TENNIS DAVIS CUP ENTRY

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29715, 8 January 1962, Page 13

TENNIS DAVIS CUP ENTRY

Soviet Will App!y

(NXPjI.-Rsuter—Copyright) MOSCOW. Jan. 6.

The Soviet Union will make an application to play in the Daviji Cup this year, it was announced today. If the application is accepted, it will be the first time that the Russians have competed in the event. The Soviet request to be included in the 1932 event will be lodged with the authorities shortly. Other Soviet plans for 1962 include sending four or five players to Wimbledon and the Kent grass court championships at Beckenham, and invitations to Britain, France. Italy, West Germany and East Germany to send players to the U.SS.R.

The Soviet entry comes four years after they first sent players to Wimbledon. In 1958, two Russian players competed in the junior international event there. The following year, 16-year-old Tomas Lejus won the junior boys singles. In 1960 Lejus met topseeded N. A. Fraser in the third round of the men’s singles and took a set from the Autralian. who went’ on to win the title. Russia has another potential world-class player in Rudolf Sivokhin. aged 23. who is considered by some Soviet critics to be better than Lejus. There are more than 50,000 registered lawn tennis players in the Soviet Union, and many lawn tennis critics have forecast that in time Russia is sure to become a power in world tennis.