1940: Tennis

Despite the fact that the war in Europe brought international competition to almost a complete standstill and compelled the cancellation of the British and French championships, lawn tennis enjoyed a healthy season in the United States in 1940.

There was no play for the Davis Cup, and Australia, which won the cup from the United States in 1939, remained in possession of the trophy without defending it. Similarly, the women's Wightman Cup matches between Great Britain and the United States were called off, and the United States retained possession. The only big foreign championship which was conducted was the Australian. John Bromwich, the ambidextrous favorite, met with a surprising defeat at the hands of the veteran Jack Crawford in the semifinals, and Adrian Quist won from Grawford in the final to become the new champion.

No player set foot on the priceless turf of Wimbledon. Instead, the premises were given over to the raising of pigs, as an emergency war measure. The tennis world was saddened to learn that Wimbledon was not spared by the bombing planes and suffered considerable damage.

The cancellation of the Davis Cup matches and the absence of outstanding men players from overseas was expected to blight interest in tennis in the United States, but the quality of the play was good and the attendance held up unusually well, both in the invitation turf court fixtures and in the championships.

A new champion succeeded Robert L. Riggs Jr. in the men's division, while Miss Alice Marble retained her women's crown, remaining invincible in both singles and doubles throughout the season and going through the all-comers at Forest Hills without the loss of a set. In the final of the men's tournament, Donald McNeill of Oklahoma City and Kenyon College defeated Riggs after yielding the first two sets.

In a thrilling finish to a match that had been lacking in distinction for the most part, the 22-year-old McNeill played brilliantly to overcome the obstinate resistance of the defender, who was the victim of two damaging decisions in the late stages. Both McNeill and Riggs had played much better tennis in other tournaments than they did in the championship. Riggs was still feeling the effects of a cold when he met McNeill and also of his exhausting five-set match in the semifinals with Joe Hunt, the best of the tournament.

McNeill's other conquests for the season included the national clay court and intercollegiate championships and the Newport and Southampton invitation tournaments. He lost to Riggs in the national indoor, the Pacific Southwest and the Eastern turf court championships.

Features of the national championship were the excellent play of Hunt and of John Kramer, the 19-year-old Californian. Kramer defeated Frank Parker, Henry Prusoff, Sidney Wood and Gilbert Hunt before losing to McNeill in four sets, and he also won the national doubles with Frederick (Ted) Schroeder of California, the youngest team within memory to come to the crown.

Joe Hunt and Frank Kovacs of California were parties to the first sit-down strike in tennis history. Kovacs, who played some of the most remarkable tennis ever seen in losing to Riggs in the final at Seabright and in defeating him in the semifinals at Southampton, was given to clowning antics. Hunt was so upset by the disturbance in the stands created by these antics at Forest Hills that he requested the umpire to appeal to the gallery for silence. The umpire declined to do so, and when the noise continued Hunt sat down on the court to wait for it to abate. Kovacs followed his example, and it was several minutes before the play was resumed, Hunt winning in three sets to reverse the result of their semifinal meeting at Newport.

Miss Marble defeated Miss Helen Jacobs in the final of the women's championship by a crushing margin to win her fourth title. She and Miss Sarah Palfrey (now Mrs. Elwood Cooke) retained the women's doubles crowns.

Miss Louise Brough of California won the girls' national championship and Robert Carrothers of California won the junior championship. The tennis world was shocked by the tragic death of Carrothers in an automobile accident at the close of the season.

Amateur tennis said farewell to Miss Marble and to Miss Mary Hardwick of Great Britain in the fall. Miss Marble signed a contract to go on a professional tennis tour in 1941 and Miss Hardwick, who played through the American season with Miss Valerie Scott, Miss Nina Brown and Miss Rita Jarvis, all of Great Britain, signed up for the tour also with the purpose of contributing to British war relief.

Donald Budge, who, with William Tilden, was signed for the same tour, won the American professional crown. He defeated Fred Perry in the final.