DAVIS CUP CHANCES

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 198, 19 May 1936, Page 16

DAVIS CUP CHANCES

U.S.A, and Australia “I think our chances against Australia are even,” says Wilmer Allison, America’s No. 1 player, in a recent letter to Harry llopman, of Australia. “My assessment of team values must be made ou last year’s form, with the information I had from you concerning Adrian Quist's improvement. Adrian’s suecss does not surprise me, for I have never been able to understand why he did not come along faster. lie always looked a champion to me, since I first saw him in America in 1933,” said Allison. “Australia’s team will be strengthened by Quist’s improvement, but surely Crawford's form has been worrying, and McGrath’s play, despite his ability to produce world-beating tennis in occasions (yes, 1 am thnking of last year’s Wimbledon, when he put me out in the first round in, straight sets), is still doubtful, for he has been very erratic over the past twelve months. “Our Davis Cup line-up at the moment would appear to be Donald Budge and me for singles, and either Johnny Van Ryn and me. or perhaps Budge and inc, in doubles, though I am not too anxious to play both. Allison, at 31, is an old man, with one foot in the grave —maybe. “My reason for naming the above as the possible line-up is this. Frank Parker has been at school since September, and. as far as I know, has played no tennis. He, therefore, is not being considered at all for the team, as his last year's form was very poor, considering what he is capable of. 'Bitsy’ Grant has been working, and has played no tennis nt all. and the same goes for Van Ryn. Budge, too. has done a certain amount of practice, and he is thorough enough to do it along the right lines. So you see why I say I must consider our team strength on last season’s results. “You may be surprised I have not mentioned Gene Mako’s name as a possible doubles partner for Don Budge. Well, his form last year was disappointing, and I doubt if he will make the Davis Cup squad this time. “Tennis in this country has been dead since the national championships last September. I haven’t had a racquet in my hand since then, but while off from business have been playing golf so consistently that I have my handicap down to two now, so after this year of tennis I think I will try a fling at golf. Boy, how long that will last I don’t know, for they say golf gets a fellow down worse than teiinis. "I am going to start tennis practice here at home about the middle of March, and will piny in Hie Houston Invitation tournament on April 1. We play Mexico at Houston around April 10, and after that I will play in a couple of spring tournaments to try to strike some form before going tn Philadelphia to practice for a couple of weeks before meeting you fellows. “Tell Cliffie (Sproule) T am delighted to know he will be over again, but. as he will readily recall, it is a shame we won't: be in Paris together again. I suppose the defeated team will not go on to Wimbledon. That is one reason I like the idea of playing you in the American zone, as it will then not be necessary for us to go to Europe if we lose. I have had enough ,/o£ long Davis Cup trips.”