Australia Likely To

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30553, 23 September 1964, Page 15

Australia Likely To

WHEN the United States courageously won the Davis Cup last December there was some speculation as to whether this heralded the beginning of another era of United States supremacy, or whether it would return quickly to Australia asit did after the temporary losses of 1954 and 1958. It now seems almost certain the globe-trotting cup will go back across the Pacific. The climax to a not particularly interesting 1964 competition will begin on Friday, the first day of the challenge round at Cleveland. R. Emerson, aged 28, and F. Stolle, aged 25, for Australia, and C. McKinley, aged 23, and R. D. Ralston, aged 21, for the United States will probably play in both singles and doubles. Fifty nations have been involved this year, 32 in the European zone, 10 in the Eastern zone, seven in the American zone and the holder. All the seeded countries went through the first round of the European zone but there, was some surprise when Denmark beat Spain, 3-2, in the second round before being eliminated by Germany in the quarterfinals. Britain, winner of

the zone last year, lost in a semi-final to France which entered the final for the first time since 1956. However, Sweden, which lost the final last year to Britain, won its sixth zone final since World War 11. The Eastern zone was notable for the Philippines disposing of India, which had won the zone for the previous two years, in the final, but it could not take a match from Sweden in the inter-zone semi-final. Earlier in the year Australia’s prospects looked dis-