DAVIS CUP CHALLENGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17663, 27 December 1920, Page 6

DAVIS CUP CHALLENGE.

THE PRACTICES OVER. ' ARRANGEMENTS' COMPLETE. SELECTION OF THE UMPIRES. The final practice games have new been played by the members of the teams u'lm will contest the opening matches of the Davis Cup challenge round to-morrow. Neither team will play to-day, but the members of both will be the guests of the Auckland Racing Club at Ellcrsl'e. Both teams wore practising on Friday and Saturday. J'he Americans occupied the Davis Cup court on Saturday morning. The plav was confined to singles, Messrs. W. T. Tildcn and W. M. Johnston playing together, and -Messrs. S. H. Hardy and W. Washburn. In the afternoon the Australasians practised, also playing singles. Messrs. G. L; Patterson and It. W. Heath played one another, being succeeded on tho court by Messrs. N. B. Brookes and P. O'Hara Wood. The latter practice game produced some very interesting play, Mr. O'Hara Wood showing especially good form. Considerable interest has been manifested among the tennis enthusiasts who hare been watching the practices, concerning the selection anally to be made of the players to contest tho matches. The captains of the teams will notify to the secretary of the Davis Cup committee to-day the names o' the players to contest tho tint day's matches, tho rule.being that this information must be supplied U4 hours before the time of tho contest. The selection is subject to alteration, however, up to the time of actual play. Mr. H. M. Gore, of Wellington, who was nominated by the captains of the two teams as referee for the contests accepted the appointment. He has arrived in Auckland and has made the following appointments of officials: — Umpires, Messrs. J. C. Peacock and A. St. C. Brown; line umpires, Drs. Laure.nson and Allison, and Messrs, H. W. Cooke, G. G. Aitken, H. Snelling, and E. L. Bartleet. •Two singles will be played to-morrow afternoon, commencing at 1.45 o'clock. On the second day of tho match (Thursday) the doubles will be contested, play commencing at 2.30 p.m. The remaining two singles will take place on Friday, play beginning at 1.45 p.m. Tho players on the third day wit meet different opponents from those they played on the first. For example, assuming that tbo selection by the respective captains were, Australasia, Brookes, Patterson, America, Tildcn, Johnston, if the first day's singles were Tilden v. Patterson and Johnston v. Brookes, those on the third would be Tilden v. Brookes and Johnston v. Patterson. Although the booking has been heavy, the ample accommodation provided has assured that there are still plenty of seats in good positions not yet taken. There has been a tendency on the part of the public to neglect the seats in the corners of the stand, on account of the impression that a good view of the play cannot be obtained from them. Actually, some of the best, seats on the stand aro located on the cornel's, and there are still a con- . siderable number not yet booked. The committee ha«. arranged that motorcars may be parked in the Outer Domain, entrance being made through the old exhibition site. . An official souvenir programme, showing the American team on the outside cover, containing photographs of tho players, <ind players in past contests, and 'with letterpress giving a hisory of the Davis Cup since its inauguration and the rides under which the contest is'played, will be'sold on the ground. The committee Etates that as it is possible that unofficial programmes will be issued the public can recognise the official publication by the photographs d the American team on the cover. Arrangements have also been made for a supply of cushions to bo sold at the Domidn. The moving picture right* of the match have been sold to the Davis Cup Picture Company. The annual Davis Cup dinner will be held at the Town Hal! on January 3. It is expected that large numbers of tennis enthusiasts will attend it. "LEST .WE FORGET." , THE LATE ANTHONY'WI'LDING. Br j.v.w. We in New Zealand have the reputation of being 'a great sporting people, and in this reputation we take a, pardonable pride. Certainly, for euch a young country, with a population numbering just over a million, ve have cut no inconsiderable figure in the athletic world. If it was.due to Ta Jinan and Captain Cook that we were placed in our correct position on the map, it was due to athletics that we became known to the big outside world at something more than a mere Bpeck hidden away in these southern seas. We are now on the eve of the great struggle for the Davis Cup, and to-mor-row the eyes of the athletic world will be ; centred on us; for the nonce New Zealand will occupy a front 6eat on the world's stage. For we must not forget that the lawn tennis cult now extends from Japan to India; from South Africa to Amorica—-indeed, it girdles the world. All of which leads up to the thought that ve, as a sporting people, would indeed be base ingrates if we did not, for a briel moment, allow our minds to dwell on the memory of Anthony Wilding, who, to gether with that wizard of the racquetNorman Brookes, made possible the plea sure which we, in these far-away isles scarcely hoped to see—a challenge tie foi the Davis Cup. A man, an athlete, who could numbei among his personal friends such man a: the Eight Hon. A. J. Balfour and tb< present Lord Chancellor, Lord Birken head (then Sir F. E. Smith), not to men tion many others in diverse walks oi life was no ordinary athlete. It is no ex aggeration to say that Anthony Wilding had an extraordinary personality—extra ordinary in its charm and its winning frankness. We are all aware of the effec of personal magnetism in every walk e> life—and in a very marked way in tin world of sport. And no athlete has lef '.ho mark of his personality over a wide field than the late Anthony Wilding. Hi was an outstanding figure on the court of America," Great Britain, France, Ger many, Austria, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, and over all this va« • field of athletic endeavour he upheld th finest traditions of our race as a sports man and a gentleman. To those win t&ink beneath the surface this is no sma! contribution to the general scheme o things. Mr, F. K. Burrow, tho wcllknowi English tennis referee, who saw ever great player, from the Renshaws onward said of him (on hearing of his death) :- " Wimbledon will know him no more, bu of all the brave figures that have passed and are yet to pass through its portals the name and fame of Tony Wilding wil be remembered as long and as affection ately as any." And thus, Chas. P. Dixon a. former captein of England's interna tional team :—" I always found Wilding scrupulously fair opponent. He was th eame good sportsman to every one h met." And yet again from South Afric after he had won their championship :- " We are all pleased that so thorough gentleman a:id sportsman has won." An who shall say that in an age, when filth lucre threatens to submerge sport, sue an example as this, from such a grea ethlete, is not an example to us all? As one who knew him well remarked "Ro healthy, so clean-minded." Full < buoyant life, and will) a perfect physic; no, ..jßjan, looked, alter. J& betle

Anthony Wilding never required ty Jearn the cult of physical fitness from books. It is shouted to-day from the. housetops as (i new discovery. Physical fitness was his creed. With temptation on all sides, as must naturally beset a man of his popularity and eminence in the athletic world, he never swerved from his purpose. He simply could not. understand any man neglecting (ho welfare of his bodv. As one who knew him in his Cambridge days wrote of him: " Physically ho was an* inspiration wherever .he wem." And in the light of what was revealed by medical examinations during the war, such a tradition in physical as Anthony Wilding has left' behind him is a valuable national asset. Traditions have done much for our race, and we in New Zealand certainly cannot afford to allow the tradition* created by Anthony Wilding to die, In such a small country' n cannot hopo to product! many athletes'of the character and eminence of the deceased champion, and such traditions as ho created should be treasured as a precious memory to bo passed on to generations of athletes yet unborn. He did his share. Shall wo do ours? As tin's is the first Davis Gup Tis played in New Zealand since the death of Anthony Wilding, in 1915, it is only fitting that something simple but effective should be done at this fie to honour the memory of our great tennis chanpion, who belongs to that select band whoso " names livcth for evermore." With this aim in view, the following suggestion is thrown out for the Davis Cup Committee's consideration :—lmmediately prior to the opening of .the first match to-mor-row, the presiding official, by signal, could ask all present to stand with heads uncovered for, say, five seconds; the assemblage to ho seated at another signal. This would cause no confusion, and its simplicity should prove very effective.