BIG TENNIS.

Evening Star, Issue 22383, 6 July 1936, Page 8

BIG TENNIS.

Interest in the Wimbledon lawn tennis tournament is invariably keen, for the world's best players assemble there for the event, and the results give an indication of what may happen in the Davie Cup matches. On this occasion the British contestants have been particularly successful, winning four out of five titles. The issue of the final for the men’s singles was eagerly awaited. Great form had been shown by von Gramm, of Germany. Ho had beaten the redoubtable Crawford, and was set down to play England’s champion, Perry. Unfortunately this match was spoilt to a large extent through von Cramm meeting with a leg injury that imposed a severe handicap on him, but Perry has been showing such brilliant form that it was confidently expected that ho would win. The mishap to the German player, however, took the glamour from Perry’s three-set victory. It will be noted that following these games at Wimbledon England’s team has been chosen for the challenge round of the Davis Cup. It is the same as last year, consisting of Perry, Austin, Hughes, and Tuckey. England has held the trophy for the last three years, and the prospects for 1936 arc bright. Last year in the challenge round, it will be remembered, Perry was successful in the singles, while Austin was beaten, and England gained a rather unexpected victory through Hughes and Tuckey winning the doubles. The position in regard to the Davis Cup now is that Germany and Yugoslavia meet in the final of the European zone. It is provided that that contest must be decided before July 13. This does not allow much time for von Cramm to recover from bis muscle injury, and it will.indeed bo hal'd luck for Germany if it is not represented by its champion. The winners of the European zone final between Germany and Yugoslavia will then engage the Australian team, who were the victors in the American zone. Whichever side emerges successfully from this contest —and the odds seem to be on the Australians—will have to meet England in the challenge ■round and endeavour to wrest the trophy from her. The Davis Cup was given by an American, Mr Dwight P. Davis, and was first competed for by the United States and the British Isles in 1900, the former winning the contest. It is interesting to note that Mr Davis himself represented his country in the first match. For 26 years after the inception of the contests the cup never passed out of the possession of the English-speaking races as represented by Australasia, England, and America. Then in 1927 France produced some remarkable players, and for six years in succession she held the trophy, to lose it in 1933 to England. Japan, has made vigorous attempts to secure the cup, and her representatives on occasions revealed brilliant play, actually reaching the challenge round. No matches were played during the war period, and when the competition was reinstated in 1919 the United States paid a graceful tribute to the war losses of the British Empire by not entering a team. Thirty matches for the Davis Cup have so far been played. America has won ten, England eight, Australasia six, and France six. The contests have been invariably conducted in an admirable spirit, and have produced lawn tennis of a remarkably high standard.