Lawn Tennis Notes

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 102, 27 October 1934, Page 22

Lawn Tennis Notes

By "Drive."

WORLD'S FIRST TEN CHOSEN

CRAWFORD IS STIIJ, THE GREATER ARTIST

Major events on which are based international classification are finished, writes Wullis Myers in the "Daily Telegraph." What comes next cannot disturb precedence. Here are the- world's first ton for 1934:— 1. F. J. Perry (England). 2. .1. H. Crawford (Australia). ;i. (;. yon Cramm (Germany). 4. H. W. Austin (England). 5. W. Allison (United States). «. S. B. Wood tUnited States). 7. It. IMenzel (Czechoslovakia). 8. F. X. Shields (United States), n. G. De Stefani (Italy). 10. C. Boussus (France). Perry is indubitably- the man of the year. He has been crowned in threo continents, which is a unique record. Crawford won three big titles last year, but two were in Europe. The Australian got a little slam. Perry has achieved a grand slam. Moreover, ho has beaten Crawford in three championship finals. Crawford may still be a greater artist, than Perry. His play may delight the spectator's eyo more and feed his braiu more; but the Englishman lias proved himself better conditioned, richer in stamina, and a greater fifth-set fighter.

Yet Crawford only missed the French championship by one point. Had he

played less, his faultless technique might have been vindicated. The champion of 1933 deserves second place. Yon Oramm, the first player to hold the French and German championships in the same year, rises from ninth to third place. He won the French title in a field that included Perry, Crawford, and Austin. The German was handicapped at 'Wimbledon, by illness, but has all the attributcs"o£ a groat match player, and has no stroke weakness.

Austin is better in team matches

than in championships. Only losing ono set in the Davis Cup challenge round, ho struck a gallant, and perhaps a decisive, blow for England. Ho Jost to Boussus iv Paris and to Shields at Wimbledon, but if it were possible' for him to meet Perry in a Davis Cu.p match I would support his chances.

Allison returns to the first ten by virtue of his splendid effort at Forest Hills, where he beat Stoefen and Wood and carried Perry to the fourteenth game of the fifth sot. Ho will be ranked No. 1 in America this year, and is certain of a place in his country's challenging team next summer.

Menzel and De Stefani are newcomers to tho list. Both have been knocking at the door for several years past. The Czech champion beat Crawford at Prague and threatened Perry at Wimbledon. He is "temperamenzel," if the pun may bo excused, but possesses several of Tilden's qualities, including •

pugnacious vigour. The Italian champion has beaten Perry and Menzel. Christian Boussus comes back to the list and is faithfully holding the French flag. His compatriot, A. Merlin, has conquered Crawford, but his inclusion must wait. \ V. G. McGrath has stronger claims, but his game outside Australia at present lacks stability. Stoefen is another player certain to rise, and Kirby may well make the first ten soon.