Evening star., 1943-08-29
Gives South America
First Real Chance
For Big Crown
BY GRANTLAND RICE.

Special correspondent OF Inc StAr,
NEW YORK, Aug. % (NANA).-
In many ways the tennis map
covers more sporting terrain than
any other sport. The Davis Cup
and national championships have
been won by the United States,
Great Britain, France, Australia and
New Zealand. where Germany had
an outstanding star in Won Cramm.
Now Ecuador offers South Amer
lean challenger in the nimble person
of Francisco Segura who will be
extremely hard to surround and cut
down when the United States tennis
championship opens at Forest Hills.
This will be South Americas first
big chance to enter the long parade
that has come from a large portion
of the scrapping planet.
The strongest bids that have come
from South America so far were the
Argentina polo team and more than
one soccer outfit that has scrambled
to the top. Argentina's polo crop
In other years always was good, but
Ecuador now remains the only South
American country with a national
championship in sight.
Wilding q Dramatic Figure.
While other nations have had
many tennis stars the United
States still leads the ist-Larned,
Mclaughlin, Williams, Tilden, John
ston. Richards, Vines and Bulge
heading a formidable list.
The Aussies have had Brookes.
Wilding, Crawford and strong
young colony, checked by the war.
France Is a strong all-time entry
with Lacoste, Cochet and Borotra-
not overlooking Suzanne Lenglen.
Won Cramm was Germany's top
man while Kumagae and Shimidzu
were the two Jap threats.
England in later years hasn't had
much tennis luck, although VIM
bledon in a way has been the tennis
capital.
Spain had Michael Alonzo. Russia
and Italy haven't been too hot,
while the Scandinavian nations have
gone out more for track and field.
Tony Wilding, one of the greatest
OF all international stars, came to
dramatic finish. Paired with Nor
man Brookes, the Aussie team won
the Davis Cup final in d-August,
1914, just a few days after the Ger
man Army had entered Belgium.
That August day was % years ago.
Brookes and Wilding left to Join
the Australian forces immediately
after the final match. Before sail
ing Wilding told his friends that he
knew he never would be back again
as he felt that quick and certain
death was to be his part.
Wldlng was killed in action only
a few months later. There has been
no finer sportsman.
Tilden Stands Alone.
1t is agreed generally that Bill
l1lden was the greatest tennis
player of them all-at his peak
T1lden came to the front in 1920
when he and Bill Johnston brought
back the Davis Cup from Australia.
where 1t still is waiting for some
challenger after this war is over.
11lden almost was unbeatable for
the next five years. Big Bill has
been a star for more than 20 years,
the most colorful figure that ever
came to any court.
He had speed and power with an
amazing amount of generalship and
for some Is years was in more big
matches than any other two men.
When the 1943 title whirl opens
at Forest Hills. Segura from Ecuador
will be the one to beat.
The United States will offer En-
sign Fred Schroeder, the cham
pion; 1t. Joe Hunt, Bob Falken-
berg, Sidney Wood, Bitsy Grant
and Seymour Greenberg among her
leading defenders, but they will
need something extra to handle the
hard. two-handed hitter from
Ecuador, who has been rough medi-
cine over here for the last year.
The entry from Ecuador also is
a stout-hearted competitor with his
full share of self confidence, which
Is no paltry asset. One of the
younger United States stars may
bring him down at Forest Hills
when the next show opens. but
there are sounder bets the other
way. Young Bob Falkenberg Is no
rabbit waiting for the snare.