NEXT DAVIS CUP CHALLENGE MATCHES FOR SYDNEY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23343, 28 August 1950, Page 5

NEXT DAVIS CUP CHALLENGE MATCHES FOR SYDNEY

(N.Z.P.A. —Rent tr—Copy right.) (11.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, August 28. The first games in the next challenge round for the Davis Cup will be played in Sydney in December, 1951, according to Mr. H. A. Pitt, acting president of the Lawn Tennis Association of Australia. '

It is possible that the EuropeanAraei’ican zone finals will also be played in Australia.

The decision to play the challenge round in Sydney was made because the last challenge round in Australia was played in Melbourne. Officials are concerned about the plans of the authorities to build the eastern suburbs railway over part of the White City court at Rushcutters’ .Bay but the general view is that “the New South Wales Government will not do anything which might cause the transfer of the 1951 matches to another city.” The White City courts can find accommodation for 14,000 people if extra stands are built. The record crowd for White City is 11.000 set in 1937 during the visit of Donald Budge and Gottfield von Cramm. Big Offer to Stars Forecast A lawn tennis official forecasts an offer of £50,000 probably from Bobby Riggs for Sedgman and McGregor to turn professional. He added: “These boys are front-page news and terrific drawcards and most Australian officials fear that a tempting offer will be. made Their acceptance would bo a disastrous loss to Australia.” The president of the New South Wales Lawn Tennis Association, Mr. Bryan Fuller, said that efforts would be made to get the zone finals played in Sydney though this would depend on who the finalists were.

In 1946 Sweden refused to travel to Australia on the score of distance. Prostpects of Retention

“Australia should not be optimistic about the chances of retaining the cup for a few years,” he added. “The United States has a number of young players coming on. If we are to retain the cup the Lawn Tennis Association must see our men get Wimbledon experience.”

Jack Crawford, the former Davis Cup player, believes, however, that the Australian chances of retaining the cup are extremely good as none of America’s younger players appears to be of the calibre of Sedgman or McGregor.