RETURN OF NORMAN BROOKES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 59, 3 December 1919, Page 10

RETURN OF NORMAN BROOKES

WHY HE WAS BEATEN. Mr. Norman Brookes, who arrived back in Sydney by tho Makura, states that tho main' factor in his defeat in tho championship match in England was bad form and lack of practice, lor nearly two years ho had, with the rank nf major, been attached to General Headquarters Staff at Bagdad, where the climate is enervating, and where lie played no tennis, except occasionally a relaxation match. In 1917 he had an attack of illness largely due to climatio conditions, and another attack m 1918. At the end of 1918 he left Mesopotamia, for demobilisation in England, and at Bombav broke a blood vessel in a leg, so that when ho landed m England within a fortnight of tho championship contest he was in bad form physically, and Invl not played any championship tennis for over five yeara. "When raving that," added Mr. Brookes, "I do not wish to detract from tho splendid playing of Patterson. In the Wimbledon singles he better game, and deserved to win. Comparing tennis playing in England and America, Mr. Brookes said that lie certainly considered that there was. a higher all-round standard in America, but though the general standard of playing was higher in America than in England, there were individual players in England nrobably as good as any in America. The team coming to Australia to contest the Davis Cup was certainly a strong combination, and would put up a verv determined fight for victory. Tho team—Arthur Lowe, Kinsscote, Beamish and Woosnam-ho considers quite tne b?st that could have been selected, anil Australia would find it jol.y hard to beat them." Should .Australia succeed in retaining the Davis Cup this year wo might expect a strong-team from America next year. The P lo J" ere there were quito determined that they would make ajxdd bid to win tho cup in 1920. " . , . .' . •• Speak-in" of his contests in America, Mr Brookes said that there his form had considerably improved compare;! with what it was in England, though still far short of tho 1914 standard. The <Vmeriean contests were held on the Forrest Hill courts outside New York. The." courts were perfect, and the backtrrounethe most ideal lie had ever experienced Tho oniv drawback was a good deal of<" rain during the competitions, and 6omc. days the courts were wet. V