LAWN TENNIS

Northern Advocate, 17 September 1927, Page 12

LAWN TENNIS

THE DAVIS CUP , LEAVES AMERICA. FRANCE’S GREAT VICTORY. Well played, France! After having successfully withstood all challenges for the past seven years the representatives of the United States have been forced to strike their colours, and the coveted Davis Cup—the “blue riband ’’ of the tennis world — has found a new home, the gallant French team achieving a memorable victory over their formidable rivals at Philadelphia on Saturday last. As in the two previous years France eliminated all challengers in the European zone, being thus left with the undisputed right to play -the United States in the final contest. . Worldwide interest was evinced in the match an'd most sportsmen will undoubtedly rejoice in the fact that the hitherto unconquerable Americans have at last met their conquerors, in the persons of the French players. Without a doubt it is a good thing for the game generally that a nation should not hold the trophy too long, and the win recorded by the challengers should give the sport a splendid .stimulus the world over. This remark applies with equal force to all branches of sport. Now that a new nation has secured the world’s tennis supremacy it will be incumbent upon her to take advantage of every possible means to help her retain that proud position, whilst to the defeated country it means that she must set her house in order and hark round for new representatives to replace the valiant men who have for so long played such an important part' in upholding the prestige of the nation to which they belong. It should also give an impetus to the other participating nations inasmuch as it clearly demonstrates that after all America was not immune from defeat, and it behoves all other countries to make a supreme effort to wrest the chamnionship from the latest victors. France is to be genuinely eongratu.dated upon the splendid victory achieved, and with their youthful team of champions (who shouldUn the ordinary course of events have many more years of first-class Ijennis ahead of them) the 'holders should prove a very hard nut to crack to all opponents. In Laeoste, -Cochet, Bototra and Brugnon—this year’s representatives —are forrr young and exceptionally brilliant players, who present a formidable array to challengers for next year.

' Whilst offering congratulations to France one camnot help but feel sympathetic towards the Americans, and particularly to Tilden {jnd Johnston those two giants of the game for many years. To the incomparable Tilden and his little less wonderful contemporary (Johnston) America owes its success over the years, but the inexorable law that youth will be served has once again been exemplified, and the heroes of many a triumph have had to retire beaten by their more youthful antagonists. It is very evident from the cabled reports that both Laeoste and Cochet used great generalship, combined with their superb play, by allowing Tilden and Johnston to tiie themselves out, and thus iu reality beat themselves. France won the Cup by three matches to two,- winning three singles matches to one, and losing the doubles. The scores were: — Laeoste beat Johnston: 6—3, G 2, 6—2. Tilden beat Cochet: G—4, - 2 —G, ,6—2, B—o. Tilden and Hunter beat Borotra and Brugnon: 3 —G, 6—3, 4 —C, G —3, 60. Laeoste beat Tilden: G —3, 4—6, 6—3, 6—2. ■ Cochet boat Johnston: G —4, 4—G, 6—2, G—4. It will be seen from the following list of contests since the inception ot the Davis Cup matches in 1900 that the United States has won the trophy on 10 occasions, Australasia (New Zealand and Australia were combined for some years, but latterly the team has been designated Australia) six times, Britain five times, and now France has gained her initial victory. 1 . The United States won in the first two years of the Cup's existence, their 'next victory not coming until 1913. In 1914 they lost to Australasia, and then in 1920 they regained the trophy

in the match played at Auckland, liav ing held it continuously until defeat ed last week.

DAVIS CUP WINNERS. The following is a record of the challenge rounds for the Davis Cup since the contest was inaugurated in 1900: 1900.- -At Boston, U.S.A., United States beat British Isles, three matches to none, one drawn. 1902. At New York, United States beat British Isles, three matches to two. 1903. —At Boston, British Isles beat United States, four matches to one, one by default. 1904. —At Wimbledon, British Isles beat Belgium, five matches to love, love. 1905. —At Wimbledon, British Isles beat United States, five matches to love. 1906. —At Wimbledon, British Isles beat United States, five matches to love 1907. —At Wimbledon, Australasia beat British Isles, three matches to two. 1908. At Melbourne, Australasia beat United States, three matches to two. 1909. —At Sydney, Australasia beat United States, five matches to love. 1911. —At Christchurch, New Zealand, Australasia beat United States, five matches to love. 1912. —At Melbourne, British Isles beat Australasia, three matches to two. 1913. —At Wimbledon, United States beat British Isles, three matches to two. 1914. —At New York, Australasia beat United States, three matches to two. 1915-18. —No competitions. 1919. —At Sydney, Australasia beat British Isles, four matches to one. 1920. —At Auckland, New Zealand, United States beat Australasia, five matches to one. 1921. —At Newport, U.S.A., United States beat Japan, five matches to love. 1922. —At New York, United States beat Australasia, four matches to one. 1923. —At New York, United States beat Australasia by four matches to one. 1924. —At Philadelphia, United States beat Australia by throe matches to love. 1925. —At Philadelphia, United States beat France by three matches to love. 1926. —At Philadelphia, United States beat France by three matches to love. 1927. —At Philadelphia, France bead United States by three matches to two.

Jean Boroh’a, of France, one of the best tennis players of the world, is to visit Australia next month. * * m • Commenting on Eene Laeoste's defeat of W. T. Tildon in France, the London "Daily News" says: "This victory invests the Wimbledon tournament with exceptional interest. Tilden recently defeated Laeoste in a threeset match, but, apparently, because of his age, he is unable to withstand the stern test of a live-set duel. Laeoste's triumph revives the French hopes of winning the Davis Cup this year." It is now history that La Coste defeated Tilden in the Davis Cup .contests, and materially helped to lift the coveted trophy for his country. # * * * Miss "Bobby'' HeineJ the 17-year-old South African lawn tennis player, who created a sensation by her defeat of Senorita d'Alvarez in France, and who recently won the Surrey championship, is a tall, fair-haired girl who appears destined to become one of the leading women players of the world. Until she arrived in England she had never seen a igrass court, and it is said she learned her strokes by continued practice against a wall.

An American newspaper makes the astounding statement that a wellknown amateur centre half-back belonging to a prominent British club has been offered 60,000 dollars to become a professional (says a London writer). Putting the dollar at five to the pound, that is a sum of £12,000, and the manner in which the statement is made suggests that this is to be the annual payment to the half-back in question. American newspapers have much to learn with regard to the payments to professional football players. It is well to inform them that the sum mentioned is a dozen times more than the amount paid to the highestsalaried professional player in England. The maximum wage of a Football League player is £8 a week in the playing season, £G a week in the summer, and certain small bonuses for matches won or drawn.