The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-08-30
SEGURA CHOICE TO GRAB TITLE
 IN LAWN EVENT
By JACK CUDDY

United Press Staff Correspondent
 New York, Aug. 30-CUP)-Presi- dent Holcomb Ward of the U. S. Lawn Tennis association expects banner crowds at the national cham pionships, opening Wednesday at the West Side club, because:
 CD It will be the most compact tourney in the nationals history, with all competition-men's, wo- mems and doubles-compressed into six days and limited to 32 contest ants in each division.
 CD Though Francisco Segura of Ecuador is favored to take the mems title. double-grip "Pancho" will be confronted with the finest force of U. s. players assembled for any tournament since Pearl Harbor. They'll include at least six service men.
 (3) A wide-open, five-way fight seems assured for the women's crown among Pauline Betz, defend- ing champion; Louise Brough. Mar garet Osborne, Mrs. Sarah Palfrey Cooke and Doris Hart.
 (4 Metropolitan fans are "hun- gry' for big-time play, after a year in which the tennis association con- centrated on staging local Red Cross journeys in various sections (near- ly 300 of them) and in developing young players Moreover. the West Side club is reached easily by sub- way.
 President Ward explained today, "The association has raised approxi- mately $25,000 for the Red Cross this year; and share of the pro- ceeds of the championships will be used for purchasing player equip ment for members of the armed forces. Meanwhile, the services have cooperated with us in arranging for the championships"
 As a result of this cooperation, Ensign Ted Schroeder will be on hand to defend his mems singles title. Also Corp. Frank Parker, sec- ond in the national rankings; Jack Kramer of the Coast Guard: Lieut.. Joe Hunt of the Navy; Pvt Bitsy Grant; Corp Charles Hare of the U. s. Army fformer British Davis cup starr and Seymour Greenberg, who originally was ordered to re- port today for training in the Army Air Corps Lieutenant. GardnaE Mulloy of the Navy apparently will be the only prominent service player unable to make the tourney. He commands ship.
 Pancho Segura, the diminutive. dark-haired but explosive Ecuador ian heads the civilian contingent that will try to lift Ensign Schroe- der's championship. This contingent includes Bill Talbert and Sidney Wood, fifth and sixth rankers; Ladis- law Hecht, No. 10, and sturdy trio of youngsters: Bob Falkenburg. junior champ; James Brink and Jack Tuero.
 Segura is favored because he swept everything in sight this year, start- ing with the Sugar Bowl Invitation Meet and continuing through the National Intercollegiate, Eastern Grass, Eastern Intercollegiate, New Jersey State and Southampton journeys. Greenberg won match from Segura in round-robin play at Southampton, but little Panchc came back to beat Greenberg in the play-off for the trophy.
 Meanwhile Pauline Betz faces a difficult assignment in retaining her singles diadem. Her opponents in- clude Margaret Osborne, who de- feat Pauline at Rye this year; Louise Brough, last years runner up; Mrs. Sarah Palfrey Cooke, tho Al titleholder who retired last year but who returned to competition re- gently in excellent form: and Doris Hart. the Florida lass who yester- day retained her national girls title at Philadelphia.