Sport: Tennis Tourists

Last year it was Henri Cochet and Ellsworth Vines. Last week William Tatem Tilden II and his promoter William O’Brien had a new attraction for their annual tennis tour: the ”best doubles team in the world,” George Lott & Lester Stoefen.

The tour opened in Manhattan. Lean, spidery, baldish but still as spry as ever, Tilden started the evening by beating Lott at singles. At doubles, Lott & Stoefen won the first two sets, the second 16-14. Apparently exhausted, Tilden suddenly came to life, helped his partner Vines pull out the third set, 13-11. What happened then amazed a crowd of 15,000 who were getting ready to go home before midnight. Knowing as well as Promoter O’Brien that a victory for Lott & Stoefen would help the tour’s gate receipts, Tilden & Vines suddenly became invincible, smashed through the next two sets, won the match 3-6, 14-16, 13-11, 8-6, 6-4. It was the longest professional tennis match on record, 14 games longer than one in which Vines nosed out Tilden in Los Angeles last year. Still fresh after it was over, Tilden and Vines repeated their victory in Philadelphia the next night and Washington the following night, lost in Pittsburgh night later. At singles, Vines beat Stoefen regularly.

Applauding Tilden for his endurance, Vines for his bulletlike speed, tennis critics last week were favorably impressed by Lott & Stoefen. Given time to grow accustomed to canvas-covered courts, indoor lights, the behavior of spectators who do not feel obliged to remember their good manners. Lott & Stoefen may yet win a majority of their matches on the current tour. Like last year’s, it will last 15 weeks, play in 74 cities. Next fortnight’s billings: Boston, Providence, New Haven, Cleveland, Detroit, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Chicago, St. Louis.

In Melbourne last week Britain’s Fred Perry, currently the world’s No. 1 tennist, lost to Jack Crawford in the final of the Australian championship, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. Said Perry, after the match: “This may be the last time Crawford and I will meet.” Newshawks were quick to sense the implication: when Tilden’s tour starts next year, Perry may be star attraction.