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The Wimbledon gallery looked forward to an all-American final, like last year's when Tilden beat Wilmer Allison, like the finals in 1923 when California's little William Johnston defeated Frank Hunter. WTood, who divides his time between New York and California, justified comparison with Johnston. Slight, delicate, with big forearms and incongruous stamina, he plays a heady game, often loses a set or two while experimenting with his oppo nent's weaknesses. As was Johnston's, his best shot is his forehand though until this year it was so undependable that he made j a habit of borrowing his friends' rackets, taking lessons, practicing against a wall when the trick deserted him. Two of his uncles are Watson Washburn, 19 21 Davis Cup player, and Julian S. Myrick, onetime (1920-22) president of the U. S. L. T. A.
Shields is Wood's best friend. Last year they were classmates at Roxbury School. Shields has often invited comparison with Tilden whom he resembles in build and technique rather than temperament. His game, less artful than Wood's, has some times seemed less determined; but his strokes, now that Tilden has turned pro fessional, are the most impressive in U. S. amateur tennis. Till this year his con viviality, his susceptibility to admiration, have made it appear unlikely that he would turn his potentialities into a championship. Aged 21, a year older than Wood, Shields started to play tennis at 8, has since found time to become good at basketball, bridge, poker. He practices five or more hours a day, diets carefully and cuts down his smoking in the tennis season which, for him, is nearly all the time.
Teamed together in the doubles, Wood & Shields lost their match to Henri Cochet and Jacques Brugnon the day after the singles semifinals. Shields, because he found his leg still hurt badly, then de faulted the singles to Wood. Wood thus became the youngest of all Wimbledon champions, the only man in Wimbledon's 54 years who has won without playing in the finals.
Disappointed but not resentful, the knowing Wimbledon gallery was only partly recompensed by the phenomenon of a final in the women's singles champion ship between two sprightly German girls, the first all-German final on record. Long legged Fräulein Hilda Krahwinkel, who hits her drives hard and never gets tired of running, had won a long match against Helen Jacobs of the U. S. after Helen Jacobs had surprisingly beaten England's Betty Nuthall. The other, Fraulein Cecilie ("Cilly") Aussem, a demure little brunette who played well in the French champion ships last month, decided to take no chances. They stood as far back in the court as possible, banged the ball until | one put it out or in the net. Fräulein ! Krahwinkel hit the ball harder, hit it out or in the net more frequently. Fräulein Aussem, wearing an eyeshade and a pre occupied air, looked a little like Mrs. Helen Wills Moody. She won the first set, 6-2, fell down hard in the second but finally won that also, 7-5.