THE DAVIS CUP

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 102, 27 October 1925, Page 9

THE DAVIS CUP

EXPENSIVE UNWIELDY CONTEST*

AMERICA'S TURN TO TRAVEL

LACOSTE BETTER THAN BOROTRA,

Interesting impressions were brought away irom the Davis Cup contest by Mr. J. O. Anderson, one of the Australian reprcsen-

tntivea, who arrived yesterday by the Tahiti, en route to Australia. The great international tennis contest, he says, is increasing in unwieldiness and expense to participants, and he suggests a remedy. Had Australia sent a fourth man.. O'Hara Wood, he says it would have had more than a- chance of defeating France. He is of. the opinion ■ that it is America's turn to share the expenses of the contest oy sending its teams abroad. IMPRESSIONS OF PLAYERS "Borotra is a wonderful player," said Mr. Anderson. "Ho uses an offensive volleying shot, taking. the net at every available opportunity. He isinpt as consistentl a player as Lacoste. The latter, the younger player of the two, did not do himself justice throughout the tour. He played very well,, but not so well against Australia in the final round. His was playing his top form against Tilden, but was unfortunate in not •winning. There were two doubtful decisions, in one. of which the ball hit Tilden's foot and was dead when it reached the ground. That was a match Lacoste Bhould have won 3 to 2. In the doubles I, was particularly surprised to see us fall through. We thought we were safe after our showing prior to the match. Borotra was the outstanding player of • the four. Patterson played a wonderful game in" the doubles. I think Tilden player better tennis than he ever played in his life. His display against Johnson in the final was of the finest. Johnson had a great opportunity. They_ were two sets all, and he was 3 to 1 in the final set, and Tilden.was cheered when he won in 6-3, for some of the most wonderful tennis I have ever seen^ The crowd of 13,300 was the biggest they have ever had at the Stadium. The final point in Tilden's' service he chose for two or three seconds. You could Bee he was going to shoot an ace down. He brought the ace down, and it hit the centre of the line, which was the finish of the match. The most promising player for the whole of America was Cranston Holman, from Stanford University, California, now ranked about seventh in the United States, beaten by me in the scini-nnjil. He has a good service and a good temperament. He takes time over his -shots when he thinks it necessary. ■

AMERICA SHOULD SEND TEAM

"It was recognised in Australia as a foregone conclusion that an. American team consisting of some of its best players would visit Australia at the end of December, but .it: is reported, that there is a probability that no team will visit Australia this year. This is rather unfortunate for Australia, as its tennis lovers have been looking forward to seeing American stars in action, us well as getting a little of their own back in the way of finances towards the assistance of Australian tennis. I think it is up to America to send a team. Australia has been the challenger for the last five years in succession, and this means tremendous expense to the Australian Association, apart from the expenses of the players themselves, and the difficulty of arranging for their absence from business. . . TIME WASTED IN PRELIMINARIES "The final match between Australia and France was rather a disappointment. A big crowd was anticipated, as the Frenchmen had just come through the Wimbledon championship in England, and the Australian stars were competing, but the biggest crowd, on the last day, was only 8000. • It was unfortunate that on the last day against France ' the weather affected the attendance, and players'on both sides were in the awkward position, h?,ving to play, owing to the limited time between the match and the challenge round, which was set down three days later. I think there should be a few more days between the final and the challenge round, as it does not give the challenging team a chance to get accustomed to the different conditions, getting 'acclimated,' as the Americans put it. Too much, time is devoted to the preliminary ties. If it were possible for the finalists in tho American and European zonea to be able to stand down each year, and \vait till the best teams came round in the sames zones, it ; would mean a great saving in expense as well as time for the various countries, as it would eliminate a largo amount of travelling. At present it means at least four months to complete a tour, and out of that' period practically two months is taken up in preliminary rounds which practically mean nothing, as far as the final is concerned. There are many weak teams at present playing in the ties, and -when these teams play round about New York the public is. not interested unless some of their own are participating. It has come to this; there are so many nations competing in the Davis Cup, and tho expenses are so great for many of them, like Australia, whore the team had to be away'four or five months, that it is not worth while unless the others are participating. AUSTRALIA'S CHANCES "I consider that Australia's chances, provided that she had reached the final challenge round," said Mr. Anderson, "would have been better this year than they have been for a long time. I think ifc a great pity we did not have a foui'fh man, especially with O'Hara Wood. He, has so much Experience, as oiuch as Patterson and I, and more than others. He can adapt himself to any circumstances. I think O'Hara Wood is a better doubles player than Hawkes, though the latter was formerly the better player. There was so little difference that it was a pity the Australian Association did not decide to send a fourth man. Then I honestly think we should have got through France. I was not in the best form at Boston. I had done a little too much, and did not do myself justice, but if w had pone through I think we should have had a more than even chance.

"I regret to say that English tennis is of very poor standard at the present time. There is not a xilayer coming in that is new. There are the same old players, such as Roper Barrett, Gilbert:,' Lycetl, and Godfrey."

Questioned as to Iho placing of the ■world's fpn best tennis players, Mr. Anderson agreed with Tildcn* as to tho first three, TLldcn, Johnston, and Richards. There was no question about them. He would, however, place Williams fourth, Lacoste fifti 4 Barofcra

sixth, Kinsey seventh, Patterson eighth, Alonso ninth, and Harada tenth.

Asked if he intended lo > retire, Mr. Anderson smilingly negatived the suggestion. "I intend to keep in form, and continue,"' he said.

NO SQUABBLES! NO SICKNESS!

AUSTEALIAN LADY CHAM-

* PIONS' BECOED.

The capable and tactful direction of Mrs. Redmond Barry apparently has been a considerable factor in the success of the Australian ladies' ten-Eis-tcam, and by acting as manager on this lengthy world tour she has added another link to her already long chain of service to the sport in Australia. The members of the team who are returning to Sydney by the Tahiti aro Mrs. Harper, Miss Boyd, Miss Ainurst, and Mi3S St. George. "I think it's a record for five fcuialos," she, said laughingly to a ."Post" reporter yesterday. "Wove had no squabbles, and no sickness! Everything has gone quite smoothly, and the tour has been a success financially. At one time I was rather worried about tho finances, but we were able to take 50-50 gates for international games, and' I think they are going to get a surprise at home when we take some money back with us, I don't think they're expecting it! ." ' '

" Yes, we visited England (play ing through Wimbledon), Wales, France, Holland, and America—and beat five out iof nine nationalities. England, France, America, and California beatus, California giving our girls the worst beating, but the conditions were different, and they played on hard courts. The English- and French games .were very close." „

Asked if chip and other hard courts were not used very much in Australia, Mrs. Barry replied that they did have them, but there was a separate association of these players.

"None of our good players play on the hard courts," she said. "Miss Bo)'d is our No. 1 player. She was No. 3 when we started, and Las improved wonderfully. She extended . Suzuimo Leriglen into a long set in the match ngainst France, and Mrs." Harper, and Miss Akhurst also rnn her close." '

"And what of the incomparable Suzanne herselff"

"Wonderful! Simply wonderful!"

"And Heien Wills*'

"Wonderful, too! They both .are. Miss Wills is good-looking, well set up, and very attractive." .

"Wo have been -simply 'killed' everywhere as regards social events," continued Mrs. Barry. "Dinners and parties—till we have been'so thankful for the quiet home life when we were billeted, which was everywhere except England and „ America. "Of course, ive were a long time in England. Everybody has been most charming, and the-girls have been immensely popular, and showered with invitations to 'come again!'

-"Young players-are encouraged' trsmendously in America, more than iv England," continued the visitor, "and they have a lot of young ones coming on, but I think if teams came to Australia and played on our courts, with our lights and other Australian conditions, our girls would stand a very good chance. We were at a dis advantage at Wimbledon, being only three weeks off the boat, but against America East the games were 82 all, but America wou the rubber. That was on grass courts." Mrs. Barry was next "asked her opinion. of tennis photographs of women players which have caused some discussion in England.

"I don't think they are objectionable. They may be funny and horrible looking sometimes, but they are wonderful action photographs." "And do you think there would be <my use a New Zealand ladies' team undertaking a tour' such as yours?" "No! Not unless they have improved wonderfully. Why,'when'l was over here three years ago Mrs. Harper (then Miss Lance) carried off nino championships, and I don't think they would have any chance, unless, as I said, they have improved considerably."

One never knows! Perhaps in another three years New Zealand will have a ladies' team in the field capable of "cleaning up" nine nationalities out of nine—but something extraordinary will have to happen in the meantime!