LAWN TENNIS REVIEW.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 237, 7 October 1933, Page 4 (Supplement)

LAWN TENNIS REVIEW.

The Amateur Laurels—Threat of Japan—Opinion of Fred Perry—The Professional Syndicate — Plans in Prospect—lf Vines Had Retained His American Title—Miss Nuthall's Great Recovery.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

Our San Francisco correspondent quotes Fred Perry, hero of England's Davis Cup win and winner of the U.S.A. singles championship, in an interesting survey of next year's Davis Cup possibilities. He further gives the text of a statement by an American writer, credited with being usually well informed, on the plans which had been laid for a professional organiser's drive into the ranks of the amateur tennis stars. This indicates that the drive was dependent on Vines winning the U.S.A. title, an event which did not come off. Another feature of the budget is the story of Betty Nuthall's marvellous recovery in the U.S.A. women's singles semi-final, prior to her final defeat by Miss Jacobs.

SAX FRANCISCO, August 22. Frederick J. Perry, beau sabreur of the victorious English Davis Cup team, has been considerably interviewed ever since his arrival in the LTi:ited States during tho present campaign of the British contingent in search of further world laurels.

He was cornered at the Westchester Country Club at live, New York, by a party of news gatherers, stretched his long legs, lit a long pipe, took a long breath, settled down in an easy chair in his room, and said: "Gentlemen of the I'rcss, what can Frederick J. Berry do for you '! " Ho was asked to settle, once and for all, the argument regarding his turning professional. Was it true be had received tempting offers, and planned to join up with a troupe that would include Kllsworth Vines, Henri Coehet, Jack Crawford, and Bunny Austin?

" Oct out your pencils and pad*, gentlemen. All set? Okeli, here's your answer to that one. Frederick .J. Perry is not interested in professionalism. He has received ofl'ers, yes, but to those who would tempt him from the straight and Harrow he had but one reply, ' i will talk of pink elephants and pink pills for pale people, but when professionalism is mentioned please let us go out into the garden and gather a bouquet of fragrant forget-me-nots.' "

This settled, Perry was asked about the recent Davis Cup play.

" What do you want to know about tho Davie Cup? Why America lost? Well, in my opinion they lost because they talked so much about winning it.. They never considered the possibility they might not come through. As for next year, who knows-? Certainly the fact that the challenge round will be played on Wimbledon's grass courts makes it tougher for us. You see, your fellows do their best on grass, and so do the Australians and Japanese. The " Yellow Peril." "Speaking of Japanese, they look like the 'yellow peril' to me. This Satoh is a truly great, player, and Xunoi is almost as good. If you think I'm fooling about Satoh, look in the books and see what that little fellow did. He whipped me at Paris in the French championships, and disposed of Austin at Wimbledon. If Xunoi improves a little they'll be tough to beat.''

" Once Vines has been wooed to the ranks of cash crusading, declares the informer, who refuses to be quoted, many other amateur stars will follow in his footsteps. Such an event would insure the holding of an open tournament, and establish professional tennis as a serious contender to the simon-pure pastime. " ' And don't be fooled about Vines' defeat in Davis Cup plav,' he said. 'lie was in good physical shape, all right, but the mental strain was too much for him. A fortune as a professional awaited him. If he failed all that wealth would be jeopardised. Vines talked big money with Coehet just before the inter/.one series. Now that he is married he feels his responsibilities. But lie could not stand up under the pressure. Worrying about his financial future beat him long before Crawford, l'crry, and Austin finished the job.'

"Nines, after competing in 1111 <\\hibition match during the Kustern turf court championships at the Westchester Conntry (.'lull, denied all, a* his amateur status requires him to do. He did admit, however, that Cochet was contemplating professionalism, and said a tour with Cochet, Crawford and Perry would not lie a 'had idea, if advance expenses could lie obtained.' Made No Secret. "When lie returned from his latest European jaunt, Vines made no secret of his willingness to turn professional if offered the right kind of cash inducement. lie insisted Tilden had not made him a 100,(100 dollar offer, and qualified that statement by declaring he would seriousiv consider half that amount.

"Like many of his contemporaries, Vines is slightly fed up and hopes to clean up before the golden opportunity has vanished.

Forrv could see no reasons for the citizens oi' this country blaming Vines and Allison and Captain Bernon Prentice for failing to win the Davis Cup. " In tennis, like in every other sport, players have their hot days and their cold days. When a No. 1 man is a little off his game it is easy for him to fall before a So. .'5 man, say. After all, a man capable of earning a Xo. :i place is no chump. Chump— that's the word, isn't it?"

Directly after tlia interview with the British king of tennis, there appeared in Xew York an illuminating article on the subject of tennis by that versatile writer on sporting subjects, James A. Burchard, in the following terms: —"If Ellsworth Vines repairs his damaged prestige by successfully' defending his national singles championship in September, the" four outstanding amateur tennis players of the world may join Big Bill Tilden in the professional fold, and, following a lengthy exhibition campaign, inaugurate a professional trophy competition°similar to the present Davis Cup eliminations.

" The prayers contemplating the big jump, it was learned from a tennis authority well qualified to speak on the subject, are Ellsworth \ ines, Henri Cochet, Fred. Perry, and Jack Crawford. These racquet kings of the United States, France, England, and Australia, he asserted, discussed professional plans in Paris, but Vines' crushing reversals necessitated a temporary adjournment. Hear Siren's Call. " Failure of Vines to retain his national singles crown, and thus rebuild himself into a banner gate attraction, undoubtedly would postpone any action for another year at least. With Tilden's popularity waning, professional tennis needs Vines as its principal magnet in America.

"With both Perry and Crawford scheduled to compete in the United States singles championships, the opportunity of continuing the Paris discussions will bo afforded those concerned, with Tilden batting for Cochet. .Meanwhile amateur chieftains will sit tight and hope for the best.

"Perry never will bo in a more strategic spot for a fiiiiUK'inl clean-up, for lie tho hero of Britain's Davis Cup triirtnpli. Crawford, supreme all season, would lie certain to attract sizeable gatherings both here and on the Continent. Cochet must turn professional soon or not at all. The leg-end of his invincibility is ended, but opposed to Crawford, Vines or Tilden. lie is still a labourer worthy of his hire. Now it is nil up to Vines. If he flops again his professional worth will be ruined indefinitely. Big Bill will be his strongest rooter when he defends his American laurel*." Betty Nuthall's Triumph. That colourful British tennis queen .Mi Betty Xuthall has won the plaudits of all America by reason of a dazzling victory when on the point of defeat in participating in the United States lawn tennis championships at Forest Hills, Xew York.

Bounding Betty proved herself to be the greatest tennis lighter in the whole world, judged by the praises of her sung in the American Press, and the 8000 who witnessed her steal victory from apparent irretrievable defeat, obtained a series of thrills which will linger in America for nianv veais.

Betty, along with Mrs. Helen Wills Moody, the world's champion, won her quarter-final match, when she beat the blonde California champion. Alice Marble, of San Francisco, o—B, o—o. 7 —while Queen Helen was toying with .Mary Heelev, of the British forces, o—o. o—2.

But the story is how Betty, faced with defeat in the final set, given up by the crowd, pulled back from the brink with a grand display of courage and went on to defeat Miss Marble, regarded as the finest of the United States' younger crop of players. The oldest regulars around the Press marque at Forest Hills could recall nothing to compare with the comeback of Betty.

The drama was wrapped up in the final set, after Miss Marble had won the first, a long, bitterly-fought affair, and Miss Xuthall had captured the second without the loss of a game to square the match.

Dramatic Comeback. Returning for tlio third set, tlie tall American girl flashed a. superb brand of tennis to befuddle Miss Nuthall and win five of the first six games. She was playing marvellous tennis, and she required only one more victory to clinch the set and the match.

No one would have given sixpence for Betty's chances at that juncture. They would have given even less a few seconds later when Alice, behind her powerful service, ran the count to 40-15, one point from victory; two chances to get it. And that was when Betty chose to put on her own private show. The first point Miss Marble batted into the net after a long rally. On the second Betty passed her with a clean placement to deuce the game. She won tlio next two points as well, to win the panic. She won the next five consecutive games. She won the set, 7—5, and the match, and the lasting admiration of a, wildly enthusiastic crowd 3000 miles from home.

The crowd scarcely coukl believe its eyes as Betty, putting everything she had behind every stroke, and not considering caution for a minute, slowly cut down Miss Marble's seemingly safe lead. In the tenth game the American girl .again was at match point on one occasion, only to double fault in ncss. That was the last chance she had. The final game of the match saw Miss Marble turned back without _ a point on her own service, and her service is one of the fastest in the world. She tossed her racquet into the air as the deciding point, a clean placement, whizzed past. The match required an hour and a half to reach a decision.