THE DAVIS CUP.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 133, 8 June 1925, Page 6

THE DAVIS CUP.

FINAL IN SEPTEMBER. AUSTRALIANS IN AUCKLAND. THEIR TROSPECTS DISCUSSED. Two members of tbe Australian lennis team which is challenging for the Davis Cup passed through Auckland to-day aboard the H.M.s. Niagara, en route for Montreal, where they meet the Canadian team in the second round of the American zone. They are Messrs. .1. B. Hnwkes and Gerald Patterson, who, with .1. O. Anderson, comprise the team. Chatting with a "Star" representative, Mr. Hnwkes. who is manager of the team, stated that Anderson had gone lo Kngland for the Wimbledon toumnment. and would join them in Canada' before the Davis Cup games in August. Tlie programme the team hoped to have before them was to beat Canada, thus getting into the semi-final, nnd then meet Era nee. as probably winners of the Kuropean zone, and Japan as probable winners of the Eastern zone. If successful in those matches they would meet America, the holders, in the finai. Respecting their prospects, he thought they were better than for some years. Anderson's health was much improved, and he had been showing bis bent form this summer. Patterson had not been playing recently, but during the past season be bad played brilliant tennis, and would be tbe 'hardest man of the I cam to beat on his day. It was practically certain that Patterson and Anderson would be the singles players throughout. They would probably also play in the doubles matches, but these were subject to re-arrangement according to the circumstances and the calibre of the players that had to be met. On reaching Canada the members of the team, who are already in excellent health and form, would go into strict training. They would probably take part in two or three tournaments before tlie Cup matches, but their effort to win the Cup would come before all other considerations. They intended to avoid entering into any obligation, so that they might be free to enter the Cup lists in the best possible condition. Incidentally, lie mentioned that the proposal to include Pat O'Hara Wood in the team had been dropped, so that, for the first time in many years, this very popular player will not figure in the Davis Cup doubles. As to the prospects of the preliminary rounds, Mr. Hawkes said he anticipated that France would be their strongest opponent, and was the country most likely to eliminate them from the final. In the event of Australia managing to beat France, he fully expected that the American defenders would be Tilden. Johnson and Richards, in that order. It was his view that despite his rumoured retirement. Tilden would be found in the lists when the final came on. Though Kichards had been graded above Johnson last season in the American list, he felt that it would be Tilden and Johnson the challengers would have to meet in tbe singles of the final match, and that Richards would be the reserve player of the American team. The final would take place about the second week in September. A PRACTICE AT AUCKLAND. On arrival at the wharf tlie Australian were met, on behalf of the Auckland Tennis Association, by Messrs. G. L. Taylor (president) and H. G. Thomson (vice-president), who offered facilities for them to practice during the stay at the port. Both visitors were anxious to have a day off the ship, and arrangements were made for them to visit the races at Ellerslie to-day. Should the weather be favourable they will probably have a tennis practice to-morrow morning, before the ship sails, at the Clive Street courts. Iv the event of these courts nt being sufficiently dry the practice will be held on Mr. H. G. Thomson's courts in the same street.