Australians Please Hopman

Northern Advocate, 15 July 1939, Page 7

Australians Please Hopman

LOS ANGELES, July 14. The manager of the Australian Davis Cup team, H. O. Hopman, in a general discussion of the whole Davis Cup position with the representative of the Australian Associated Press, expressed satisfaction at the manner in which the team was gradually working toward the ! top of its form for the campaign still ,to. come. “Bromwich’s progress is extremely satisfactory,” ' said Hopman. “Pie' is developing excellently, and promises to be ready for the hardest sort of campaign when the real firing begins. Qui'st’s form satisfies me, but apparently it does not yet satisfy Adrian himself. L tell him that considering the stage in the season it is just as it should be, but he still worries a little. However, I think that will soon pass over.

Matter of Strategy. “A small matter of strategy has occurred relative to the playing of the inter-zone final, which, although scheduled for Boston, could be played elsewhere upon agreement between the European zone winners and ourselves.

“The Canadian tennis authorities are making a strong bid to get the match for Montreal, but I am not consenting to that because we have engaged ourselves to play in the national doubles in Boston before the inter-zone final, and while we are thus engaged, the European team might get in advantageous practice in Montreal, handicapping us.

“The tfait being held out for the Montreal match is an excellent ‘gate,’ a gallery of 7000 being virtually assured, whereas the inter-zone final at Boston in 1938 was a frost.

Keep to Schedule,

“Nevertheless, I think that if. we are to keep our eyes on the cup, we should proceed as was earlier determined, particularly as the defaulting of Brazil and Japan carries us directly from our match with the winner of the Canada-Cuba match to the interzone final. We should finish off in Boston during one protracted stretch, which will cover both the inter-zone finals and the doubles, and after that proceed to Philadelphia for the challenge match.

“Nothing that has happened at Wimbledon -changes the set-up as I diagnosed it even before leaving Australia. With the removal of Budge from the scene, our chances from every point of view are first rate. It will take a good deal to convince me we have not the best national tennis team in the world.”