HOME AGAIN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 290, 7 December 1937, Page 9

HOME AGAIN.

DAVIS CUP PLAYER.

A. C. STEOMAN IN AUCKLAND.

RANKED SECOND TO AUSTIN. A. C. Stedman, 1927 Dominian lawn tennis champion, has returned to Auckland after over four years' absence in England. During thnt period he met with such phenomenal success that competent critics rate him second to 11. W. Austin in Great Britain.

Stedman won two of his three singles in the 1037 Davis Cup contest. Eventually lie met and defeated his only conqueror, Kho Sin Kie (China), in the final of a tournament at Bristol.

Speaking this morning of this great international contest, Stedman expressed the opinion thnt Xew Zealand would play again in the European zone, in which it had been stated that Australia would prefer to compete next year. While there was doubt meantime about the latter country entering, Stedman thinks that public opinion in the Commonwealth will force the issue. Only yesterday two junior players (Lindo and Gilchrist) beat Quist "and Turnbull in the Victorian doubles championship, so that there could be no excuse for lack of an Australian entry on the grounds of shortage of rising talent. "Of course," remarked the Xew Zealander, "every country has its lean period. . After France experienced it Britain came into its own again, and now with the advent of Budge to succeed yines the United States, with its

never-ending resources, has regained the Cup, while Britain, even allowing for the defection of Perry, has to start rebuilding its team because Austin cannot go on for ever."

The loss of Perry to professionalism, and the prospect of other leading world players going over, had altered the British view on open tournaments, in which professionals and amateurs could play. Originally those who led tennis opinion in the Old Country were all against the proposal, but now there was another eide to the question, which would be more keenly and evenly debated in. the future. Future Plana. Stedman's plans provide for « tour of New Zealand for the purpose of playing exhibition tennis. After opening at Whangarei he completes the Auckland provincial section of the programme at Hamilton on Boxing Day. He does not know yet at which stage D. C. Coombe, the present New Zealand champion, will join him, but the latter will certainly accompany him to Christchurch about the New Year for their South. Island engagements. These will be completed in time to permit them to return for the Dominion championships at Stanley Street, which begin on January 29 and end on February 5.

It is Stedman'e intention to return to England by the Akaroa on February 25, to resume his position in a London stockbroking firm.

Speaking of E. D. Andrews (New Zealand's Davis Cup captain), whom he accompanied to England in 1933, Stedman states ihat although the former has not been playing much competition tennis of recent years he often sees him. Kecently Andrews was married.

The Aucklander, who is the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Stedman, of Woodley Avenue, Remuera, and brother of Jack Stedman, the former Glendowie golf champion, was disinclined to talk of his career on the courts, but the records show what he has done.

Confining the search to the past year, it was found that Alan Stedman took part in 13 tournament*, winning nine and reaching the final in three others. Of 13 doubles finals, he was a member of the victorious pair in all but one. seven times with C. K. Marfroy (another former New Zealand champion) and once with Coombe. Stedman also annexed three mixed doubles titles, and reached the final of six other combined championships.

Stedman was making an impressive hid for singles honours at Wimbledon this year when he met B. M. ("Bitsv") Grant, the diminutive American Davis Cup player. The New Zealander was one of the last sixteen when he met America's second string, and lie went down with flying colours. Stedmt.n tnok the first and second sets, inn!, when one stroke off a lend of f> —4 in the fourth set, appeared a certain winner. Grant fought back to take the set, o—4,0 —4, and the next —the deciding one—o —-.'{. The scores for the match were 4 —6, O—S,0 —S, (J —l, o—4, o—3.0 —3.