DAVIS CUP HOLDER RETURNING U.S. Tennis Team Sought By Chch

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32127, 24 October 1969, Page 13

DAVIS CUP HOLDER RETURNING U.S. Tennis Team Sought By Chch

The United States Davis Cup team, winner of the trophy for the second year in succession, is expected to play in Christchurch this season after all, possibly on December 6 and 7. The Canterbury championships, which were to have been played on those days, may be changed to February.

A report from Auckland yesterday said that the Americans would play only in Auckland and that the Wellington and Canterbury associations had not sought an appearance by the team.

This was denied by the 1 chairman of the Canter- , bury association’s management committee (Mr ; R. B. Brown) and the committee yesterday I made efforts to obtain ■ the Americans. The New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association told Mr Brown late on Wednesday night that because of the amount of play the New Zealand Davis Cup players, B. E. Fairlie and 0. Parun would have, it was considered inadvisable for them to meet the United States in Christchurch. Fairlie and. Parun will tour minor associations in the North Island. They would then have taken part in the

Canterbury championships on December 5, 6 and 7, played the United States in Auckland on December 10 and 11, in Wellington on December 12 and 13, and in the Wellington championships on December 14, Wellington having waived the first day of its championships to hold the international match. The New Zealand association had decided that an additional international match in Christchurch would have been tod much for the New Zealanders. The Canterbury management committee held an emergency meeting yesterday and decided to change the dates of the Canterbury championships and to negotiate for a visit by the United States team on December 6 and 7, a Saturday and Sunday. The national committee will have to arrange these with the Americans, depending on whether they can be in the Dominion by that time. Mr Brown said that because of the sponsorship by Coca Cola, the three international contests seemed to be the most attractive proposal. “We were very disappointed when we heard that we were not to have the team and that we had not been ap-

proached about it," he said. “Last season’s visit to Wilding Park by the United States players was so successful and the public gave such good support that we consider the Canterbury association owes it to the public to arrange the fixture again,” Mr Brown said, The American team this year was chosen from a squad pf five players—A. R. Ashe, S. R. Smith, R. C. Lutz, C. Gracber, and C. Richey. Ashe and Smith played against Fairlie and Parun at Wilding Park last season and won, 3-2, after the New Zealanders had won the opening two singles.