LAWN TENNIS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1177, 12 July 1911, Page 9

LAWN TENNIS.

DAVIS CUP CONTEST. • By TdceraDh-rress Association-CoDyrleht ■_■■••■• Sydney, July 11.' " At a meeting of the Davis Cup Management Committee it was decided to adopt the resolution of tho New Zealand Association, recommending that tho challenge tie be played in Christchurch. ' A sub-committee, consisting of Messrs. Ross (convenor), Harman, Wright, Ascliman, Taylor, Oow, Cox, the chairman of. t'ho .Management Committee, the- presidents' of the Canterbury/ Wellington, Auckland, and Otago "Associations, and Mr. C. J. W. Griffiths, president of-the New Zealand Association at the time ,of the contest, was appointed to carry out tho local arrangements. . Financial arrangements were held over pending further infprmation from New Zealand. It was decided to ask Dr. Norman Brookes to act as sole selector of the Australasian team. ■ Mr. F. M. B. Fisher, M.P.., chairman of the Management Committee of tho New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association, has been advised by cable message' from Sydney that the Australasian Association has approved of the resolutions passed by the New Zealand Association in reference to tho location of the Davis Cup. The Davis Cup Committee is now formally constituted and can get to work at once preparing for this great event. The fact of Anthony Wilding having retained the championship of England, which is regarded as the Blue Ribbon of the world's tennis, should make this rear's ' Davis Cup additionally interesting, .especially in view of the strenuous efforts being made in the United States to send away a "winning team" af all costs.'The Americans this time are determined not to go back empty-handed. New Zealand has , every prospect of seeing the last of all the Davis Cup contests. - • . ■ . ■■.-.•. ' AMERICAN TEAM'S PROSPECTS. Touching on the Davis Cup, tho "American' Lawn Tennis Journal makes 6ome highly interesting statements to Australasians, when it assures us that we shall have in Christchurch next December "the strongest team that America has sent in quest of the Cup since 190,5, when Lamed, Ward, Clothier, and Beals Wright represented us in England. ,, Out contemporary adds that "it is too early to give any names, but if present plans do not undergo a change, there will be no forlorn hope team dispatched,, but. one that will come pretty close to America's full playing strength. Only by inclusion of Ifackctt. and Alexander, which is finite out' of the question, could it be made more formidable. The problem then (writes "Austral" in the "Kefcreo") is who are America's best, eliminating their champion and unbeaten double, [fackett nnd Alexander. Tho "Journal" obligingly, to facilitate tlii! answer to this question, rcpubli.slips Iho runking list of tho first 25 in America,'and here we find that (he first five stand out. clearly. The "Journal" on then to help the elucidation by remarking that "it is possible that n'' renin of four or even live, men will be dispatched on the long journey, to the Antipodes. It' is believed that the men can bo secured, and that in this way a tetter team can be placed in the field,than with a 'smaller number of players. The rules permit the utilisation of. four men—two for the singles matches mid two ior the doubles—and the .fifth, if sent, could be kept in reserve, to be used in case of the illness, injury, or unfitness of any of the others."

Tho reason given for sending , fivo mm ij not sound, for under the i)avis Cup rules the team of lour for each lit must be nominated three weeks before the match, and even if there is to be a preliminary fie, it is not probable that America's team will bo in Chrislchurch for three weeks before the challenge match, and even if it be, form could not be judged javo .by match play, so that they could not fall back on the wth man. There certainly will not bo a thtrt'-WHDks" interval helwecit preliminary and challenge matches. Moreover, America's full strength will frighten all other competitors out of the task of travelling to the Antipodes on 93 long a finest,' if it is for them plainly to be fruitless. What, then, is the reason of picking live? The first five in America to-dny, excluding lfacketf and Alexander, are clearly Lamed, Bmidy, Beals Wright, M'Loughlin, and Long, io these fivo only could tho expression "strongest since 190o" apply, and of these, on statements already made, none would find it difficult to come, save Lamed. He may, and probably will, though the death of his father last year may make a great difference ono way or the' other.