SURPRISING ADMISSION

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 24 August 1935, Page 14

SURPRISING ADMISSION

REASON WOOD WAS LEFT OUT LACKING IN CONFIDENCE. SEMEN YEARS’ BIG TENNIS. When America played Great Britain last month for possession of the Davis Cup, .surprise was expressed in many quarters at the omission of Stanley B. Wood from the challenging team. Now comes word that Wood .makes the surprising statement that lack of confidence caused him to stand down on his

own initiative. According to all reports that have come from overseas in recent years, the predominant fault in Wood’s make-up was his over-confi-dence. It had led to many of,his defeats, if the opinion of keen critics is accepted. , '

| In Wood’s case there Is certainly no ! excuse on the score of inexperience. He is only 23 years of age, but he has been playing international tennis since he w'as 16, and has been among America’s first ten. players since 1930. If Wood did suddenly lose his imperturbable poise the only possible reason for it is that he has never been an outstanding success in Davis Cup matches, despite his fine record in championship events. His only good Davis Cup performance was his win over Crawford in the inter-zone final last year. Wood’s default might rule him out of the future American Davis Cup teams, but with Budge and possibly Parker available during the next few 1 years, America should not be wanting in firstclass singles players.