THE DAVIS CUP.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18600, 30 December 1920, Page 4

THE DAVIS CUP.

ANOTHER POSTPONEMENT.

WET WEATHER IN AUCKLAND CONTINUES.

PH (ASPECTS OF TEAMS DISCUSSED.

[From Odr Correspondent. ]

AUCKLAND, December 29. No tenuis until l 1 riday sems to be the present prospect for the Davis Cup fixture. For two days it bas rained on and off, and if the rain continues over night the court cannot be fit for play to-morrow afternoon, therefore the games may take place on Friday, Saturday and Monday, giving - Brookes a much appreciated spell between the doubles and the concluding singles. A great opening match is assured between Brookes and Tilden. Probably never in the history of the game have such possibilities rested on a singles. Tb* draw occurred as Brookes would have liked it, for he will be able to gauge the full strength and weakness of his opponent’s game. Tilden's creed is to find his opponent’s weak spot and concentrate on it until it cracks, but it .is the secret of success in every strenuous game, as Rugby players know, and Brookes is not likely to have overlooked it in his brilliant tennis career. He will search for Tilden's weak spot, and, if he'finds it wanting, or losing, he will pass the information on to Patterson. There is a great deal of sound judgment in the comments of the London “ Times ” tennis contributor on Brookes’s selection. His remark that Australasia thinks that America can only be beaten by headwork requires a c little amplification, which, can be sup-' plied from a knowledge of what is happening in Auckland. The underlying suggestion is that Tilden wins by headwork rather than by the terrific service and drives of which he is capable, therefore Brookes can counter American strategy and rob Tilden of liis strongest asset. That this is a correct view, ( many lawn tennis experts will concede. An old Canterbury enthusiast, who watched Tilden in practice, declared that he was a- pottering player to a. large extent. This is rather a severe criticism, in view of Til dent’s performances, but it bears out the conclusion of Brookes in picking himself for the singles that . Tilden scores mostly by headwork. The two men have only met once, and Tilden just managed to get the verdict in a strenuous four set match in America which Brookes should have won, for he was leading when rain caused a postponement, and the subse- 1 quent slippery court was in TiJden’s favour, and therefore Tilden will not step out to meet Brookes with, any de>gree of confidence, for he must realise the calibre of his opponent, and the fact that if Brookes can beat him the Cup will not go back to America. > Studs will be worn by all the Davis Cup players in the big match, and this will tend to hold them on a slippery, surface, but any advantage from a slippery court will probably rest with Tilden, whose speed will make manoeuvring difficult for his opponent. The delays up to the present have been very vexatious to the tennis, enthusiasts,' who include a very strong contingent from Canterbury, and it is unfortunate that some better method cannot be found of giving notice of the postponement. Inq committee appears to be doing its best, but it is estimated that about £4OO will be lost by the failure of Australian spectators tq reach New Zealand. The Press arrangements appear to he very had, for the Pressmen are right in the centre of the west stand, in an inaccessible position, and there is no telegraph office on the ground, whidh is ten minutes distant by messenger from the nearest telegraph office, provided the messenger can get access to the Press seats.

- Brookes “ saw” the court to-day, and in reply to a “ Lyttelton Times ” representative stated that it was very wet indeed, and he doubted whether.it would be fit to play on to-morrow. It would require a very bright sun to dry it ini half a day. Brookes is the same imperturbable figure of old, generally anxious to give whatever information . a Pressman might ask him for, hut oareful not to go beyond the 'bounds of the strictest modesty. He gives Australasia a fair chance, and he says it with such sincerity as to create a very hopeful feeling that the Americans may not be the six to four favourites they are quoted at.

Brookes and Patterson did not practice to-day, and four days have elapsed since they had a knock up. Brookes regards this as unfortunate from the point’ of view of physical fitness. Johnston and Washburn got an hour’s practice this afternoon, but rain came on again, and the Americans must be' feeding the strain of idleness more than the Australians. Brookes is not worrying. ' and Patterson 'has everything in his favour as far as the draw goes. Australasia have only to win one match on the first day, and the odds are almost two to one on them, for they ought to annex the doubles, and if they can. win a singles on the first day they should repeat the performance on the seoond day. There is no disguising the fact that th> Americans are strong favourites, but it is a very great thing to have Brookes on one’s side. The question whether. Brookes is likely to write a book was put to him tc-day at the end of achat about the weather. His smile seemed to suggest that there were enough books on tennis in print. He replied that he might do so some day, and had actually started to write up something of the kind while in Mesopotamia, but lost the manuscript during the campaign.

WEATHER INDICATIONS UNFAVOURABLE. . * [Per Press Association - .] AUCKLAND, December 29. The weather to-night looks anything but favourable for the Davis Cup contest to-morrow. After a brief period of fine weather, rain began again about, four o’clock, and has continued off and on ever since. At eight o’clock tho sky was overcast, with a light drizzle.

AN AUSTRALIAN VISITOR

AUCKLAND, December 29,

Mr T. H. Hicks, secretary of the Australian Lawn Tennis Association, arrived by the Port Nicholson this afternoon. Mr Hicks had booked his passage by the Maheno in the first instance. He stated that he was very ipleased with the arrangements made hero for tho Davis Cup contest. About 100 Australians who had made arrangements to come over to see the contest had been forced to cancel them.

AMERICA’S PROSPECTS. By Telegraph—Press Ataociatioa—Copyright

“ The Timos ” Service. LONDON, December 27. “The Times” tennis contributor, while favouring its chancea, N points out that America was never fortunate in Australasia. If Tilden is all that America claims him to be, the team should win three out of the four singles, sufficient to secure the Cup. ‘ The choice of Auckland may be regarded as a posthumous tribute to Anthony Wilding. The substitution of Brookes in the singles is a surprise, suggesting that Australasia thinks America is only beatable by headwork, and therefore picked Brookes, the greatest tennis head that ever entered a Court. The result may hinge on , A Patterson’s recovery of his best form, which was not shown at Wimbledon, where Tilden’s methods made the Aus* . tralian’B backhand appear the worst oyer seen on the central court. He will have to devise a method to protect his’backhand to reverse the result. Ort Johnston’s English form, the oontributor suggests that Patterson,, and per- , haps O’Hara Wood, icny beat him.