The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-27
MARBLE, M'NE|LL STAND0UTS OF
 1940 NET PLAY
International Competition Dead; Kramer-SchrOeder
 Team Surprised
By LESLIE AVERY United Press Staff COrreSpOndent)

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 New York, Dec. 27-OP)-Inter- national competition, dominant force in amateur tennis, was missing in 1940 for the first time since the World war years, and interest in the sport suffered accordingly.
 When the Australian Davis cup team sailed for home with the trophy in 1899 it marked the begin ming of stagnant period for Amer ican tennis that possibly will endure until international rivalry is revived. Without the incentive of Wimble- don, the Davis cup and the Wight man cup to urge players on, the struggle to the top is not so worth 1 while.
 Although the mems national lawn tennis championship changed hands this year, the most signicant news emerging from the game was Alice Marbles turning professional. Don McNeill, a 1anky blond from Oklahoma City, finally reached the top rung of U. s. tennis by winning the title from Bobby Riggs in i've set final at Forest Hills, but as head line material, his achievement was overshadowed by Miss Marbles de- sertion of the amateurs.
 Whether Miss Marble is the great est woman player the sport ever pro- duced and whether she could have beaten Lenglen, Moody and Mallory is as debatable as Joe Louis chances against Dempsey, Corbett and Fitz- simmons.
 Retired Undefeated When Alice retired from simon pure competition, she was undefeat- ed in 109 straight singles tourna- ment matches, Skein that covered her last three years of play. She had won the American singles title four times -1936, 1888, 1889 and 1940 With Sarah Palfrey she had won the national women's doubles crown for four years in row. With Don Budge Gene Mako, Bobb, Riggs and Harry Hopman, she won the national mixed double championship four times.
 In 1889, the last year of interna- tional competition, she scored hel six-ply slam by winning all the ma. | jor titles in the world-singles doubles and mixed doubles at Vim. bledon and Forest Hills. There wert no more worlds for Queen Alice tt conquer and she accepted profes. sional offer that possibly will enrict her by $50,000 during the next l: months.
 The 1940 season was notable fol two other things in singles competi tion: The complete failure of Welb, Van Horn to live up to 1889 per. formanceS, and the comeback O Frankie Kovacs. Van Horn who wen to the national final against RiggI in 1889, failed to win 8 single goot match all season and was so dis guSted with his game that h, threatened to turn to baseball. Ko vacs, unranked in 1889 because of al injury that kept him out of compe tition, likely will be the No. mal in the country-behind McNeill ant Riggs-on basis of his 1940 show ing. This rise will be at the discom fiture of the badge-wearing tenni fathers, who do not approve of Ko vacS' laugh-getting antics arouns the lawn circuit.
 A pair of 19-year- r-old Californian Jackie Kramer and Ted Schroeder were the surprise doubles package They teamed to win the nationa doubles crown and they probabl, can monopolize it for many year since both are improving rapidly Both also appear to be great single possibilities and should rank wei up in the first 10.
 Without Miss Marble, women competition is bound to suffer. He abdication of the amateur thron lmeans that the veteran Helen Jac obs is her likely successor as Amer ica's ranking playre. And, Mis Jacobs could hardly give Alice
 good workout in the Forest Hill iinal-losing 6-2. 6-3.