NOW MR. TILDEN

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 31, 6 February 1937, Page 11 (Supplement)

NOW MR. TILDEN

NOT JUST PLAIN “BILL” PLANS FOR THE FUTURE HIGH OPINION OF VON GRAMM William Tatem Tilden 2nd, his long head popping out of a big b.ue blanket, made plans on Cnristmas Eve for his seventh year as a tennis professional. He has a new cast of characters and limitless confidence in the future of professional tennis. “You know, professional tennis has progressed to the point where they introduce me as Mr. Tilden now,” he beamed. “They used to call me plain Bill.” Most interesting newcomes in the Tilden troupe is Tyotaro Satoh, a sports writer from Tokyo. Satoh says he hopes to be another Tilden, a Japanese Tilden. He is 30 years old and admits that he should iiave started earlier, but he has hopes nevertheless. Other members of the troupe will be Vinnie Richards, Martin Plaa of France, and Al Chapin. “We’ve always taken only four players before,” Tilden explained. Also in the party will be a manager, a ball boy, 1000 pounds of canvas court and a few new posts. After the tour is finished in the spring Tilden and Satoh will go to England to compete in the world’s professional championship in May. Tilden has no regrets about his professional venture and experience. “I wish 1 had turned pro long before I did,” he says. He is still hoping that the amateur tennis authorities will one day sanction an open tournament between pros and amateurs, but he’s not doing much crusading for it. “They’ll have to do something, though. Von Cramm, Budge and Borotra are the only amateurs in the world to-day with any real colour,*' he said. He rates Baron von Cramm of Germany as the world’s best amateur, with Don Budge of Oakland, Calif., not far behind.