Pat Cash a key man

Press, 13 July 1984, Page 40

Pat Cash a key man

NZPA-Reuter London The Davis Cup tennis holder, Australia, will need Pat Cash at his Wimbledon best to avoid any slip-ups when it meets Italy in one of the four world group quarter-finals being played this week-end. Cash, who reached the Wimbledon singles semi-

finals last week before losing to eventual champion, John McEnroe, will be a key man for Australia at the Milton Stadium in Brisbane as Italy seeks to rid itself of a clay-court complex that inhibits its play on grass. Cash will not be the only Wimbledon hero in Davis Cup action. McEnroe is joined by his Wimbledon final victim, Jimmy Connors, in the United States’ tie against Argentina in Atlanta, and Ivan Lendl returns for Czechoslovakia against France in Prague. In the fourth quarterfinal, Paraguay plays away to Sweden.

Italy, without its injured veteran, Corrado Barazzutti, has been in Australia since July 5 to obtain maximum preparation on grass and nave typically dismissed its chances, the non-playing captain, Adriano Panatta, rating them at only 40 per cent.

Panatta’s younger brother Claudio, aged 24, will lead Italy’s challenge. He has risen from 482 in the world rankings to the top 50 in the last four years. John Fitzgerald and Mark Edmondson complete the Australian team — the same one that beat Sweden, 3-2, in last year’s final.