LAWN TENNIS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 204, 30 July 1931, Page 8

LAWN TENNIS.

In the final of the Davis Cup the results of the various rubbers were wonderfully true to form. It is difficult to understand why, according to the cabled account, not a single French writer gave Perry a chance of winning any match. That both he and Austin would beat Borotra was the opinion expressed in these columns, for each of them had beaten him when last they met, and in neither case did the victory appear to be a fluke. The doubles, as expected, was won by France. Britain aid not put her .best pair into court. Perry and Hughes are not only the best, but the best since the War. Austin and Kingsley are the second pair, but of inferior calibre. Whereas Perry and Hughes are powerful hitters who play an attacking game at top speed, Austin and Kingsley are botli small men, the latter exceptionally small and light, and they rely more on correcness of tactics than on severity of stroke. No doubt Dr. Roper Barrett, the non-playing captain, than whom there is no better judge of the game, thought that Britain’s chance of winning the doubles was so small that it would be better to keep Perry fresh for his rubber against Cochet on which the fate of the match depended. Although Cochet won by three sets to one, yet the fact that he only won twenty-two games to his young opponent’s twenty,'shows that there was not really a wide disparity between them. Provided Perry has the opportunity of devoting himself to the game he should develop into the best' player tliat Britain has ever had. He is a six-footer of robust physique, great stamina, and tremendous power of stroke both off the ground and on the volley. He is wonderfully fast on his feet and for quickness in getting to the net, agility and anticipation in the volleying zone lie is quite as good as Borotra. The play in his rubber against Jiro Satoh, the champion of Japan, in the previous round of the Davis Cup competition was said to be the most brilliant ever seen in a Davis Cup match in England. He won 6 —l, 4 —6, 7 —5, 7—5.

It used to be thought that a tennis player did not reach liis zenith till the age of twenty-six, which was the age ot the late Anthony Wilding when he won his first Wimbledon championship, and the, average age of his predecessors when they first won the title. Perhaps the present generation develop a little earlier, for the last twelve months have seen youth triumphant in many sports. Apart from Perry, three of the last four left in at Wimbledon were under twenty-one, and the American champion, Doeg, was only twenty when ho won the title. In our New Zealand cricket team Vivian, who is only eighteen, is doing great tilings both with bat and ball. The winner of the British amateur golf championship is only twentytwo, and the champion of New South Wales only sixteen. Lastly the British amateur champion at billiards, Lee, is only twenty. As Perry has only been playing in first-class tennis for the last twelve months he is likely to make greater improvement than the other youngsters of similar age. Of these Shields, -who had to scratch for the final at Wimbledon when he looked a certain winner, is the most likely to reach the top of the tree. His physique is all in his favour, for he is a splendidly made young giant of over six-foot-three, with proportionate power. Although he is ranked second in America to Doeg the champion, most judges consider him a much better player, Doeg depending almost entirely on the most terrific service that has yet been seen, but by no means strong all round. It is interesting to learn that the young New Zealander, C. E. Malfroy, who was so unfairly omitted from the representative team against the Australians two years ago, has been elected captain at Cambridge for next season, replacing K. C. Gandar-Dower, who was ranked ninth in the British official list last year. His place as secretary lias been taken by J. W. Nuthall, a younger brother of the well-known Miss Betty Nuthall, the present holder of the ladies’ championship of U.S.A. The international match for the Wightman Cup between the ladies of Britain and those of U.S.A. is the next big event in the tennis world. No word has been received of the composition of the British team but Misses Betty Nuthall, Joan Ridley and Phyllis Mudford seem to be certainties.