LAWN TENNIS.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14304, 15 March 1912, Page 3

LAWN TENNIS.

THE DA"VIS CUP.

NOTES FROM AMERICA. (from ottr own correspondent.) SAN FRANCISCO, February 19. It -was a end aud subdued team of lawn tennis players that landed in San Francisco last w«ek after the trip to New Zealand in tho unsuccessful attempt to wreat from the Australasian players the Davis Cup, symbol of the tennis championship of the world. W. A. Lam«d, tho captain of the team, of whom such great things were expected, -when he was prevailed upon to make the long journey, refused to make any comment upon the complete Australasian victory. Ho had no excuse to make; no explanation to offer. Beals C. Wright and Maurice McLoughlin, his team mates, also showed a marked disinclination to discuss their unsuccessful mission, although McLoughlin was a little more comruunicaTTve. The last-mentioned stated that Lamed was handicapped by rheumatism occasioned by rainy* weather in Now Zealand. Ho still considers Larncd, when light, the best tennis player in tho world, and said that hi s poor showing in the Davis Cup contests was entirely due to the odrerso weather conditions. McLoughlin considers Brookes, the Australasian champion, the next best player in the world to Lamed, and was well pleased lit having been able to press him so closely. In admiration of the Australasian players and in praiso of the treatment accorded them both in Melbourne and in Christchurch, the American players were unanimous and h«ar*j". Neither Lamed nor his team-mates see any xoason to fall in with the British proposal to do away with these Davis Cup contests and to institute an international contest with the meeting place in Europe or America. They believo that tho Cup should be first regained from Australasia; and of course are of tho opinion that America will ultimately win it back. Lamed would not say whether or not he will defend his title of American champion next season. During his absence tho TT.S. National Lawn Tennis Association has changed it? rules by deciding that henceforth the champion must play through the tournament ineiead of simply meeting the tourney winner in a challenge match. Lamed had previously declared his intention of retiring from active tennis. The final match for the championship of the club will bo played to-morrow, at 230 p.m. ,on the United courts at Hagley Park, between W. Goss and K. D. Harman. As both players are reported in good fore, a match worth watching 19 expected.