AUSTRALIANS FIT

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 208, 30 May 1936, Page 11

AUSTRALIANS FIT

Coming. Davis Cup Match Philadelphia, May 28. In a special interview, Mr. C. Sproule, manager of tlie Australian Davis Cup team, gave the Australian Associated Press Agency an assuring message for transmission to Australia concerning the condition of the team and the prosjiects of its success in tlie mutches at the coming week-end. The first matter discussed was the health of the players. lie dismissed the injury to McGrath’s hand as not having been of any genuine importance and said it was now quite healed. It. was then recalled that on the occasion of the last visit to Philadelphia Jack Crawford had been adversely affected by the tremendous heat of the spring, which, with an attack of asthma, bad proved extremely enervating and was in no small part responsible for his inadequate showing in the matches with America. Mr. Sproule assured the correspondent that Crawford this time is completely free of an.v signs of asthma and that he has been in splendid health and has acclimatised himself excels tionally well despite alternations of extremely hot and extremely cold wea they during the month of May. "As a matter of fact,” he added, “the entire team has conditioned very satisfactorily and unquestionably the play ers are at top form. The long period of training in Philadelphia I feel has been of the greatest value.” Asked whether there was any special theorj- behind the employment of Vincent Richards as playing coach, he said, “It is only for the purpose of introducing a little variety, and in im way reflected that we were unsatisfied with the manner in which our team was shaping. It just gave them a little change in the kind of competition they were getting, ami toned them up a little." Mr. Sproule sent tlie following message: “Yon may say that the team is ready. They are keen for the matches, and everything gives us confidence that we will give a good account of our selves."

The team will rest for a few days after the final match and then pro ceed to New York, whence they wit' sail on Jttue 5. Mr. Sproule indicated that whether they will return to the United States for the national singles championships will depend upon the outcome of the week-end matches, and for the present they are making no playing plans beyond these.