DAVIS CUP.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 166, 12 July 1912, Page 5

DAVIS CUP.

FIRST BLOOD FOR ENGLAND. DIXON BEATS DECUGIS. (Received 12.5 p.m.) LONDON. July 11. In the preliminary round for the Davis Cup at Folkestone, C. P.Dixon (England) brilliantly defeated Decugis (France), 6 —3, 6—2. G—4. Late in the afternoon Gobert beat Gore, B— i, 4— 6—3, o—3. The challenging nations for the Davis Cup this year are England, France, and America. 'The draw 'has pitted England against France in the preliminary tie, and gives America the bye. America is presumably going to meet the -winner to decide whreh nation shall challenge Australasia for the supremacy, but from recent statements and rumours from the United States, it is doubtful whether America will make the attempt to regain the cup this year. The French team to meet England was chosen weeks ago, and its members are young players, who have been very much to the fore iv big tennis for tne past couple of seasons, j A. 11. Gobert is the champion of Franca, I but he has been beaten by the youthful Lrurentz (also a member of France's team), who caused a sensation by beating Wilding when only 10 years of age. The third string in the French team is Max Decugis, who, with Gobert, holds the doubles championship of Great Britain. Dixon and Roper (Barrett will pair in the doubles to-day.