LAWN TENNIS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 204, 29 July 1932, Page 2

LAWN TENNIS

Judging by the result of the Davis Cup match between U.S.A. and Germany, tlio latter’s victory over Britain was not such a fluke as it seemed at first. ft is evident that in von Cramm Germany has a young player who, with Maior of Spain and Bernard and Merlin of France, is likely to be among the world’s leading players before long. America now meets France in the Challenge Bound and on the form it is hard to say which is likely to be favourite. The chief interest centres in the singles rubber between Cochet and Vines, who are unanimously rated Nos. 1 and 2in the world’s ranking. Neither of them is unbeatable, Cochet being the one with the more defeats against him in this and last year. It may be remembered that he has been knocked out in the early rounds at Wimbledon for the last throe years by Allison, Sharpe and Collins, of whom Allison is the only one who has ever attained world’s ranking. But in spite of these defeats he has never yet lost a rubber in the Davis Cup competition. He won the French championship this year, and there is no doubt that the slower courts at the Stade Garros and the softer ball in use in Franco suit his game. After Vines’s victory at Wimbledon he was acclaimed by good judges as the best player who has yet appeared, but ho lias already been , beaten three times this year, lirst by a player who is only ranked loth in C.S.A., then in April by Allison at Pinchurst, U.S.A., and finally by Hopman, the Australian second string at Queen’s Club the week before Wimbledon. Still it is safe to say that none of these players would beat him in his Wimbledon form.

It is not certain how either team will be constituted. Cochet is certain to be one of France’s singles players while Brugnon is equally certain to play only in the doubles. if Borotra is chosen as the second singles player either he or Cochet might partner Brugnon in the doubles. Cochet and Borotra do not play well together, blit either does well with Brugnon, Cochet having won the French championship with him this year while Borotra was his partner when they won at Wimbledon. If Boussus is chosen as second singles player Borotra would no doubt play with Brugnon in the doubles, so as to spare Cochet for his second singles rubber. On the American side Vinos will of course bo first choice, but Shields, though ranked No. 3 in America, has twice been beaten this season by Allison who is only ranked No. 9. Van Ryn is ranked No. 4, but on current form is not as good as Allison, and the choice for second singles player must therefore be between Shields and Allison, and the former is likely to bo chosen so as to leave Allison fresh to partner van ltyn in the doubles on which the match may depend. Allison and van Ryn have a great reputation as a pair, having won the championship at Wimbledon in 1929 and 1930 and being the present holders of the American championship. In 1929 they simply smothered Cochet and Borotra in the Davis Cup match, but in 1930 were beaten by Cochet and Brugnon, and at Wimbledon this year were easily beaten by Borotra and Brugnon. It seems likely that the final result may depend on the rubber between Cochet and Vines, which is the most interesting encounter that there has been for many years. They resemble each other in the fact that they are are both imperturbable and great finishers, but in other respects they, are quite dissimilar. Vines relies chiefly on hurricane hitting and at Wimbledon even a great player liko Austin was quite powerless against his speed. Cochet, on the other hand, is not a powerful hitter, but he has wonderful powers of return and placement, and always seems to be in position to receive his opponent’s shot. His service, though not exactly weak, does not compare with Vines’ cannon-ball shot. But Vines is at Iris best on a fast court and it is possible that the slow court may take the edge off his •game and that Cochet will retain his unbeaten Davis Cup record. The result will be received with great interest by all tennis players.