LAWN TENNIS

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 24, 27 July 1929, Page 23

LAWN TENNIS

Mr "Huka"

THE DAVIS CUP

FRANCE V. UNITED STATES

FINAL THIS WEEK-END

The Davis Cup contest was started in 1900, and twenty-five competitions have been held. The United States of America holds pride of place with. 11 wins. Australasia, now classified as Australia, is second with 7 wins, British Isles third with 5 winE, and France nest -with 2 wins. The contest this year is between the two nations that Lave been running one another neck and neck ever since 1925 -France and the United States. France, n 1023, reached the inter-zone final, but fell to Australia by 4 matches to 1. The next year the same nations fought out the inter-zone final, but it was a closer go, Australia just getting home by 3 matches to 2, and it was clearly seen that the French players were -apklly improving. In 1925 the young French players, Lacoste and Borotra, proved to be too good foi the Australian team, although it was com prised of such champions as Patterson Anderson, and Hawkes. France won the inter-zone final by 3 matches to 1, bin fell to the United States in the chajienji. round, the Frenchmen failing to win * match. In 1926 these two nations again met in tho challenge round, and Franceshowed great improvement, although Laeoste was the only Frenchman to win a match. By beating Tilden he gave the Americans a shock, and something to think about for future contests. The year 1927 saw France at last on top, and Lacostc- not only beat Johnston, but Tilden as well. Tildeu checked France's progress by beating Cochet. but the latter overcame Johnston, and the Davis Cup was won by France. The United States won the doubles, but France had succeeded in the challenge round by 3 matches to 2. Last year France had an easier win than in 1927. the score in the challenge round against the United States being, 4 matches to 1. Strange to say, American's only win came from Tilden when ho beat Lacoste. his conqueror of the year before, but "Big Bill" failed against Cochet in three sets, whereas he had beaten th& Frenchman the previous year by 3 sets to 1. lu> the last four years the wins have been equally dividid between France and the United States, 'md naturally the question is which nation will take the lead this year? On performances it looks easy to pick, and nine out of-ten people will say France; but one never knows. There are such things as sudden reverses in form, and sometimes the supposed ,back number gives a taste of his old-time quality, but for all tliat it would be a surprise if Tilden won both his singles, and without those wins, the United States can hardly have a hope of victory. Nevertheless, outside the trench players Tilden is still head and shoulders above any. of the players oi other nations, and he may yet prove himself entitled to second or third place in the "First Ten" of the world. United States v. Germany. The United States and Germany met in the mter-zone final, the former qualifying by winuing all the matches in ' the American zone, and Germany by defeating all comers in the European zone. It was never thought for que moment that Germany had a chance in the inter-zone final with Tilden as an opponent, yet foi ail that the young German players did very well, and Moldenhauer might have beaten Hunter had be played him before meeting Tilden. Tilden beat Moldenhauer 0-2, G-l, G-l the loser shaping well to take 10 games. Hunter was called upon to extend himself to beat Premi 3-G. 0-3, e-1. 0-3. Tilden overshadowed l'roun with v win G-l, G-l, 6-1, but Hunter and Moldenhauer were level pegging up (o 4 sets, the former taking the match li-3. 1-0, 0-4,- .J-G, C-l. The doubles went to the United States. Allison and Van Kyn, fresh from their win at .Wimbledon, defeated Moldenhauer and Prenn 0-11, 6-2, 6-4, 6-3. Germany gave a much better performance than last year, when her players were defeated in the third round by the British Isles, and it is just possible that Moldenhauer will continue to improve. The challenge round between I'rauce and the United States is being played at the Stade Roland, Garros, Paris, and was to have started yesterday, and been continued to-day and to-morrow. It would appear to be almost certain that the four players who represented America against Germany will again be in action in the challenge round, and it would not be surprising ij France depended upon Lacoste and Cochet for the singles and Borotra and Cochet {or lie doubles. Wellington Association. The annual general meeting of the Wellington Provincial Lawn Tennis Association will bo held- in the Chamber oi' Commerce Mooting Room, Mercer street on Monday, 29th July, 1029, at 7.30 p.m. luo anuual report shows that 4li chibs. with ji total membership of 207-J, arc now alliliatcd to the association. The membership to the Miramar grounds has showu a steady increase, aud takeu generally the association's ailairs are improving. * The business on tho order paper is of a very important nature, and the association's olhccrs draw tho attention of clubs to the tact that it is in the interests o£ all members that every club should be represented at the council meetings. The association will have a heavy year ahead of it, and the incoming Management Committee will have several matters of importance to deal with immediately upon taking office. Representative players will also have a busy season, as there is not the slightest doubt that strong challenges will be received for the Anthony Wilding Memorial Shield and the Kathleen Nunnelcy Casket.

Russell Young and Andrews. In the University tournament for the Dohorty and Youll Cups, the senior men in each ease were beaten by first-year men:—X. C. Gaudar Dower won the Doherty Cup, boating E. B. Avory, in the final, 1-6, 6-1, 0-6, 6-2, 6-1, 19 games all. In the doubles final R. J. Ritchie and J. Charanjiva beat R. R. T. Young and Avory, 6-1, 7-5, C-3. Avory beat Young in tho semi-final of the singles, 0-2, (5-2, and Dower beat N. G. Farquharson in the other semi-final, 5-7, C-4, 7-5. K. C. Gandar Dower is a regular "find" for a first-year man, and compensates the University somewhat for the loss of Austin and Andrews, who have now "gone down" from Cambndgo University. 13. D. Andrews took part in tho Phyllis hard court championships in May aud won the singles, beating W H Powell, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, iv tho final. Powell* and Hymt beat Andrews and Applewhaite, 0-6, 7-5, 7-5, in the final of tho doubles. The final of the mixed doubles went to Miss Fry and Andrews who boat Miss Chamberlain and Powell in tho final, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2. Andrews started badly in the singles, and Powell, who also won his "Blue" at Cambridge, led at 4-1 and 5-3, but Andrews, with a great effort, evened at 5-all, only to lose the set at 7-5. Andrews led, 4-1, in tho second set, but Powell took three more games before losing the set, 0-4. Andrews had Powell run to a standstill in the last sot, and by hard driving and frequent excursions to the net won out easily at 6-2. The New Zealander did well to secure two firsts and one second at the meeting. During May, Andrews also won the. championship singles at the Birchingtor hard court tournament, where he beat Applewhaite, 6-2, 6-0, in the final. Andrews and Applewhaite beat Powell and Moss, 8-6, 6-2, in the final of the doubles, and Miss SteerWatkins and Andrews beat Miss Pearson and Moss, 6-3, 6-3, in the final of the mixed doubles championship.