THE DAVIS CUP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17662, 24 December 1920, Page 6

THE DAVIS CUP.

PLAYERS AT PRACTICE. CONSTITUTION OF TEAMS. GUESTS AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE. In four more days the challenge round for the Davis Cup, the world's highest honour in lawn tennis, will bo commenced. The contesting teams have taken full advantage of the ideal weather this week to pet in hard practice and accustom themselves thoroughly to the court. The players are now extremely fit. and the tournament should produce lawn tennis of a brilliant order. The constitution of the teams wiTl not be announced until next when the captains will hand in the names of the players. It is a rule that the actual representatives must be made known 24 hours before the contest. So far as America is concerned there is no doubt as to its team. Mr. \Y. T. Tilden and Mr. W. M Johnston, the foremost exponents of the game in the United States, are certain to be the chosen of their country. There has been some uncertainty in regard to the Australasian team, When he left Australia Mr x N. E. Brookes, captain and sole selector, did not intend to play in the singles matches, but he is now so very well, and is playing such a splendid game, that it is most probable he will once again be found fighting in both singles and doubles to retain the cup for Australasia. Mr. G. L. Patterson, who last month won the Victorian championship singles, and also the doubles in partnership with Mr. Brookes, has not struck his best form so far, but he has ever had the reputation of being a better match player than u. practice player, and he may reliably be counted upon as the other representative of Australasia. A Mosting of Champions. Should the four players named be the ones to compete, the contest will be unique in the history of the DavU Uup. Mr. Brookes, Mr. Patterson, and Mr. Tilden have each won the All-Comers' Singles at Wimbledon, England, which is acknowledged to carrv with it the title of ■world's champion. Mr. Tilden is the present holder of the title, having wrested it from Mr. Patterson last July. Prior to Mr. Patterson, Mr. Brookes was the champion. Mr. Johnston was champion of the United- States until he had to surrender the title to Mr. Tilden. The tournament, therefore, will be a meeting of champions. The members of both teams, in company with Mr. F. J. Ohlson, president of the Auckland Lawn Tennis Associa-> tion, and Mr. H. G. Thomson, secretary, were the guests of the Governor-General, Lord Jellicoe, and Lady Jellieoe, at luncheon at Government House yesterday. In the afternoon they practised on the Davis Cup court in the Domain, in the presence of the vice-regal family. Yesterday's Practice. The Australasians used the court first, Mr. Brookes and Mr. Patterson playing Mr. P. O'Hara Wood and Mr. R<. W. Heath. It was a most interesting double, characterised always by the master courtcraft of Mr. Brookes. He was ever the dominating figure, skilfully drawing his opponents out of position, and then whipping in shots that left them standing. Mr. Patterson's play was a mixture of brilliant surprises and inexcusable weaknesses. His service was often terrihc, and he showed glimpses of his skill in crcss-court strokes. Threo or | four sets were played, Messrs. Brookes | and Patterson -winning them all fairly com- j fortably. The Americans played a double, Messrs. Tilden and Johnston defeating Messrs. S. Hardy and W. Washburn in two sets, llie winners got in some fine individual shots, but more than once a hard shot down the centre line found a weak point in their combination. Afterwards Mr. Tilden and Mr. Johnston each plaved a single with Mr. Washburn. The "teams will practise on the court to-day and again to-morrow. New South Wales Team. The New South" Wales team is to make the trip to New Zealand after all. Advic© was received yesterday that the team had secured berths on the Manuka, which left Sydney for Wellington yesterday. It is expected the vessel -will arrive in Wellington on Monday, and the team should I therefore arrive in Auckland on Tuesday Ir ' OI ~? ln S> ' n . time to see the opening match ot the Davis Cup Contest. , J^ ore > °' Wellington, has accepted the office of referee for the competitions. 'Die linesmen for the matches will be appointed by him-