WORLD-FAMOUS PLAYERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 292, 7 December 1920, Page 7

WORLD-FAMOUS PLAYERS.

THE DAVIS CUP BATTLE. ■WELCOME TO COMPETITORS. Both the American and Australian lawn tennis teams which are to fight out the ownership oi the Davis Cup in Auckland at the end of the month arrived here last night, the Americans by the Niagara and the Australians by the Ma-heno. The e'pht men comprise the moet noted names in lawn tennis at the ■present time, and it is predicted that the contest will be a historic one. The American representatives are Messrs. S. H. Hardy (captain). W. T. Tilden. W. M. Johnston, and Watson Washburn, while the Australians are Messrs. Korman E. (Brookes (capta/nl, G. L. Patterson, P. O-'Hara Wood, and R. W. Heath. Except for the firet few days the Niagara had good weather, and the travellers enjoyed the voya-sre down, arriving in excellent form. Upon arrival in Auckland last evening the visitors were welcomed to Auckland by Mr. F. J. Ohlacn (president) and 'Mr. H. G. Thomson (secretary) of the New Zealand Executive controlling the Cup contest. NeitheT side is inclined to discnss the coming > fight too freely. but apparently they realise that it will be battle royal, and whichever side wins will certainly have to play the game of their lives. Hav'njr been so long at sea the Americana lost no time to-day in fleeting courts to practice on. Naturally the visitors had no lack of offers of courts, both private and club.

CIVIC RECEPTION" TO THE AMERICANS.

THE BROTHERHOOD OF SPORT. There was an overflow gathering at the Council Chambers this morning at nocvn when the American visitors were welcomed to Auckland by the Mayor, Mr. J. H. Giinson, on 'behalf of Australasia. Not only lawn tennis enthu«*ia«ts were present in numbers but prominent citizens also attended to show their interest in the event. The visitor? were i>bviously surprised at the cordiality of their reception. The Mayor, in a very happ-y speech, said Aucklander? welcomed the American players from the bottom " of their heart*. He felt proud to have associated with him in the welcome their o'd friend Mr. Brooke* and the rest of The Australian-. It was quite true that New Zealand did not always care to lose hnr identity in the word Australasia, but in the present contest for the Davis Tup her interest? were inseparably interwoven with those of Australia, and New Zealanders were glad that it was so. Tt wa« the same in war as it was in spnrt. It was from the union of the men of the two countries under the one nmmand on Gallipoli that had sprung the magic word "Anzae." were RPCTed 'honrtß thnt bound the two p°opl<m. To-day they were dealing with the sporting interest, and again there thpv found a common meeting place. AtMtra-lia and New Zealand had mad» pnormou" strides in the domain of =t>ort. and now took their place among the great nations of the world. For instance coincident with the arrival of the Davis Cup competitors in the Waitemata there- was also on the gam* boat the team of Australians who had b°en competing at the Olympic Games. And in Australia at the present time there was a team of Englishmen battling for the ashes There was no doubt the "world was being cement»d by these Pon t Pe t, The Mayor said New Zealand welcomed the Americans because they came not for the intrinsic value of the cup Th«ir visit meant something deeper. He felt euro that when Dr. Darie founded the contests he had in

mind the educative value of the con- | tPRts from a tennis stand-point, and then there was the national stand-point. In founding the cup contests. Dr. Davis had done a very great service for the ' brotherhood of sport. It was in the true sporting spirit of Englishmen—for the Americans were our own kith and kin— i that they had come all this way to try , and lift the cup. They came to us as brothers. The Mayor was sure thpre was something of the recognition of the j brotherhood of nations that had ' actuated the founder of the Davis Cup \ contents. After tracing briefly the his- j tory of the cup, the Mayor paid a tribute to the memory of Anthony Wilding and also spoke of the prowess of Brooke? when the cup wa.- first won by Au.uralia. As for the coming struggle they would all hope, said the Mayor. that the better team would win, whichever it was. He had never seen the samp amount of interest that had been created by the Davis Cup matches. It wns the same from one end r.f the colony to thp other. At the call of the Mayor th'p j big audience rose as one man and one ■ woman and gave three rousing cheers ! for the Americans, Messrs Hardy. Til- i dpn. Johnston, and WasWburn, and Mrs. ; Hardy, who was present, escorted by j Mrs. Gunson. . Mr. Norman E. Broolceo. who to-' gether with the other Australians eat m the Mayor's left hand, the Americans being on his right, was aeked to say some-' fhing.end hp paid a very Trsrh tribute to' th» guests from personal knowledge of them. T'nev were thp very best of l on and off th-e field. Brookes i was lnudly cheered when he got up to; 9T>*ak. There was no doubt of the COT-! dialitv of h'« reception. He said, half, lare'hing'y. that he "trad not expected it. referring of course to remarks abon: , .uncertain New Zealand weather •when, ■ Auckland »s the 'ousting jrro-.ind for the Cu-p contest.: Frn-m what he had heard f-om iXew Ze*-j i land his '"name was mud!" He Chen ex-; n'ained that anvth : r>g he had said orj dine was solely in the interests nf keejn-j ing the eun in the colonies. Referring] to the comins matches, he eaid +hpr] were "up agairs* - tho stiffest *h"v had ever h.ii in their I've?." n^d, wirri a smile, "we hone the b°st'. I ream will win. and that it will be us." |

Mr. Hardy, the n-Hntain of *he Amtri-I

ran team, thankei the people for the "wonderful reception." and said he felt that he wa« arnom? friends. As for the <m;ti, rher did not know any more than Mr. B'-ooVes. but like Jrm" ther '-hsd The best thin? about the competition wa« not the trophy. h-t the men one met. Even if they did not carry off the cup. said Mt. Hardy. it would give them the satisfaction of romin*; back to Xew Zealand and havp the cleasure of meeting the peo-ole asain. He thanked th people for tTieir soleni'd rrception, not only on behalf of hi-m-elf and his comrades, but on behalf of the American

nation. Mr. Tilden spoke of his personal satisfaction in visiting any part of the British Emp : re, and mentioned the pleasure it was to meet Mr. Brookes ajjnin. After rousing cheers for the Americans and the Australians, the gathering sang the Xational Anthem.