten by the singles bug. He always
was doubles player in the past, the
guy who played alongside of Donald
Bulge. and it began to annoy him
when people who spotted him alone
on the street would point and say,
Look, Mako must have dressed in
hurry this morning. There is
something missing"
Mako Still Is Annoyed.
The thing that was missing was
Bulge. Mako looked practically
naked without the red-head by his
side. This vexed him, because he
always thought he would be pretty
fair singles player if he could get on
the court alone some time, without
the world champion dangling on one
side of him like loose suspender.
Mako finally sneaked into the
National singles tournament last
year. Before any one could stop
him he was in the final round That
brought him back on the same court
with Bulge again, but there was a
net between them, which made all
the difference, and Mako didn't
mind when Bulge licked him.
Bulge will turn pro-" said Con-
stantine G. Mako, land that will
make me the best singles player in
the country next year"
Now that next year has rolled
around, all that people say to Mako
is who will be your doubles part
ner?" 1t is very discouraging.
Crap-Shooting Ability No Help.
However, Gene insists he can play
Davis Cup singles, and the captain
will give him shake for his money.
The attitude of the authorities seems
to be "as soon as Gene has had his
trial. We will get down to the seri-
Gus business of picking our singles
players Myself, I believe you will
see Mako on the team again this
year-playing doubles.
Robert L. Riggs-They have to
pick him for the No. singles job.
Riggs ranks only slightly ahead of
the diamond-back rattlesnake in the
esteem of the tennis officials, but he
Is the best we have. Nobody else
stands chance of beating Jack
Bromwich of Australia. You'd think
it would soften the hearts of the
authorities to realize that Riggs is
the best crap-Shooter in American
tennis, but 1t doesn't. It hardens
them. Still, they have to take him.
Frank Parker-Here it is all a
question of a young fellows fore
hand drive. Parker's forehand used
to be a chop, and he got nowhere.
Foreign stars always were taking the
stroke apart on the courts. like a
watch, and forgetting to put it to-
gether again.
Australia Picked to Win.
Now Parker is said to have a new
f1at forehand which is guaranteed
not to come apart. Mercer Beasley,
the old tennis wizard, guarantees it.
Its different" says Mr.. Beasley.
tits the same" says Ladislaw
Hecht, a Czecho-S -Slovakian witness.
Time alone will supply the answer,
as my grandmother used to say, and
Parker's, too, no doubt, but If Frank
continues to approach the ball as
he would a loaf of bread, the No. 2
singles job is not for him.
Elwood Cooke-A fellow from Ore
gon who has played Riggs 13 times
without winning a match. He
pushed Riggs to five hard sets at
Wimbledon this year, and he doesn't
have to beat Riggs at all, come 10
think of it, to keep the Davis Cup
In this country. All he has to do is
beat one or two Australians.
Tennis authorities say that Cookies
game is the same kind as Budge's.
Careful observation convinces me
that Cookies game is the same as
Budge's, all right-only different.
Wayne Sabin-A dark horse who
may play in the singles or in the
doubles, or maybe in both, if some
body else doesn't.
Bitsy Grant-A nice fellow,
The winner-Australia, if some
thing doesn't deve1or, protf,seo1x.