DAVIS CUP PROSPECTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 153, 26 December 1936, Page 7

DAVIS CUP PROSPECTS

The famous English lawn tennis player, F. J. Perry, who recently turned professional, commenting in a special interview at Los Angeles on

"It is too early to tell much definitely, but. on paper, Australia,' Germany, Great Britain, and America have good teams, and one of these four will surely win. the Davis Cup. They should realise, however, that there are still eight months left, and a lot can happen in that time. By the time the Cup contest begins Great Britain-may have found someone else.

"Australia has a better chance than for a great many years, ■ but she must get down to business and, make up her mind now who will be 'in the team. Why not let the players-rest this winter and be fresh for the Davis Cup play? Australia will have a much better chance with her players fresh instead of playing them in winter tournaments, as she always does. She must make up her mind whether the loss of her star players from the tournaments she holds all through' the winter is bal J anced by the'chance to win the Davis Cup—or she will never win it. . She must choose between playing her stars at home or in the Davis Cup matches.

"Australia's chances are as good as those of any other country, but they would be infinitely better if she let her players rest.1 If she wants to see them in tournaments in Australia instead, that is all right, but they might as well give up their Davis Cup hopes." Speaking of individual players; Perry said: "It would be a definite mistake if Crawford plays in J all three matches in the Davis Cup. I never played in all three matches, because they told me it was too great a strain on my strength. I know that I am a better player than Crawford, and, if I could not do it. how can he?"

"The Australians have a good chance for the Cup, and the race is open," Perry concluded, "but they must not forget that Britain still has a chance. I wish to.emphasise that, just because I will not be playing, it does not follow that Great Britain.will lose the Cup. The Australians brought a box along in some former years, expecting to take the Cup home, and were disappointed because they did not win. It is best to copy the European plan and say, 'We will try to win.'"