PRACTICE GAMES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 208, 3 September 1938, Page 9

PRACTICE GAMES.

COURT INCIDENT.

Poor American Sportsmanship

Alleged

BITTER ARGUMENT FOLLOWS

United Press Association.—Copyright,

(Received 11.30 a.m.) PHILADELPHIA, September 2. Two incidents involving what could hardly be termed other than poor American sportsmanship yesterday somewhat strained the amicable relations between the Australian and American Davis Cup teams and loft the Australians awaiting the matches on Saturday with a decidedly unpleasant taste in their mouths. When the Australians arrived at the match courts for a last hard work-out they found them extremely soggy due to overnight rain, and decided not to use theni until they had consulted the officials, fearing that play on the courts might seriously damage them. After a long delay in locating a responsible i official, the American team arrived and I unhesitatingly appropriated all three courts and began to practise. Hopman, the Australian manager, j protested that the Australians had not yet had a chance to practise, to which the Americans replied: "That's your bad luck. Your time is up and the I courts are now ours." It was only after a bitter argument that the Americans yielded a doubles court, retaining the two singles. Later the referee, Mr. Joseph Weare, ruled that G. M. Lott. the Australians' coach, coukl not practise on the match courts since he was not a member of the cup team. Hopman's pleas that coaches were permitted to practise against players everywhere else were of no avail, and the Australians substituted the Japanese player. Xakano. as Quist"s opponent in the singles and Schwartz's partner in the doubles. In spite of this unpleasantness the Australians practised for an hour. Hopman has not decided upon the doubles team, which he will announce an hour before the match on Sunday. Australian Coach's View. G. M. Lott said: "I prefer to dismiss the show of bad manners of the United States Lawn Tennis Association officials yesterday. They were displeased at things I said regarding an article on Budge, but to order me off the courts seemed the extreme thing to do. "After all I have been a member of many of their Davis Cup teams in which I had never lost a doubles match and I helped to wing In large gate receipts. My relations with the Australians are professional and it seems unbelievable that officials should interfere between this relationship. "I have not changed my opinion regarding the outcome of the challenge round in the U.S.A. doubles championship at Boston when America won. It must be viewed in the light that the two teams are so evenly matched that there must be alternate victory when they meet, one team wins to-day and the other is likely to win to-morrow. "The draw displays the elements of the position clearly. Rigg3 should lose both his matches and the doubles will go to Australia." Vincent Richards, the famous American Davis Cup player and coach, told the Australian Associated Press that the dispute over the courts and Lott was unfortunate but not important. "Last night I took the team to the theatre and it was clear to me that it is already forgotten."