WHO ARE LEADERS IN TENNIS LIST?

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18621, 24 November 1928, Page 7

WHO ARE LEADERS IN TENNIS LIST?

AMATEUR TEAM MAY PLAY PROFESSIONALS IN NEAR FUTURE. ( Written for the “ Star " by VINC'BNT RICHARDS. L T .S. Professional Tennis Champion.) With the ending of the United States National Singles Championship at Forest Hills the amateur lawn tennis season caine virtually to a close. It is exceptionally difficult to pick a first ten, representing the players of the world, this year. Never has there been a season with so many upsets in tournament play. Only one player stands out above all the others, and he is Cochet, winner not only of the- national singles championship, but hero of the Davis Cup challenge round in Paris. My selections for two first tens, one amateur and the other professional, follow:

AMATEUR PROFESSIONAL 1. Henri Cochet. 1. Karel Kozeluh 2. Rene Lacoste. 2. V. Richards 3. W. T. Tilden 3. H. Kinsey 4. F. T. Hunter. 4. Albert Burke. 5. George Lott. 5. R. Najuch 6. J. Hennessey 6. H. Snodgrass 7. J. Crawford. 7. Negro. 8. H. W. Austin. 8. Paul Heston. 9. Bn. Morpurgo 9. Charles Wood. 10. Jack Hawkcs. 10. Richler or Tommy Burke, I won’t attempt to rank the first ten in the United States for the simple reason that there were so many upsets while I was abroad that I couldn’t keep track of them all. It seems certain, however, that with the barring of Tilden from amateur play that No. 1 position among United States players would go automatically go to Hunter, finalist in the national singles championship. Hunter had two or three bad defeats in early season play, but it is likely the ranking committee will overlook those as a result of his sterling performance in the national championship. Lacoste won at Wimbledon, but he was beaten in the challenge round by. Tilden, who in turn lost to Cochet in three straight sets. Cochet gets the preference over Lacoste for world first place because he won the national championship at Forest Hills. Tilden, of course, did not compete in the late season play, but his record in the early summer, together with his victory over Lacoste, gives him the right to third place. In ranking the first ten among the professionals I admit a little guess work is in order. All the professional players do not compete in the national championship at Forest Hills. A world professional championship in the United States or in Europe unquestionably would change this ranking considerably: It is interesting to place the two rankings side by side, for the question naturally comes to mind what would happen if a team, match were played between the first ten in amateur tennis and the first ten in the professional ranks ? Undoubtedly the day is not far distant when this match will take place just as surely as the day is not far away when an open championship will be held in every country' in the world. (Copyright 1928 by the “Star” and N.A.N.A.). . .