DAVIS CUP CHALLENGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17648, 8 December 1920, Page 8

DAVIS CUP CHALLENGE.

THE AMERICAN VISITORS.

CIVIC WELCOME ACCORDED.

IMPORTANT ROLE OF SPORT.

The American challengers for the Davis Cup were accorded a civic reception in the Council Chambers, Town Hall, at noon yesterday. The Australian swimmers who are returning home from the Olympic Games were also present, and were included in the welcome. The Council Chambers were crowded to capacity, even standing room being at a premium, while a considerable number of people were unable to gain admission. There could be no doubt about the enthusiasm of the welcome tendered the visitors.

The Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gunson, said it was a very great pleasure to accord Messrs. Hardy, Tilden, Johnson, and Washburn a welcome such as New Zealand was famous for, a welcome from, the bottom of the heart. New Zealanders were proud to have associated with them their old friends, Messrs. Brookes, O'Hara Wood, Patterson, and Heath, linked with New Zealand in welcoming their friends from the United States. (Applause). New Zealand was not always pleased to be merged in the term Australasia, but in the matter of the Davis Cup matches they found the interests of New Zealand inseparably bound up with those of Australia, and New Zealand was glad that it was so. Australia and New Zealand were together during the war, so closely as to be united under one commander on Gallipoli, and New Zealanders were glad to know that the interests of Australia and New Zealand were so closely interwoven. v

History of the Cup. The cup, continued the Mayor, was merely, a symbol. The competition was founded in 1900 by Dr. D. F. Davis, who presented the cup and formed one of the American team that contested the first competition. In founding the competition Dr. Davis undoubtedly had in his mind the educative value of the contests. He looked at the matter from the international standpoint. Tracing,briefly the subsequent history of the trophy, Mr. Gunson paid a brief tribute to the memory of the late Anthony Wilding, whose wonderful play resulted in New Zealand entering into world competition in tennis. The trophy had been won by various countries, and had been taken by Australasia in 1914. Last year it had been successfully defended by Messrs. Brookes and Patterson. " Now there is another challenge," said the Mayor. " The challengers are on my right and the defenders on my left. What is the outcome to be' (Laughter.) As true sports and Australasians we hope the better team will win." "S Mr. N. E. Brookes, who was greeted with cheers, said it was a great pleasure to add to the welcome which had been extended to the American team. He was in a position to do so, as he had met them in America on the courts and otherwise, and could testify to their being the very best of sportsmen on the tennis court and off it. He hoped sincerely that Australasia would retain the cup, as he felt it was of the utmost importance 'to Australia and New Zealand, giving them the opportunity of entertaininGrjsuch fine sportsmen as were present. (Applause.) Personally, he had hardly expected to receive so warm a welcome as he had. From what he had heard he rather thought that, in New Zealand, his " name was mud.'* (Laughter.) What he had said about playing the match in "New Zealand had not quite been understood, or not been taken in quite the spirit in which it was meant. All that he had intended to express was that anything which could be done in. a fair and sportsmanlike r way to retain the' trophy should be done. He had felt very deeply what had been said about his old friend, Tony Wilding. He realised that they were up against a stiff .proposition. " I only hope the better team will win, and that it will be us," he concluded. Visitors Acknowledge Welcome. Mr. S. Hardy, captain of the American team, who was cheered enthusiastically, said that on behalf of the American team he wished to thank everyone ' for the wonderful reception'given them.. He felt that in coming these many miles to play, the Americans had come among friends. The quest for the cup had taken them 26,000 miles. He knew no more than anyone else where the cup would go. It was not the trophy which was the attraction. The best thing about tennis was that a player met real men. If it happened that they went away without the cup it would he a great satisfaction to them to return and have another try. " I appreciate your wonderful welcome so much." continued Mr. Hardy, " that I thank you, not only on behalf of the steam and. the American Tennis Association, but On behalf of ( my country. Naturally I hope we are going to be the ones to lift the cup. One reason is that I should like to have some chance to repay the welcome you have offered us here, and the best chance is that we should lift the cup." (Laughter). ■- .- Mr. W. T. Tilden, who was then called upon to speak, was received with cheers. He said that to be back again in the British Empire, whether England, Australia, or New Zealand, was a great pleasure to him, and a great honour to the American team. As Mr. Hardy had Said, they had hopes. One of the greatest was not. so much to win the.cup, as to meet again on the tennis court Mr. Norman Brookes, and not only him, but any representatives that the Australasian .Association put against 'the Americans. With regard to the match three weeks from that day, ifc would be as . »reat a pleasure to the team to lose it as to win it, though he, hoped to do the latter *~ */ fur , the Cheers for the visitors-and the Mayor, the proceedings closed with the singing of the National Anthem.

'"* / THE TEAMS AT PRACTICE.

SELECTING CLUB COURTS.

The members °s th , Davis Cup teams were taken the round of the club grounds in ..Auckland yesterday, in order to select those courts upon which thev would elect to practise. As a result the Ohelmnga and Jiden and Epsom courts were chosen The American players commenced practice at Eden and Epsom during the afternoon, and : the Australasians at Onehunga. Tilden and Johnson were to be seen in action against one another during the afternoon ; None of the team appeared to be taking the game very seriously. Hardy; who was playing a single against Washburn,* remarked that they were out for exercise rather than tennis yesterday Nevertheless, while a number of returns found the net, which no doubt would not be permitted to«d#8o in other circumstances, those who were "watch the practice saw some play to which Auckland courts are not accustomed. The visitors also viewed the court at the Domain, where the match is to be played, and > expressed satisfaction with the turf and the arrangements generally. The stand is complete, and the visitors' therefore, were able to see the court wearing the. appearance that it will show when the match commences. ' A number of arrangements are being made for the near future. On Saturday afternoon the Americans will be on the Onehunga courts and the Australasian representatives at Eden and Epsom; A charge will be made to the public to see them in action. On Tuesday next the Americans will give an exhibition, to which the older pupils at the secondary schools will be invited, this being® in accord with the desire of the visitors to encourage tennis at the schools. The American players have already announced their desire to participate in the New Zealand championships immediately following the', Davis Cup match The.players; from Australia will probably be competitors as well with the exception of N. E. Brookes, who returns to A.us. traha, on January 3 for business reasons.