The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-07-29

McNeill Looks To Green Grass Ahead
Net chompion Not Worried About Losses On Clay Court
By LUTHER EVANS

New York, July 25.--Donald Me- Neill isn't worrying about four Suc- cessive defeats, two each by Robert Riggs and Frank Parker, on the summer swing.
 The national singles champion figures 1t doesn't really count un- til the caravan hits the grass courts.
 Don McNeill, the belting blond, believes he will retain his na- tional title at Forest Hills, Aug. 30-sept. 6, but he won't be un- duly annoyed if he loses 1t.
 The sturdy Oklahoma City boy expects to be in the army by late fall. His draft board is nearing his number, 23,000, and he antici- pates 1-A classification. He Is 9 and has no dependents.
 McNeill, who looks more like 8 halfback than tennis player, launched his eastern campaign in the New York State Clay Court Championships at the Seminole Club in Forest Hills. The Sen- inole Club, is situated about 8 mile from the famous West Side Tennis Club, scene of the national matches.
 Starting with Seabright, July 21, the remaining tournaments including the National are played on grass, and McNeill will be in the thick of all of them-South- a v,a pH,n Aa4x,VNA~k avaA thA national doubles at the Longwood Cricket Club at Chestnut Hill, outside of Boston.
 Frankie Parker is his doubles partner.
 With everything in the world so uncertain, McNeill isn't think ing about turning professional even if he repeats as, the national champion. Things being what they are, he very .sensibly seeS no future in 1t.
 McNeill will have no complaint when he changes his racquet for 8 rife.
 T don't know but what I might like the life. It probably would do me gOOd, ne says.
 WINTER LAYOFF GUARD AGAINST GOING STALE
 McNeill skipped the winter circuit in favor of a position as advisor to high school students for Kenyon College, his Ohio Alma Mater.
 The layoff dulled the edge of his game but in the long run he be- lieves it will prove helpful. It prevented any chance of going stale.
 McNeill quite naturally tabs Parker and Bobby Riggs as his sternest threats but admits funny man Frank Kovacs has the ability to take it all.
 McNeill assures you that Riggs and Parker are playing top-notch tennis.
 He bowed to Riggs in the Southern in Knoxville and, more recently, in four sets in the Vest ern in Indianapolis. Parker de- feated him in the Missouri Valley in St. Louis and the National Clay Courts in Chicago.
 Don't laugh when parker's new forehand is mentioned" Mo- Neill cautions. Frank really has come up with an improved fore- hand. He hits with much more power of 1t, seldom misses. His game is the steadiest in tennis"
 McNeill is inclined to agree with Bill Tilden, Parker and others in that KovacS doesn't have the right temperament to be champion.
 T haven't played Kovacs this summer, but have watched him several times," he asserts. Prank certainly has the strokes when he's right, but he doesn't take things seriously enough. to win continuously. On his. best day, Kovacs probably can lick any of us"
 McNeill, power player, is one champion who can't get excited about himself.
 He finds 1t hard to describe the best points of his game.
 There's nothing exceptional about my tennis" he declares. Maybe my volley is better than that of most players, but in other depart ments am just ordinary"
 But he feels his touch is keener with every match and that he is hitting sharper of both forehand and backhand.
 Some maintain McNeill's crown is made of straw, that he will be lucky to reach the national final this time.
 They can worry about that all they want.
 Don McNeill certainly isn't.