LAWN TENNIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14854, 4 December 1911, Page 10

LAWN TENNIS.

'.' DAVIS CUP CONTEST, THE AUSTRALABIAII TEAM; . BROOKES AND HEATH ARRIVE.

Norman E. Brookes and Itodd W. Heath, two members of the Australasian David cup team, arrived in Auckland from Sydney yesterday by the Maheno. Thov were accompanied by Mr». Brookes and Mr. J. F. Koch (secretary of the Victoria Lawn Tennis Association). Tho party will leave Auckland bv the Main Trunk express train this evening, stop over a day In Wellington, and arrive in Christchureh on Thursday morning. Horace H. Hice, of Sydney, and A. W. Dunlop are the other members of the team, which,. with the exception of Bice, is composed of Victorians, llice left Sydney for Wellington by the Moeraki yesterday, "and"will arrive in New Zealand on Wednesday. Dunlop will arrive in Auckland by the Maheno on December 17. Australasia holds the Davis cup, and on December 29 and .30 and January 1 her picked players will defend the tennis championship of the world against the American team, who are already in Christchnrch. Mr. Brookes, the Australasian champion, was solo selector of the team and is its captain. "We ere eager for tho contest," he said last evening, " and by the time it commences) we shall be tit and well. At present I am not going to say who will win. That would net bo fair to tho public." Keen interest in tile personnel of the. American team and in the opinions expressed by its members while in Auckland was displayed .by Mr. Brookes. "I am glad they think the chances aro I even," he said. " There is" no doubt that the comi bination is tho strongest that America could pro- | duce. The double is, in my opinion, superior to ■ j the winners of the ■ American championship ' doubles (Little and Touchard)." ! It. Lycctt was orginally selected as tho emer- [ gency member of the team, and when it was to'und i that he could nut make the trip llice was chosen in his place. In 1907 lUco won the Australasian i singles championship, and -lost year he and A. ! Campbell won the Australasian doubles ehara- ' pidnthip. They were defeated by Heath una Lycctt in the recent championship meeting, the latI tor double tearing also Brookes and Addison. ■■> Discussing the change In the team, Mr. Brookes ; said that in one respect the team is not so good ! U his It rat selection. Tho dilfercnee would be shown only it a second doubles man were wanted. i'■ 1 do not think that will occur," he added. " 1 j hope not. It will not if Dunlop gets into train- , ing, as he said he would." From the last remark ! it is evident that Brookes Intends to have Dunlop I as his partner in the doubles match, i "Tho team is tho strongest Australasia could j send, excluding Wilding," Mr. Brookes said. i " Wilding cannot be expected to devote his whole , lifo to tennis, and 1 -think ho did quite right in • deciding not to Coma to New Zealand. But he has I promised that, if we lose the cup, ho - will help ius to win it back again. Wo have Just played in i the championship meeting, so that wo aro in ' good form. We nave had a good trip across, and I the spell should do us good. In tho month ahead • of us wo should get into good form and be all 1 right." ' ",'":. • Mr. Brookes said that, from Australia point of I view, the determination of the challenge in New • Zealand was a handicap. It was neutral ground, : for both teams were strangers to New Zealand, so. ! that the Australasian team would be at a slight ,; disadvantage In its defence of the cup. In its I own country there was no doubt that it would ! have boon in a slightly better position." . Mr. K. Heath seemed to take a tairly hopeful I view of things. " I really cannot say mucn,'' he ■ said, " about the Americans. What I judge byI is the fact that three Englishmen— Dick- ' son, and Lowe— up a jolly good tight against I them only a couple of months ago. Dickson came 1 within a point of beating Lamed, and 1 best Dickwn just before ho lett, so they're not absolutely invincible. Of course, we recognise we re i up against it, but we'll have nearly a month s '■ hard practice, and all 1 can say is it ( we don t 1 win it won't be for want of trying." ' " What do you think of the English players as ! compared with the Australians'.'" lie was asKcd. ! " 1 think our men compare very favourably. Of j course, on the other hand, there aro tar more ' good plavers in England than here. Where there : are about 24 reallv good men in Australia, there . are hundreds there who are not champions, but ! who are likelv to bump you out any day ii you are not feeling absolutely up to your usual form. 1 Then, again, tho methods of play are different. i Our men nearly all play up to tho net, while ' theirs keep to the back line. A* a rule, too, i their courts arc much flower than ours. This morning Brookes and Heath will have some practice on the Mount Eden courts. 'Ihcy will begin at 11.30 o'clock. A plan of the seats available for spectators at the Davis cup match will be opened at the Dres- ' den Christchnrch, on Wednesday morning. Plans j may he seen at 11. E. I'artridgc'ft sporta depot, i Queen-street