By Randy Walker
Do tennis and politics mix?
Who is supporting Mitt Romney? Who is supporting President Obama?
Those endorsements among American tennis players haven’t been in wide circulation, but back in 1928 legendary tennis champion Helen Wills made it very clear to that she was supporting the Republican Herbert Hoover over Democrat Al Smith in the Presidential election. It was 84 years ago today that Wills, fresh off her endorsement of the Hoover, who would win the election in a landslide, won her fifth U.S. singles title, as documented below in my book ON THIS DAY IN TENNIS HISTORY ($19.95, New Chapter Press, www.TennisHistoryBook.com)
August 27, 1928 – Helen Wills, fresh off her public announcement that she is supporting Republican candidate Herbert Hoover for President, needs only 33 minutes to win her fifth U.S. women’s singles title, defeating Helen Jacobs 6-2, 6-1 in the final. Wills wins the tournament without the loss of a set and with the loss of only 13 games en route to the title. The win also cements her sweep of the U.S., Wimbledon and French titles for the first of two straight years. Wills also wins Wimbledon and French without losing a set. New York Times tennis writer Allison Danzig calls Wills’ performance as “the most devastating power ever applied to a tennis ball by a woman.” In a press announcement the day before the final, Wills is named by the Hoover campaign as the head of his women’s sports committee. A statement from Wills is read at the public announcement where Wills states, “All youth can admire Herbert Hoover because of his sincerity, intelligence and great industry. His achievements in the past have been marked with success because of his ability for organization and his wonderful powers of perseverance.” Wills goes on to win two more U.S. titles (1929, 1931), while Hoover goes on to win a landslide victory of Democrat Al Smith in the Presidential election.