Evening Star Newspaper, July 25, 1929, Page 42

SPORTS. Doubles May Decide Issue in Davis Cup Tennis Between French and Americans ALLISON, VAN RYN FACE TOUGH TASK Cochet and Borotra, at Top Form, Among Best Pairs Ever Produced. BY WALTER TRUMBULL. F Lacoste really is out of competition the United States has a chance to bring the Davis Cup back across the ocean. And the chance should be more than a forlorn hope. ‘With Lacoste, the present mechanical player, on the side lines, the French must turn to Jean Borotra, the inspired Basque, and Henrl Cochet, a genius of the cpurts. It is possible that the re- sult 6f the cup matches may hang on the doubles. In fact, the United States almost must win the doubles to come through. ‘There have been some great doubles teams in the history of tennis. Sears and Dwight, Hobart and Hovey, Ward and Davis, Little and Alexander, Alex- ander and Hackett, Brookes and Wild- ing, the Dohertys, Paterson and Wood, Gore and Barrett, Richards and Tilden, ‘Wright and Ware, Willlams and Wash- burn, the Neels, Collins and Waidner, ‘Tilden and Johnston and several others. 1If an outsider were to pick the ablest trio from these pairs he probably would select the Dohertys, Brooks and Wild- ing and Tilden and Johnston at their best. Yet it is doubtful whether any of these teams had anything on Cochet and Borotra in top form. 1If, therefore, Van Ryn and Allison can beat this pair they will well deserve to be ranked with the great. Condition Big Factor. ‘These Davis Cup matches. like many & boxing contest, promise to be largely a matter of condition. When he is right, Cochet has superb endurance. The farther he goes the better he gets. He can play tennis ail day. But Bo- rotra burns up a lot of energy on the courts, although the Basque is seldom as tired as he may appear, as more than one opponent has learned to his cost. Just when he looks about ready to lie down and die he suddenly charges with the speed of a deer and and the fury of a tiger. Tilden is not going to try to play doubles, which means that those long used legs should be able to go at full speed for at least one singles match. I doubt whether the present Tilden can beat Cochet. For that reason I wish it were possible for him to meet Borotra in the first match. He not only might beat the Basque, but he might chase Borotra around the court to the extent that he would be weary when he played doubles. After the doubles, Borotra certainly wouldn't be any fresher and Lott might take him in the third day's singles match. In other words, it looks as if, with Borotra and Cochet carrying the whole burden for the French, that the weak- est point in the Gallic armor might be the Basque. Not that he is weak, but that Cochet is stronger still. Lott Uncertain Quantity. George Lott is rather an uncertain quantity. Wilmer Allison said to me concerning the Chicago star: “Lott always is good, but when he happens on one of his best days he is better than any tennis player I ever saw, barring Tilden at his height.” So, if Lott happens to get started right, he may possibly beat elther Cochet or Borotrs. The chances for any one beating Cochet are not good. I believe the “ball boy of Lyons” is the best tennis player in the world today— and I don't exclude Lacoste or an other man—but even Cochet isn't al- ‘ways at the top of his game. But Lott on a good day might very well beat Borotra, especially if the Basque is tired. ‘The only thing about Borotra is that he is & born showman and usually does his best when the stakes are highest. His countryman, Lacoste, usually can beat him, but I always have thought that Lacoste was a mental hasard to him. It doesn’t do much good bound about the court an op- ponent who gets the back with never failing control, a calmness that is nerve wracking, and the mechanical perfection of & machine. Playing Lacoste is like expending furlous energy knocking a ball ta brick wall. Your best efforts do not ap- pear to get you anywhere. Whatever La- coste’s malady, the United States play- ers must hope, a la Irvin Cobb, that, until the cup matches are over, it will prove nothing trivial. (Copyright, 1929, by North American N¢ Daper Alliance.) RCHARDS FAVORS FRENCH NET TEAN Sees Little Chance for U. S., Despite Lacoste’s Loss to Cup Holders. BY VINCENT RICHARDS, Professional Tennis Champion of the World. OT in a long while has the tennis world been so stirred as it is today on the eve of the challenge round match be- tween France and the United States for the Davis Cup. The youngest team sent to the firing line by America in years will face a French team weakened by the loss of one of its two aces. Whereas a few weeks ago it seemed that the United States did- not have a ghost of a chance, now the odds in Paris are sald to have dropped to 3 to 2. ‘The illness of Rene Lacoste and the selection of George Lott in place of Frank Hunter on the United States team have caused more excitement than anything that has happened in :n;m since France took the cup away 927. With Lacoste and Henri Cochet both in the fray there would presumably have been no question of the winner of the challenge round. But with La- coste out the United States has a sporting chance to regain the trophy. Borotra Great Player. However, I still belleve that France, despite her big loss, will keep the cup by the score of either 3 to 2 or 4 to 1. Jean Borotra, substituting for Lacoste, is & great player and beating him will be little easier than to beat Lacoste. I don’t believe either Tilden or Lott can beat Cochet and I give Tilden no more than an even chance against Borotra, while the bounding Basque ap- pears to have the edge over Lott. George hasn't played the tennis in Europe this year that he is capable of, partly because he arrived late, but he has it in him to rise to great heights and if he gets hot he is likely to beat anybody. I think the Davis Cup committee did well to select Lott for the singles, though it was a tough break for Hunter after his good work against Germany. Even if Lott doesn't win either of his singles he will gain valuable experience. Regarding the doubles, while Van Ryn and Allison play great tennis at times, as they showed in winning the Wimbledon title, I am not sure they have had enough experience to beat Borotra and Cochet. Borotra may find the strain too great to play both singles and doubles ‘and Brugnon may be sub- stituted. LIST 1930 POLO MATCH. England and the United States will meet at polo next year. It will be the second international series in three years for the United States, which met and defeated the Argentine team in 1928. TRIO IN MUNY PLAY MAKE SEMFFINALS Considine, Champion, Meet- ing Staubley Today to De- cide Fourth Player. 'HREE ground champlons, crowned yesterday, will figure in the semi-final round of the city- wide singles public parks net championship _tomorrow, in which & fourth, with still one round to go, will take his place before sundown y. Bob Considine, champion, is scheduled to face Alan Staubley for this fourth position at 4:30 this afternoon. Staubley last night staged the first major upset of the event when he de- feated Larry Phillips, seeded racketer, 6—3, 6—4. The match was played un- der the newly installed artificial lights and attracted a ry of some 400 people. It marked the initiation of open-air night tournament play in ‘Washington. Dooly Mitchell, crowned champion of the Potomac Park courts, yesterday by his disposal of Maurice Hoffman, 6—3, 6—1, will face Maurice O'Neil tomor- row in o) f the semi-final arguments. O'Neil advanced at the expense of Mus- coe Garnett yesterday in two hard- fought sets, closer than the net results in games would suggest, 6—3, 6—2. O'Nell is the Henry Park title winner. Shore Defeated Robinson. Prank Shore, District junior cham- scoring over Randy Robinson, 6—2, 6—0, won the Rock Creek cham- pionship and position in the semi-finals opposite the winner of the Considine- Staubley match today. Robinson had given Shore such & hard run in the Dis- trict tournament two weeks ago that a much closer contest was expected to re- sult from their second meeting. The junior ace was on top of his game, how- ever, while Randy was inclined to be erratic. Doubles play was to take the center of the stage today. The match promis- ing the most thrills is slated 1o go on the courts at 5 o'clock. (All matches now are being played at Monument Park) In this encounter Mitchell and Buchanan, defending champions, are to face Considine and Shepard. The former pair scored yesterday in the third round over Edge and Gould by a 6—3, 6—2 count. The latter downed Robinson and Shore, 6—3, 6—4. ‘Would End Play Sunday. Weather permitting, the committee plans to finish up the doubles Saturday afternoon and to play the singles title match on Sunday. Final matches in both classes will be three out of five sets. Han e trophies, presented by ‘The Evening Star last year to remain in competition until won by the same players for three years, will be awarded the champlons in singles as well as doublniuin addition to individual prizes. SINGLES. Fourth round—Alan Staubley defested Larry Phillips. 6—3. 6—4. arter ls_Frank Shore defoated Randy Roblnson, 63, &0, Meurics O Nell detealod Muscoe Garhert, 83 6 3: ‘Dool Mitchell defeated Maurics Hoftman, 6—1, DOUBLES. Becond_round—8eidell and Deck defeated Birch and Neale, 6—: 1; Edge an Gould _defeated Cos and_Goubesu, 3 6—4: Bob Considine and Shepard defeated Moncure and Pollard, 6—3, 6—3; Robinson and more defeated Jansen and partner by ‘Third_round—O'Neill and, maker de- feated Seidell and Deck, .—Z> itchell )d Buchanan defeated K d Gould, 6—3, 6-2; b Considine hepard de- feated Robinson and Shore, 6—3, POOR WORK FOR STARS. In the British amateur championship of 1908 two players halved the home hole in 9, the highest scoring for a national. ASHINGTON, D. C., THURSDAY, JULY 25, 19%9. BOROTRAANDLOTT T0 OPEN CUP PLAY Draw Throws Tilden Against Cochet in Second Clash in Challenge Round. By the Associated Press. ARIS, July 25.—George Lott for America and Jean Borbtra for France will open the Davis Cup finals tomorrow at 10:15 a.m., ac- cording to the draw today. Wil- lam T. Tilden will meet Henri Cochet at 4:30 p.m. PFriday. Doubles will be played Saturday. Sunday’s play will be a reversal of Friday's single matches, Tilden meet- ing Borotra at 2:30 p.m., and Cochet taking Lott on at 5 p.m. France Is Confident. France still is confident in the ability of her warriors to turn back the Amer- ican team, but predictions of a one- sided victory are few and far between. ‘The combination of youth and age on the American team has made a strong impression of strength on the French tennis experts, particularly the young doubles team of John Van Ryn and ‘Wilmer Allison. ‘These two youngsters, one from New . | Jersey, and the other from Texas, who have joined forces with such good re- sults, offer the most important ques- tion to be decided by Pierre Gillou, the noh-playing captain of the French team. Their brilliant performances in practice, together with their Wimbledon tri- umphs, have made them a combination to reckoned with when Gillou de- loys his forces on the field of Davis p battle. Yesterday they took on the world’s leading professional, Karel Kozeluh, and Martin Plaa, a star French pro, d walked calmly off with three sets in which they lost only three games. The result of that match was that Gillou called on his best doubles combi- nation, Jean Borotra and Henri Cochet, to prepare for action. “We shall take no chance in the doubles match,” the French captain commented. “You understand we have never seen those two kids here, while we are well acquainted with Tilden and Lott.” Lott Shows Foot Form. This statement reflects the whole French attitude. Tilden, as leader of the American forces, is a familiar figure, and the French tennis fans are well able to judge the chances of victory or defeat when their players meet him. George Lott, the young Chicagolan, who displaced Frank Hunter as the other American singles player, is like- wise a more or less familiar figure. Lott went a long way to justify his selection for the second singles post in yesterday's practice by taking a hard fought battle from his rival, Johnny Hennessey. ‘There is a possibility of a victory for Tilden, with Lott providing the ele- ment of doubt. The Chicago youngster, when at his best, is capable of forcing any one of France's musketeers to the limit and of defeating them if they make the least slip. When off his game, he is an easy victim for any of them, and Lott'’s game is a notably erratic affair. Given an even break on the first day's singles, the doubles encounter between the two American “kids” and the Prench team may turn the tide of the encounter. HORSES GET PROTECTION AT HAWTHORNE MEETING Chicago, July 25 (®)—The Haw-| thorne race track will be equipped with | a starting device, designed to prevent injuries at the post, during its 19-day meeting which starts August 3. The device has 14 padded and rein- forced stalls, open at both ends, and is placed behind the barrier. The harses are moved up into the stalls which it is planned, will prevent crowding and loss of alignment at the post. PLAYGROUND BOYS BUSY WITH MEETS - Conference Teams Com- pete Today and Tomor- row—Hayes Surprises. OY athletes from 12 playgrounds will compete in the Northern |bedy Conference track meet tomor- Tow afternoon on the Iowa Ave- nue Playground, starting at 2:30 o'clock. It will be one of the series of meets being conducted by the Municipal Playground Department pre- liminary to the city championship games Wednesday, August 21, on the Plaza track. The playgrounds to be represented are John Burroughs, Co- lumbia Heights, Iowa Avenue, Park View, Phillips. Takoma, Twin Oaks, Barnard, Brookland, Brightwood, Trues- dale and Tenth and Evarts street. Iowa Avenue won the meet last year and is | bod: glven & good chance to again triumph. Garfield athletes were out to repeat their 1928 victory this afternoon in the Southeast Conference meet on the Vir- ginia Avenue Playground. In addition to Garfleld these teams were to com- pete: Hoover, Virginia Avenue, Van Ness. Buchanan, Wallach, Congress Heights, Fairbrother, Ketcham, Orr and Stanton. Hayes Playground surprised vester- day by romping away with the Mid-City Conference on the Plaza track, scoring 721, points to 441 for the second-place Peabody combination. | Emery was third with 325-6 points. Bloomingdale and Plaza, 1928 champion, tied for fourth, each with 141-3 points. Outstanding performers were Pear- son of Bloomingdale; Eisinger of Pea- body and E. Smith of Hayes, each of whom scored 10 points. ‘Summaries: 70-POUND_CLASS. 50-yard dash. Won by C. Lastise (P (Hayes): triple tie for third mery). Mahoney (Blooming- CimB won by _Boyl us n y! Vermillion " (Hazes); " Farrell body); B. Boyle o White' E: 35.POUND CLASS. 4 dash_Won by P T G Eaiin (Hayen). & broad jump—Won b: ale); Smith (Hayes unning | (Bloor oot 1e) . minge (Bloomingds Ruoning high jump—wWon by E. Glsza (Peabody); Puchs (Bloomingdale): “tie for third place between Lanhorn (Ludlow) and D yary Telay—Won by Hayes (Gibs -yard relay—Won by Haye on, Strictland, hlllt‘lf. Eslin); Emery; Peabody. 100-POUND CLASS. h—Won by Smith (Hayes); ; Mackessy (Emery). broad jump—Won by E._Smith Cassidy (Emory): Bardo (Hayes). jump—Won by L. Glaze mery): tie for third Wood (Pea- by Hayes on (Bmith, : Emery: Peabody. Riley, Barber) son, Mahoney, Sullivan, Boucher): Emery. UNLIMITED CLASS. 100-yard dash—Won by Eisinger (Pea- ody): J. Blenco (Peabody: Payne (Emery). | Running broad jump—Won by Nuthall; Hi ): Mahoney (Haye: Payne (Emery) nni; high jump-—Won y Meehn Brown (Peabody); Blenco (Pea- by _Eisinger (Pea- body); Farrell (Emery) b ody (J. | 440-vard relay—Won by Peal Blenco, Clasell, Brown, Eisinger); Haves; mery. HELEN WILLS WINS OVER | BETTY NUTHALL ON BOAT | NEW YORK, July 25 (#).—A wireless message from the steamship Aquitania | told of the victory of Helen Wills over | Betty Nuthall, English champion, in an exhibition game of deck tennis aboard the liner. The message read: “Hundreds of passengers, including members of the British Wightman Cup | tennis team, watched Helen Wills de- feat Betty Nuthall, 6—2, 6—2, in an exhibition game of deck tennis on the Aquitania today. Capt. Diggle, com- mander of the Aquitania, was the referee. ‘Play you again in regular BRITISH TRACK MEN SAIL FOR ENGLAND By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, July 25—Before depart- ing for home, 'from whence nine mem- bers will leave for South Africa and further competition, 20 members of the Oxford-Cambridge track and field team were guests at a farewell luncheon given yesterday by the British Commonwealth Club. The visiting collegians sailed later for England Upon their arrival home nine of the athletes will continue on to South Airi~ ca, where they are booked for several meets. In two meets in this country the Brit- ish forces lost to Harvard-Yaie at Cani- bridge and to Cornell-Princeton at Travers Island. The Cornell and Prince- ton athletes will continue the interna- tional intercollegiate competition by going to England next year. BRITISH TENNIS STARS ARE TO WEAR BLAZERS NEW YORK, July 25.—Six members of Great Britain’s Wightman Cup tennis team, which will compete in the inter- national team match for women here next month, will arrive in the United States Friday. ‘The members of the invading squad are Betty Nuthall, Mrs. M. Watson, Mrs. " . C. Michell, Mrs. W. T. Shepard Baron, Mrs. Arthur Green and Mrs. B. C. Covell The trophy defenders will appear in the big match for the first time equip- ped with an official blazer. The jacket, designed by Mrs. Green, a former Wimbledon champion, playing under the name of Miss D. Boothby, is of white cloth with silver buttons; on the - | breast pocket is the Union Jack, with crossed racquets and the year, 1929, underneath. DEMPSEY HAS BUSY YEAR. Jack Dempsey fought six times in 1919. He scored five one-round knock- outs and in the sixth scrap stopped tennis soon,’ was Helen's good-by to Betty.” Jess Willard, the champion, in three Tounds. e (ESSEX SUPER EN The Pierpont Motor Company recommends AMOCO-GAS:to all customers and uses it in all personal and demonstration cars, it means something. For this company is one of the largest Hudson-Essex dealers in the country. 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