THE 1938 DAVIS CUP

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 48, 26 February 1938, Page 8

THE 1938 DAVIS CUP

AMERICA A STRONG TEAM DEFENCE LIKELY TO BE UNBEATABLE WILL AUSTRALIA BE CHALLENGER? A n Australian writer, the Sydney Referee’s tennis critic, expects Australia to win the American zone contest of the 1938 Davis Cup competition and that Germany will win in the European zone. He predicts that Australia will beat Germany in the inter-zone final and will thus become the challenging team to meet America (holders) in the challenge round.

The draw for the 1938 Davis Cup announced at Washington, U.S.A., reveals that 26 nations will compete for the coveted trophy, he writes. This is the biggest field since 1935, when Great Britain retained the Davis Cup bv convincingly defeating America five matches to nil in the challenge round at Wimbledon.

This year the challenge round will be plaved in America, as that country is the holder of the Cup.

The draw embraces an American and a European zone. Australia and Germany respectively should emerge a«s zone winners to contest the final, which seems certain to be held in America.

The winner of this match then plays the challenge round agajjist America for the Davis Cup, the* emblem of supremacy for 1938. Jt will be noted that the nation holding the Davis Cup only competed In the challenge round in defence of the trophy.

America, in my opinion, is going to be very much stronger than for some years, owii.g to the rapid rise of the youthful Bobby Riggs, who now ranks second in America to the redoubtable red-headed world’s champion, Donald Budge. He will be a great acquisition to the holding nation’s Davis Cup squad, comprising Donald Budge, Frankie Parker. Bitsy Grant, Wayne Sabin, and Gene Mako. Riggs’ wonderful singles performances during the last American season should make him a certain selection as second singles player to Budge in the coming Davis Cup challenge round. Mako’s Position. Despite the fact that Budge and Mako are the holders of the Wimbledon doubles championship, and the No. 1 graded doubles pair in the world, I think Mako’s position as Budge’s partner is in jeopardy. Since winning the virtual world's title at Wimbledon, Budge and Mako have suffered crushing defeats in the American national doubles event, and also here in Australia in doubles matches. These results will have a most adverse effect on Mako’s chance of selection. Sabin is a noted doubles player, possessing excellent ground strokes, a severe service and smash, also great volleying ability. Budge expressed to me a high opinion of Sabin as a prospective doubles partner. It seems extremely likely that Sabin will displace Mako as Budge’s partner in the American doubles team. Therefore this great strengthening of the Davis Cup team will relieve Budge of a deal of responsibility. This will make America more difficult to defeat than for many years previously. Not For Wimbledon. Australia’s participation in the American zone, means the non-appear-ance of our players at Wimbledon. Unless some very drastic change of plans takes place Bromwich and Quist will not have the opportunity of contesting the virtual singles arid doubles championship of the world. This, I know, is a serious blow to their aspirations. But they will most likely get the chance to further enhance their reputations by competing in the American National Singles and Doubles events. American Zone. Australia, Mexico, Japan, Canada, are the entrants in this zone. They will meet in the order given. Japan has evolved a scheme called "A five year plan’’ to win the Davis Cup. I have heard it stated that they will be hard to beat. With this in mind I discussed the matter with Gottfried von Cramm, who toured Japan prior to coming to Australia. After experiencing the play of the Australians, particularly Bromwich and Quist, he was quite definite in his opinion that Japan had little hope of achieving their ambition to win the Davis Cup in ten years, despite their rigorous five-year scheme. He considered that America, Australia and Germany were decidedly superior to Japan, and that the Japanese players would have the greatest difficulty in winning one rubber in a Davis Cup match against any of these countries.

Therefore, as Canada and Mexico have always proved easy victims for our cup teams, it seems assured that Australia will comfortably win the American zone.

The Australian Council should use every endeavour to have the venue of the match against Mexico changed this year, as the climate there had a very disastrous effect upon the health of our players, particularly Quist, last year.

Gate takings at the match were very poor, so this aspect of Jhe 'matter warrants little consideration.

Diplomatic reasons may make a change of venue difficult for Australia, but the health of our' representatives Is something that must be closely safeguarded.

European Zone. The large number of entries in this zone has resulted in the draw being made in two halves. The entries are: France, Holland, Poland, Denmark, Italy, Ireland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Britain, Rumania, Monaco, Germany, Norway, Hungary, New Zealand, Sweden, Swit rland, Greece, Belgium, Austria, India, Great Britain, having lost the Cup last year to America, will play in the eliminating rounds for the first time for five years. Having lost F. J. Perry to professionalism, and with H. W. Austin definitely on the decline, they are in a rather hopeless position, as there are no rising players of any great promise in England. I consider England will have little chance of surviving against the strong opposition of other European countries. Germany Should Win. With their exceptionally strong twoman team, Germany stands out as the winner of this zone Von Cramm is the second graded player of the world in singles rankings, while Henkel occupies the third position. Henkel also holds the German and French singles titles. In doubles von Cramm and Henkel are outstanding on the Continent. They also hold the American National Doubles title for 1937, and are the second graded pair of the in doubles. These credentials are a long way ahead of those of other players comprising the Davis Cup teams of other European nations. Therefore, it seems certain that Germany will emerge victorious from this zone. Final Round. Germany and Australia should contest the final, the winner to challenge America for the Davis Cup. The final round will almost certainly take place in America, because the winning team will have to contest the challenge round there against the holding nation to decide the destiny of the Davis Cup for 1938. Australia should beat Germany if Quist and 3romwich are fit, and produce anything like their recent Australian form. Henkel will find it most difficult to turn the tables on Quist and Bromwich, after his convincing defeats by them in Australia. Von Cramm will be faced with a tremendous responsibility to win his two singles. I consider both Australians have a great chance of defeating him.

It is quite possible that the doubles match w J li be the crural rubber. In view of the wonderful performances of Bromwich and Quist as a pair, they must be conceded the best chance in a match against the Germans.

Therefore, I expect Australia to win this match and challenge America for the Cup. If Australia plays America, they will be confronted with a gigantic proposition to wrest the Cup from the holders, under home conditions. In making this observation. I am taking it for granted that Budge will remain and amateur, and that he will be supported by Riggs as second singles player, and partnered by Sabin in the doubles.

A team composed of these players will constitute for America, in my opinion, an impregnable barrier in defence of the Cup.

Budge must undoubtedly be conceded his two singles. What of Riggs? The youthful, dark-haired rising star is in his early twenties, and will be a newcomer to Davis Cup matches. This may be an advantage to either Quist or Bromwich in close, tense struggles with the American undergoing his first experience of Davis Cup battles. However, Riggs’ record suggests he has a marvellous match temperament, and the ability to rise to great heights in important matches. This will almost surely offset the disadvantages of his first Davis Cup appearance. Riggs has so clearly established his superiority over all Americans other than Budge, that Bromwich and Quist will find it extremely difficult to encompass his downfall as second singles player. Many of Riggs’ American victims have proved their superiority over Bromwich and Quist. Doubles Match. If, as I think, Wayne Sabin displaces Mako as Budge’s doubles partner, Australia will again be confronted by a very serious proposition. Mako’s weak serving, erratic forehand, and poor backhand ground strokes have provided the weak links in his partnership with Budge. Sabin, on the other hand, is very well equipped in all these departments, and is a noted doubles exponent. Therefore he and Budge should make a pair of outstanding ability. Quist and Bromwich have so far proved invincible against the world’s 'best pairs, and therefore must be I given a great chance of defeating

much better pairs than they have been meeting. Retain the Cup. Despite my hopes with regard to tne doubles match, I am afraid the Americans’ strong singles players will dominate the outcome of our prospective challenge for the Cup, and ensure its retention by America.