King Don II

Last July, when Oklahoma's 22-year-old Donald McNeill won the National Intercollegiate Tennis Championship, U. S. fans chorused: "Watch McNeill!" McNeill had twice beaten Germany's Baron Gottfried von Cramm in Europe last year. He had won the French Hard Court Championship, trouncing U. S. Champion Bobby Riggs in straight sets in the final. Twice again this year, McNeill had outplayed Riggs--to win New Orleans' Sugar Bowl tournament and the U. S. Clay Court Championship. No Don Budge, he was nevertheless the most aggressive player U. S. fans had seen since King Don abdicated the amateur title two years ago.

During the big-time grass-court tournaments this summer, solemn, steady Don McNeill, an honor student at Kenyon College, was overshadowed by long-legged, happy-go-lucky Frank Kovacs, a California comet whose spectacular shots and silly monkeyshines made him a favorite with the galleries. But last week, in the National Singles at Forest Hills, L. I., Don McNeill came into his own.

While Kovacs, more intent on horse play than tennis, was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Annapolis Midshipman Joe Hunt, McNeill streaked through to the final -- beating along the way young Jack Kramer, the boy wonder of this year's tournament, who had defeated, earlier in the week, Topnotchers Gilbert Hunt, Edward Alloo, Sidney Wood, Henry Prusoff, Frankie Parker.

With a crowd of 7,000 pulling for him, McNeill faced Champion Riggs in the final. Riggs is a tough opponent to meet when the chips are down. And everyone knew that the champ, rated world's No. 1 amateur, was eager to win the U. S. title again this year to enhance his prestige as a potential partner for Don Budge on a professional tennis tour. But McNeill does not scare easily. After taking a sound thwacking for two sets, he sprang from behind, unleashed his formidable net at tack, dominated the court, finally dethroned the champion, 4-6, 6-8, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5.

In the Women's Singles, sturdy Alice Marble, undefeated in 27 consecutive tournaments, breezed through to the final without losing a set, drubbed onetime Champion Helen Jacobs, 6-2, 6-3, to win her third U. S. Singles Championship.

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