DAVIS CUP TENNIS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 124, 11 May 1935, Page 11

DAVIS CUP TENNIS

Dominion Representation

MEETING AUSTRALIA TO-DAY

Fifth Entry as Separate Nation (By “Side-line.”) This afternoon at Eastbourne (England) the first round, of the • lower half of the European zone in the Davis Cup tennis competition will be commenced when the repre-. sentatives of New Zealand and Australia meet. Two singles will be played to-day and another two on Tuesday, the only doubles match being set down for Monday. The Davis Cup competition was inaugurated in 1900, when Mr. Dwight F. Davis presented the trophy for competition between England and America. The great interest aroused and the rapid increase in the popularity of tennis since that year is indicated by the fact that over 25 nations have been represented in Davis - Cup play since the competition was thrown open to the world. This year alone there were 18 nations entered, the greater majority being included in the European zone, which for convenience sake has been sub-divided into upper and lower halves. New Zealand, Australia, France, Germany and Italy were included in the lower half, the last three nations drawing byes, leaving the two teams from the Antipodes to play in what is the first round of the zone. Entered First In 1924. This year is the fifth occasion that New Zealand has been represented as a separate nation in the Davis Cup competition. It was 11 years ago that the Dominion was recognised as a separate nation and was represented by F. M. B. Fisher and J. C. Peacock. Neither player was at his best when meeting Czecho-Slovakian representatives and actually they were not by any means the strongest players that could have been selected, but as they were available in England at the time, they were chosen. Czecho-Slovakia won by four matches to love. The following year, 1925, New Zealand was entered in the competition in the American zone, but circumstances forced a default to Canada. Dominion's First Success. In 1928 the Dominion was represented by E. D. Andrews, the captain of the present team, and R. 1). T. Young, in the European zone, and they scored New Zealand's first success in the competition, defeating Portugal in the first round by four matches to one at Lisbon. Unfortunately the team had to default in the second round.

Last year advantage was taken of the fact that E. D. Andrews and A. 0. Stedman were residing in England and these two players, along with C. E. Malfroy, made up New Zealand’s representation again in the European zone. They met Czecho-Slovakia at Prague, only to be defeated by four matches to one. The .New Zealanders won the doubles match, Malfroy and Stedman playing brilliantly, but all the singles were lost, Czecho-Slovakia entering the next round by four matches to one

The same team as represented the Dominion last year was selected for this year and such was the luck of the draw that they were called upon to meet their nearest neighbours in the competition. It is realty too much to expect that success will come their way against such formidable opponents as the Australians, but at least, they should prove worthy contestants and the experience gained will doubtless be of advantage to the game throughout the Dominion when they return.