THE-DAVIS CUP CONTEST.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14237, 28 December 1911, Page 9

THE-DAVIS CUP CONTEST.

ai the game.

BEGINS TO-MORROW. The 3>avis Cup Competition, which opens to-morrow, is creating very widespread interest, and visitors are arriving in large numbers to witness the contest. Visitors are hero from pretty well all over Australia, from Perth right round to Townsrille, from all parts of New Zealand, and from England and America. The Lancaster Park Hoard of Control, in the preparation of the 6pecial court for tjin match, havo spared no pains, and have laid down a really first-class court. Experts, who are in a position to

judge, say that it compares not unfavourably with, the world-renowned centre court at Wimbledon, the sceno of the All England Championship, *md so many historic contests. A 6tadium structure has been erected all round the court, and ©very spectator will have a seat and an. uninterrupted view

The Paris Cup Sub-Committee, in order to ensure the court being in sa good condition as possible for the contest to-morrow, Jiave had a canvas cover made, and this was stretched over the whole of the court last evening, when it became evident that rain was approaching. The contest is exciting interest not only in .New Zealand, but | in Australia and the- United States. Special representatives of the newspapers of Australia have arrived tor the purpose of reporting the match. Arrangements liave been mado by tho Australian papers to have lengthy reports cabled to them. Great interest will centre in the meeting between Lamed, who been seven times champion of tho United States, and Brookes, who holds a very high record indeed in the tennis ■world. Brookes holds the singles and doubles championships of Australasia, and has been champion of All England and of Victoria, and is regarded today as the finest exponent of Lnglistt lawn tennis. Dunlop, who is playing along with Brookes in the Doubles, .s tho holder of a great many Engiisu and colonial championships, and is fresh from his recent triumphs aS a,nst the best English players. Heath, who plays in tho singles for Au- ntralasia, has twice held the singles nnd doubles championships of Australasia, and has also recently arrived in Australia after a very wiccessiul series of contests against the best English and Continental players. Tho dashing stylo of play shown by McLougnlin. has aroused tho very greatest interest. McLoughlin, by his wonderful smash and serve, Taises the spectator to a pitch of enthusiasm. Bcals Wright has held tho singles' championship of the United States, and has been three times ono of the doubles champions. Many players who saw the great match between him and Brookes ill the I>avis Cup contest in Molboumo in 1908 have come over in the hope of seeing a repetition of the high standard of play that they witnessed on that occasion. His' Excellency tho Governor, Lord Islington, and party, have intimated their intention of being present at the match. An Australian firm havo obtained tho cinematograph rights, and have made one or two experiments with the play during the New Zealand tournament. It is expected that a very fino series of pictures will be obtained. The first of tho series of singles will bo played on tho first day. The draw will bo made to-night, and will be announced in to-morrow's papers. Australasia has held the Davis Cup since 1907, when Anthony Wilding and Brookes wrested it from "England. Two attempts have been made by America to lift the Cup—one at Melbourne in 1903, when Bcals Wright and Alexander represented America, nnd the other in 1909 at Sydney, when Melville Long and McLoughlin made an unsuccessful attQmpt to secure it. McLoughlin. at that timo was only 19 years of age, and "although a brilliant player then, he has improved very much since. During tho present year he was runner-up for tho United States championship, being j beaten in the final by Lamed.