Evening star., 1953-04-02
Kramer Primed
For Best Tennis
Here Tonight
AiIine on Lost Visit,
Ace Hopes to Boost
Leod Over Sedgmon
(Picture on Page C-3.)
By Cospor Names

A'N VSAAAAAS AAA0CSAA bCtWCCA1
Frank Sedgman and Jack Kra-
mer at Uline Arena tonight illus
trates sharply how quickly sport
ing idols are made and unmade.
After the Australian champion
easily overrode weak opposition
to take the American title at
Forest Hills last September,
many observers proclaimed him
one of the games all-time greats.
1t would have been easy to find
many supporters willing and
anxious to wager that Sedgman
could take Kramer in any single
contest or tour competition.
When the ace from Down Un-
der, rushed through Tony Ira
bert and Vic Seixas in the Davis
Cup challenge round in Decem-
ber, his hackers became even
more vociferous. They insisted
his play was the equal of that
ever seen on a court, and old
time greats were dismissed with
a Shrug.
He Wasn't Overrated.
Less than four months later,
there is tendency to rush to
the other extreme. Kramer has
convincingly demonstrated he is
the Australians master unless
his physical condition levels the
steps between them. Too many
tennis followers, as result, have
jumped to the conclusion that
Frank has been greatly over
rated. This is as untrue as the
original premise was.
An analogous case, for illus
tration, is that of Pancho Con-
zales. After the young Califor-
man of Mexican descent flashed
across the tennis horizon and
swept everything before him for
Two years, he was hailed by some
zealots as the greatest player
ever to step on the court. One
observer, aWed by Gonzales tre-
mendous serve, declared the new
star was superior to Bill Tilden.
He scores three and four
aces a game" this enthusiast
exclaimed. "Tilden scored aces
only when he needed them"
Kramer Found Weaknesses.
But Kramer knew how to
handle Pancho's delivery, and
then Gonzales ground strokes
stood forth in all their weak
nesSes. Today few lists of all
time great tennis stars have a
place for him.
Just as critics too quickly rele-
gated Gonzales to a spot outside
the permanent limelight of last
ing greatness, so they are un-
justly reacting that way toward
Sedgman. The Australian, who
probably reached the top of his
potentiality whereas Gonzales
never did, is better player than
Pancho was. Franks game is
solid. with a fine serve, strong
ground strokes and a good net
attack.
When he bore down in the
amateur ranks. no one had the
equipment to handle his shots.
But Kramer could. and the ex-
perience of finding shots that
used to score coming back
extensively must have been an
upsetting one. BY. now he IS
adjusting himself to the new
situation, and his recent better
ShoWings undoubtedly stem
from this fact.
That is why Sedgman from
now on should provide Kramer
with stiff competition. Though
Big Jack has a decided edge on
sheer power when his game is
right. Sedgman is good enough
to tip the scales in his favor
whenever Kramer lacks the
touch. For this reason a meet
ing between the two men is
worth seeing.
Kramer will have two reasons
for being on his game tonight.
He Is still keenly aware of his
poor showing here in January.
Weakened by the flu. Jack lost
to Frank 60, Ga the first
night and 6-3, IS, the second
evening. Kramer wants to COR
rect any wrong impression that
Washington fans may have as a
result of those contests.
Second, the Australian boasts
of two successive wins this week
and is keen to add another.
Jack. leading SO to "a matches,
wants to halt the string.
Pancho Segura, the colorful
two-f1sted Ecuadorian, will play
Ken McGregor, the other half
of the Australian combination,
in the first match at $3.50 pm.
Segura leads 46-14 in their
rivalry. A doubles contest will
close the evenings play, with
Sedgman and McGregor seeking
to add another to their 34-26