TENNIS CHAMPION

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 45, 17 November 1920, Page 7

TENNIS CHAMPION

TILDEN "NOT A WONDER" GERALD;PATTERSON INTERVIEWED The ex-world's lawn tennis champion, G. L. Patterson, who has returned to Australia -after an unsuccessful mission to Wimbledon in defence of his title, has commenced his preparations for a second meeting with his vanquisher, W. T. Tilden, who will be the mainstay of tho American team that ha 6 challenged Australia's right to hold tho Davis Cup and title of "champion nation." Commenting on his defeat at Wimbledon, Patterson told a representative of the "Ago" that from an international standpoint the challenge match for the • -world's championship was a- poor game, though there was no gainsaying the skill and thoroughness of liis opponent's versatile nnd somewhat disconcerting methods.; Asked how the match compared with tlio 191!) challenge contest, Patterson said that lie did not acrjuit himself as well as in his match against Norman Brookes in the previous year, and did not reach the same standard of' excellence. "I certainly did not play as well ut Wimbledon es I am playing this nflemoon," said Patterson, after encounters with P. O'Hara Wood and R. W. Heath. "1 have copied Tilden's footwork and body swing in what I consider a rnorj powerful and more certain delivery of. tho serviro. which also improves tho effectiveness of overhead work in smashing the 'floaters.' Tilden hns been dubbed in his own country 'America's best bet' for the 'forthcoming Davis iCup ' contests. He certainly is our most dangerous opponent, and with W. H. Johnston —a more dependable if less brilliant" player—will make a formidable pair that will tax all the resources of Norman Brookes and Australia's next best to ward off defeat in defending the 'champion nation' title. Tilden is a star player with meteoric moments, but is not the wonder lie is acclaimed ill the American Press. Ho had a tough tussle in the eliminating matches at Wimbledon to get the better of Randolph Lycett —a. Victorian flayer not Reckoned a top-notch'er singles' in Australia, though undoubtedly a brilliant doubhw player. Tilden only scraped home in this match at 7—5, 4—o, C—l, 7—5. He had oven a closer call in tho match he won against Itingscote at 6 —3.' 5—7, G—t. 5—7, G—3, and in the semi-final round tho Japanese player Shimidzu extended him to (>—!, G—l, 13—11',. before acknowledsinn defeat. "Tilden stands over (i feet and -weighs 11 etonc._ He has great mobility and A fine equipment of winning strokes, but. is occasionally unsafe off the ground. He can impart considerable drag to the ball, and hits very hard on the forehand. At the net his reach nnd mobilitv enable him to volley in brilliant style. His first service is usually very fast and straight, vrhie the second, which comes after a. pause with startling suddenness, bo til ..'jumps' aiuLbrenks. Ho has dis"H'iHl stereotyped methods ii> 'mixing' his'game, and is not lacking in enterhis a t times spectacular overhead work." | Gerald Patterson and Norman Brookes will practise assiduously together in preparing for the Victorian championships and the Davis Cup match. G. Ollivier, of Now Zealand; P. O'Hara Wood, „T. B. Hawkeß, and fi. W. Heath liftvo also entered the lists of candidates for selection in the Davis Cup team. J'. 0. Anderson, of Sydney, who was a member of last year's Australasian team that successfully defended the Davis Clip, is unable to go to Melbourne -to practise with his former ow ing •to illness, but n contingent of six Now South Walos players were to go io '.Melbourne to show their paces. Norman Brookes is tho Ale selector of. the Australasian Davis Cup team. THE AMERICAN THAM. (Rec. November IG, 11.25 p.m.) . Vancouver, November 15. The American Davis Cup tev.ii has jet't by tho Niagara, which sailed for Auckland w-day— Aus.-N.Z. Cable-Assn. VICTORIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS POSTPONED. \ Melbourne, November 16.* 'Heavy rain Hooded tho tennis courts and necessitated the postponement of the Victorian championships for two days. All previous Australian records have been eclipsed by tho number of cnt-ies, which total 810. This means close on n thousand mutohos. H. Rice, who captained Now South Wales In the inter-State match, is joining forces with Ollivior, of Chrlslcburch, for tlio Davis Cup trials.— 1 Aus.-N.Z, Cabl« Aran, i